The current German Bundestag has 736 members, making it the largest parliament in German history [www.bundestag.de], [kurier.at]. This expansion from the standard 598 seats is primarily due to Germany's mixed-member proportional representation system, which can result in Überhangmandate (overhang seats) and Ausgleichsmandate (compensation seats) [www.br.de], [skhfz8h], [www.bundestag.de], [www.bbc.co.uk]. This system combines proportional representation with direct mandates, ensuring a diverse range of political viewpoints in the parliament [www.bundestag.de].

The German Electoral System

Germany's electoral system is designed to ensure proportionality while also providing for regional representation [www.bundestag.de], [www.bundeswahlleiterin.de]. Each voter casts two votes:

1. A first vote for a direct candidate in their constituency.
2. A second vote for a party list [www.bundestag.de].

The party-list votes are crucial as they determine the overall allocation of seats in the Bundestag, ensuring the parliament's composition reflects each party's national vote share [www.bundestag.de]. Direct mandates, on the other hand, facilitate regional representation and establish a connection between voters and their elected officials. This multi-party system often necessitates coalition-building and compromise, which are fundamental aspects of German parliamentary politics [www.dw.com].

Overhang and Compensation Seats

Überhangmandate (overhang seats) occur when a party wins more direct mandates in a state than it would be entitled to according to its share of the vote [www.br.de], [skhfz8h]. To balance these overhang seats and maintain overall proportionality, Ausgleichsmandate (compensation seats) are allocated to other parties, which can lead to a larger overall size of the Bundestag [www.bundestag.de], [www.bundestag.de]. For example, following the 2021 federal election, the Bundestag increased to 735 members, exceeding the standard seat count [taz.de].

Role of Political Parties and Recent Elections

Political parties in Germany play a crucial role in shaping the political landscape and influencing policy decisions [www.bundeswahlleiterin.de]. Parties can be freely established if their internal organization adheres to democratic principles. During elections, parties present their manifestos and compete for votes. Tools like the 'Wahl-O-Mat' allow voters to compare their views with the positions of different parties [www.deutschland.de]. To secure representation in the Bundestag, parties must obtain at least five percent of the national vote [www.deutschland.de].

In the 2025 elections, the CDU/CSU conservative alliance, led by Friedrich Merz, secured a victory, while the Alternative for Germany (AfD) experienced a surge in support [www.dw.com], [apnews.com].

Reform Proposals and Discussions

Due to concerns about the increasing size of the Bundestag and its potential impact on efficiency and cost, reforms have been proposed and implemented to limit the number of members and ensure that the Bundestag remains manageable and effective [www.drishtijudiciary.com], [www.yahoo.com], [www.researchgate.net]. For the 2025 elections, reforms aimed at limiting the number of seats and reducing the impact of overhang mandates have been discussed [www.deutschland.de]. As the legislative body of Germany, the Bundestag remains central to the country's political processes [www.bpb.de].