The German political system is a federal parliamentary republic, meaning it has multiple levels of government and a parliament that plays a key role in decision-making. The Bundestag is the main legislative body, elected by the citizens, while the Bundesrat represents the 16 federal states. The Chancellor is the head of government, responsible for running the country and implementing laws. Elections in Germany are held every four years, and the political landscape is characterized by multiple parties, with the Christian Democratic Union and the Social Democratic Party being two of the largest. The system promotes coalition governments, encouraging cooperation among different political groups to achieve consensus.