Districts of Germany
Encyclopedia
The districts of Germany are known as , except in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia
and Schleswig-Holstein
where they are known simply as (singulars: and ).
The districts are at an intermediate level of administration between the (German states
) and the counties
or the municipal governments . They are not to be confused with the larger . They correspond to level 3 administrative units of the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics
(NUTS 3).
The title (Imperial Circle
) was given to groups of states in the Holy Roman Empire
.
. These are known as urban districts —cities which constitute a district in their own right—and there are currently (2011) 107 of them, bringing the total number of districts to 402.
In North Rhine-Westphalia
, there are some cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants which are not urban districts, for example Recklinghausen
, Siegen
, Paderborn
, Bergisch Gladbach
, Neuss
and Moers
. These cities, however, take over many district responsibilities themselves although belonging to a district. Moers is the biggest city in Germany (and at present time the only one with more than 100,000 inhabitants) that is neither an urban district, nor takes over district responsibilities.
There are also three so-called , a fusion of a district and a district-free town: Besides the Regionalverband Saarbrücken
(1974–2007: Stadtverband Saarbrücken), there is the Region Hannover
since 2001 and the Städteregion Aachen since 2009.
All these tasks are carried out by local (municipal) authorities operating together. Urban districts have these responsibilities and also those of the municipalities.
where it is elected every six years.
, or "Landgericht," is the court that has original jurisdiction in felony criminal cases where the time of imprisonment exceeds 4 years and certain other crimes, and appellate jurisdiction in all other cases. Decisions of the district court can be appealed to the Landesgericht or Oberlandesgericht (state supreme court), depending on the term used in each of the various states. This is similar to judicial proceedings in some US states like Nebraska
where all felonies are tried in district courts and misdemeanors originate one level below in county courts.
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
and Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
where they are known simply as (singulars: and ).
The districts are at an intermediate level of administration between the (German states
States of Germany
Germany is made up of sixteen which are partly sovereign constituent states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Land literally translates as "country", and constitutionally speaking, they are constituent countries...
) and the counties
Counties in Germany
The states of Germany know 4 different names for the English common-law term county. As in the United States, these counties are administrative subdivisions of states...
or the municipal governments . They are not to be confused with the larger . They correspond to level 3 administrative units of the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics
Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics
The Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics or Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics is a geocode standard for referencing the subdivisions of countries for statistical purposes...
(NUTS 3).
The title (Imperial Circle
Imperial Circle
An Imperial Circle comprised a regional grouping of territories of the Holy Roman Empire, primarily for the purpose of organizing a common defensive structure and of collecting the imperial taxes, but also as a means of organization within the Imperial Diet and the Imperial Chamber Court.Each...
) was given to groups of states in the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
.
Types of districts
The majority of the districts are rural districts of which there are 295. Cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants (and smaller towns in some states) do usually not belong to a district, but take over district responsibilities themselves, similar to the concept of independent citiesIndependent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
. These are known as urban districts —cities which constitute a district in their own right—and there are currently (2011) 107 of them, bringing the total number of districts to 402.
In North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, there are some cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants which are not urban districts, for example Recklinghausen
Recklinghausen
Recklinghausen is the northernmost city in the Ruhr-Area and the capital of the Recklinghausen district. It borders the rural Münsterland and is characterized by large fields and farms in the north and industry in the south...
, Siegen
Siegen
Siegen is a city in Germany, in the south Westphalian part of North Rhine-Westphalia.It is located in the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein in the Arnsberg region...
, Paderborn
Paderborn
Paderborn is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, capital of the Paderborn district. The name of the city derives from the river Pader, which originates in more than 200 springs near Paderborn Cathedral, where St. Liborius is buried.-History:...
, Bergisch Gladbach
Bergisch Gladbach
' is a city in the Cologne/Bonn Region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and capital of the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis .-Geography:Bergisch Gladbach is located east of the river Rhine, approx...
, Neuss
Neuss
Neuss is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on the west bank of the Rhine opposite Düsseldorf. Neuss is the largest city within the Rhein-Kreis Neuss district and owes its prosperity to its location at the crossing of historic and modern trade routes. It is primarily known...
and Moers
Moers
Moers is a German city on the left bank of the Rhine. Moers belongs to the district of Wesel...
. These cities, however, take over many district responsibilities themselves although belonging to a district. Moers is the biggest city in Germany (and at present time the only one with more than 100,000 inhabitants) that is neither an urban district, nor takes over district responsibilities.
There are also three so-called , a fusion of a district and a district-free town: Besides the Regionalverband Saarbrücken
Saarbrücken (district)
The Regionalverband Saarbrücken is a Kommunalverband besonderer Art, an integration of a district and a district-free town. It is located in the south of the Saarland, Germany...
(1974–2007: Stadtverband Saarbrücken), there is the Region Hannover
Hanover (district)
Hanover Region is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Heidekreis, Celle, Gifhorn, Peine, Hildesheim, Hamelin-Pyrmont, Schaumburg and Nienburg....
since 2001 and the Städteregion Aachen since 2009.
Responsibilities
The districts are responsible for the following:- According to federal and regional laws:
- The building and upkeep of B roads
- Other building plans which cover more than one local authority's area
- Caring for national parks
- Social welfare
- Youth welfare
- The building and upkeep of hospitals
- The building and upkeep of state schools of secondary education
- Household waste collection and disposal
- Car registration
- Electing the or , the chairperson of the district
- According to local laws: (differ in each region)
- Financial support for culture
- The building of pedestrian zones and bicycle lanes
- Financial support for school exchanges
- The building and upkeep of public libraries
- Revitalisation of the economy
- Encouraging tourism
- The management of (state run adult education colleges)
All these tasks are carried out by local (municipal) authorities operating together. Urban districts have these responsibilities and also those of the municipalities.
District council
The district council, the , is the legislative body of the district and is responsible for local self-administration. The parliament is elected directly every five years, except in BavariaBavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
where it is elected every six years.
District administration
The executive authority is an officer known as or , who administers the district. In parts of northern Germany, this is also the name of the district administration, which in southern Germany is known as .District Court
The district courtDistrict court
District courts are a category of courts which exists in several nations. These include:-Australia:District Court is the name given to the intermediate court in most Australian States. They hear indictable criminal offences excluding treason, murder and, in some States, manslaughter...
, or "Landgericht," is the court that has original jurisdiction in felony criminal cases where the time of imprisonment exceeds 4 years and certain other crimes, and appellate jurisdiction in all other cases. Decisions of the district court can be appealed to the Landesgericht or Oberlandesgericht (state supreme court), depending on the term used in each of the various states. This is similar to judicial proceedings in some US states like Nebraska
Courts of Nebraska
Courts of Nebraska include:State courts of Nebraska*Nebraska Supreme Court**Nebraska Court of Appeals***Nebraska District Courts ****Nebraska County Courts ****Nebraska Juvenile Courts...
where all felonies are tried in district courts and misdemeanors originate one level below in county courts.
Lists of districts
- List of districts of Germany
- List of rural districts of Germany
- Urban districts of GermanyUrban districts of GermanyThis is a list of urban districts in Germany. Germany's sixteen states are further subdivided into 402 districts of which 107 are urban districts – cities which constitute a district in their own right. A similar concept is the Statutarstadt in Austria...
See also
- States of GermanyStates of GermanyGermany is made up of sixteen which are partly sovereign constituent states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Land literally translates as "country", and constitutionally speaking, they are constituent countries...
- Wikipedia list with populations and area in km²