Berlin

==Government and politics==
{{Main|Politics of Berlin|Berlin Police}}

=== German Federal city state===
[[File:Rotes_Rathaus.jpg|thumb|left|[[Rotes Rathaus]] (''Red City Hall''), seat of the Senate and Mayor of Berlin]]
Since the [[German reunification]] on 3 October 1990, Berlin has been one of the three city-[[states of Germany]] among the present 16 federal states of Germany. The [[Abgeordnetenhaus von Berlin]] (''House of Representatives'') functions as the city and state parliament, which has 141 seats. Berlin's executive body is the [[Senate of Berlin]] (''Senat von Berlin''). The Senate consists of the [[Governing Mayor of Berlin]] (''Regierender Bürgermeister''), and up to ten senators holding ministerial positions, two of them holding the title of "Mayor" (''Bürgermeister'') as deputy to the Governing Mayor.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 November 2016 |title=Verfassung von Berlin – Abschnitt IV: Die Regierung |url=https://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/regierender-buergermeister/verfassung/artikel.41527.php |access-date=2 October 2020 |website=www.berlin.de |language=de |archive-date=8 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008025644/https://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/regierender-buergermeister/verfassung/artikel.41527.php |url-status=live}}</ref>

The total annual budget of Berlin in 2015 exceeded €24.5 ($30.0) billion including a budget surplus of €205 ($240) million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/berlin/berliner-haushalt-finanzsenator-bleibt-trotz-sprudelnder-steuereinnahmen-vorsichtig-24702234|title=Berliner Haushalt Finanzsenator bleibt trotz sprudelnder Steuereinnahmen vorsichtig|work=Berliner Zeitung|access-date=20 September 2016|archive-date=18 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218131248/https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/sport-leidenschaft/berliner-haushalt-finanzsenator-kollatz-ahnen-bleibt-trotz-sprudelnder-steuereinnahmen-vorsichtig-li.6132?pid=true|url-status=live}}</ref> The German Federal city state of Berlin owns extensive assets, including administrative and government buildings, real estate companies, as well as stakes in the Olympic Stadium, swimming pools, housing companies, and numerous public enterprises and subsidiary companies.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=28 September 2019 |title=Vermögen |trans-title=Assets |url=https://www.berlin.de/sen/finanzen/de-plain/vermoegen/artikel.92737.de-plain.php |date=18 May 2017 |website=Berlin.de |archive-date=28 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190928151604/https://www.berlin.de/sen/finanzen/de-plain/vermoegen/artikel.92737.de-plain.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=28 September 2019|title=Beteiligungen des Landes Berlin|trans-title=Holdings of the State of Berlin|url=https://www.berlin.de/sen/finanzen/vermoegen/beteiligungen/artikel.7208.php|language=de|date=5 September 2019|website=[[Berlin.de]]|archive-date=19 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219070001/https://www.berlin.de/sen/finanzen/vermoegen/beteiligungen/artikel.7208.php|url-status=live}}</ref> The federal state of Berlin runs a real estate portal to advertise commercial spaces or land suitable for redevelopment.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.businesslocationcenter.de/immoportal/en/ |title=Real Estate Portal of the Berlin Business Location Center |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-date=10 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210091833/https://www.businesslocationcenter.de/immoportal/en/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democratic Party]] (SPD) and [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]] (Die Linke) took control of the city government after the [[Berlin state election, 2001|2001 state election]] and won another term in the [[Berlin state election, 2006|2006 state election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.statistik-berlin.de/produkte/Faltblatt_Brochure/berlin_in_Zahlen_engl.pdf |title=Berlin state election, 2006 |website=Der Landeswahlleiter für Berlin |access-date=17 August 2008 |language=de |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323161037/https://www.statistik-berlin.de/produkte/Faltblatt_Brochure/berlin_in_Zahlen_engl.pdf |archive-date=23 March 2012}}</ref> From the [[Berlin state election, 2016|2016 state election]] until the [[2023 Berlin state election|2023 state election]], there was a coalition between the Social Democratic Party, the Greens and the Left Party. Since April 2023, the government has been formed by a coalition between the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kai Wegner zum Regierenden Bürgermeister von Berlin gewählt – neuer Senat im Amt |date=27 April 2023 |url=https://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/2023/pressemitteilung.1318344.php |access-date=19 June 2023 |archive-date=4 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504125317/https://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/2023/pressemitteilung.1318344.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Governing Mayor is simultaneously Lord Mayor of the City of Berlin (''Oberbürgermeister der Stadt'') and Minister President of the State of Berlin (''Ministerpräsident des Bundeslandes''). The office of the Governing Mayor is in the [[Rotes Rathaus|Rotes Rathaus (Red City Hall)]]. Since 2023, this office has been held by [[Kai Wegner]] of the Christian Democrats.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kai Wegner zum Regierenden Bürgermeister von Berlin gewählt – neuer Senat im Amt |url=https://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/2023/pressemitteilung.1318344.php |access-date=19 June 2023 |archive-date=4 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504125317/https://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/2023/pressemitteilung.1318344.php |url-status=live }}</ref> He is the first conservative mayor in Berlin in more than two decades.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marsh |first1=Sarah |last2=Rinke |first2=Andreas |last3=Marsh |first3=Sarah |title=Berlin gets first conservative mayor in more than two decades |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/berlin-gets-first-conservative-mayor-more-than-two-decades-2023-04-27/ |work=Reuters |date=27 April 2023 |language=en |access-date=18 August 2023 |archive-date=18 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818074258/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/berlin-gets-first-conservative-mayor-more-than-two-decades-2023-04-27/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Boroughs===
{{Main|Boroughs and neighborhoods of Berlin}}
[[File:Berlin Subdivisions.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.3|[[Boroughs and neighborhoods of Berlin|Berlin's 12 boroughs and their 96 neighborhoods]] ]]
Berlin is subdivided into 12 boroughs or districts (''Bezirke''). Each borough has several subdistricts or neighborhoods (''Ortsteile''), which have roots in much older municipalities that predate the formation of Greater Berlin on 1 October 1920. These subdistricts became urbanized and incorporated into the city later on. Many residents strongly identify with their neighborhoods, colloquially called ''[[Kiez]]''. At present, Berlin consists of 96 subdistricts, which are commonly made up of several smaller residential areas or quarters.

Each borough is governed by a borough council (''Bezirksamt'') consisting of five councilors (''Bezirksstadträte'') including the borough's mayor (''Bezirksbürgermeister''). The council is elected by the borough assembly (''Bezirksverordnetenversammlung''). However, the individual boroughs are not independent municipalities, but subordinate to the Senate of Berlin.<!-- ([[urban district]], ''Stadtkreis'') --> The borough's mayors make up the council of mayors (''Rat der Bürgermeister''), which is led by the city's Governing Mayor and advises the Senate. The neighborhoods have no local government bodies.

=== City partnerships ===
{{main|List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany}}

Berlin to this day maintains official partnerships with 17 cities.<ref name=Berlintwins>{{cite web|url=https://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/en/international-relations/city-partnerships/|title=City Partnerships |publisher=Governing Mayor of Berlin, Senate Chancellery, Directorate for Protocol and International Relations |website=Berlin.de |access-date=8 February 2021|archive-date=5 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205104217/https://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/en/international-relations/city-partnerships/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Sister city|Town twinning]] between [[West Berlin]] and other cities began with its sister city Los Angeles, California, in 1967. [[East Berlin]]'s partnerships were canceled at the time of [[German reunification]].

=== Capital city ===
Berlin is the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany. The [[President of Germany]], whose functions are mainly ceremonial under the [[Grundgesetz|German constitution]], has their official residence in [[Bellevue Palace (Germany)|Bellevue Palace]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bundespraesident.de/DE/Home/home_node.html |title=Bundespräsident Horst Köhler |language=de |publisher=Bundespraesident.de |access-date=7 April 2012 |archive-date=23 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323221516/https://www.bundespraesident.de/DE/Home/home_node.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Berlin is the [[Seat of government|seat]] of the [[Chancellor of Germany (1949–)|German Chancellor]] (Prime Minister), housed in the [[Federal Chancellery (Berlin)|Chancellery building]], the ''Bundeskanzleramt''. Facing the Chancellery is the [[Bundestag]], the German Parliament, housed in the renovated [[Reichstag building]] since the government's relocation to Berlin in 1998. The [[Bundesrat of Germany|Bundesrat]] ("federal council", performing the function of an [[upper house]]) is the [[federalism|representation]] of the [[States of Germany|16 constituent states]] (''Länder'') of Germany and has its seat at the former [[Prussian House of Lords]]. The total annual federal budget managed by the German government exceeded €310 ($375) billion in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buzer.de/gesetz/11213/a188132.htm|title=Gesetz über die Feststellung des Bundeshaushaltsplans für das Haushaltsjahr 2014|website=buzer.de|access-date=20 September 2016|archive-date=13 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713104953/https://www.buzer.de/gesetz/11213/a188132.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">
File:07.08.21.Bundeskanzleramt.jpg|The [[Federal Chancellery (Berlin)|Federal Chancellery building]], seat of the [[Chancellor of Germany (1949–)|Chancellor of Germany]]
File:Berlin reichstag west panorama.jpg|The [[Reichstag building|Reichstag]], seat of the [[Bundestag]]
File:Bellevue Palace Berlin 02-14.jpg|[[Schloss Bellevue]], seat of the [[President of Germany]]
File:Bundesrat Gebäude, Berlin, Leipziger Strasse.jpg|[[Prussian House of Lords]], seat of the [[Bundesrat of Germany]]
File:Zentrale des Bundesnachrichtendienst, Berlin.jpg|[[Headquarters of the Federal Intelligence Service]]
</gallery>

The relocation of the federal [[Cabinet of Germany|government]] and Bundestag to Berlin was mostly completed in 1999. However, some ministries, as well as some minor departments, stayed in the [[federal city]] [[Bonn]], the former capital of West Germany. [[Berlin-Bonn Act|Discussions about moving]] the remaining ministries and departments to Berlin continue.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/der-regierungsumzug-ist-ueberfaellig-li.6130 |title=Der Regierungsumzug ist überfällig |publisher=Berliner Zeitung |language=de |date=26 October 2010 |access-date=20 November 2023 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924034346/http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/archiv/der-regierungsumzug-ist-ueberfaellig,10810590,10751012.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Foreign Office (Germany)|Federal Foreign Office]] and the ministries and departments of [[Federal Ministry of Defence (Germany)|Defense]], [[Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection|Justice and Consumer Protection]], [[Federal Ministry of Finance (Germany)|Finance]], [[Federal Ministry of the Interior (Germany)|Interior]], [[Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (Germany)|Economic Affairs and Energy]], [[Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs|Labor and Social Affairs]], [[Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth|Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth]], [[Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety|Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety]], [[Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture|Food and Agriculture]], [[Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development|Economic Cooperation and Development]], [[Federal Ministry of Health (Germany)|Health]], [[Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure|Transport and Digital Infrastructure]] and [[Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Germany)|Education and Research]] are based in the capital.

=== Embassies ===
Berlin hosts in total 158 foreign embassies<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.embassypages.com/germany|title=Germany – Embassies and Consulates|website=embassypages.com|access-date=23 August 2014|archive-date=26 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326142148/https://www.embassypages.com/germany|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as the headquarters of many think tanks, trade unions, nonprofit organizations, lobbying groups, and professional associations. Frequent official visits and diplomatic consultations among governmental representatives and national leaders are common in contemporary Berlin.