The Federal Council of Germany, known as the Bundesrat, is one of the two legislative bodies in Germany, alongside the Bundestag. It represents the 16 federal states, or Bundesländer, and plays a crucial role in the legislative process by reviewing and approving laws that affect the states. Members of the Bundesrat are appointed by the state governments, and each state has a varying number of votes based on its population. The council participates in discussions on federal legislation, ensuring that the interests of the states are considered in national decision-making.