Gemeindeordnung

The Gemeindeordnung is the muncipial code or local government code in the german language law.

Germany

Historically, the Gemeindeordnung was a state law. In the Weimar Republic, it was a federal law named Deutsche Gemeindeordnung. The Nazi regime made several revisions because of their polictical and legal philosophy. Because the 1949 german constitution Grundgesetz strongly emphasizes the state competences, the competence for enacting the muncipial code was given back to the states. So each german state. the Bundesland has its own muncipial code. There may be further laws like a Kommunalwahlgesetz, containing legal norms for local elections, also enacted by the state.

The Gemeindeordnung or short GO substitutes a city statute, it contains a constitution with basic and special rules for every community from the smallest village to big cities like Munich, Frankfurt and Cologne. Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen are themselves city-states and not part of a state.