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Laws and Rulings

Administrative Procedure Act (VwVfG)

Legal text translated into Arabic

The Administrative Procedure Act (VwVfG) is the normative basis of the administrative procedure and thus regulates the proceedings of authorities. It is, therefore, one of the most important pieces of legislation of the executive branch. Due to the federal structure of the Federal Republic of Germany, a distinction must be made between the administrative procedure laws of the federal states and administrative procedure law of the Federal Government, which is the subject of this legal text.

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The first laws regulating the administrative procedure already existed at the end of the 19th century in the Kingdom of Prussia as well as in Baden, and also Thuringia and Württemberg followed at the beginning of the 20th century. After the proclamation of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz) in 1949, numerous federal states subsequently began to issue regulations on administrative procedures independently and inconsistently. In order to ensure a uniform approach, the Federal Government and the federal States joined forces in 1964 to draw up a model draft, which was to be adopted as a law by both the Federal Government and the federal States. However, this did not happen subsequently. Instead, a draft for an Administrative Procedure Act was developed at the federal level in 1973, which came into force on the 1st of January 1977.

Due to the distribution of competences in the Federal Republic, the Federal Government only has legislative competence for procedures of federal authorities and other authorities that implement federal law. According to § 1 (1) VwVfG, the VwVfG therefore, only applies to public-law administrative activities of the federal authorities and federal corporations, institutions, and foundations under public law. In addition, for those of the federal states and municipalities if they implemented federal law on behalf of the Federal Government. However, it shall not apply if federal law is exercised by the federal states, in so far as this is stipulated by state law. In these cases, the administrative procedure laws of the federal states apply. The provisions of federal and state laws are largely the same. The Federal Administrative Court then secures in accordance with § 137 (1) 2 VwGO a uniform interpretation. 

The Administrative Procedure Act consists of a total of seven parts, which are divided into sections. After the introductory Part I, which deals with the scope of application and competences, Part II of the Act regulates the general provisions on the administrative procedure. This system of placing general rules, which apply to all procedures, at the very beginning of a law and subsequently establishing special proceedings is characteristic of German law. Of particular importance within the general rules are the procedural principles which must be observed in any administrative procedure. Thus, the inquisitorial principle applies in administrative procedures (§ 24 VwVfG). The authorities investigate the facts on which they base a decision on its own initiative. This section also sets out the deadlines and dates of the procedure. 

Part III regulates in § 35 VwVfG and following the creation and permanence of the administrative act (Verwaltungsakt). The administrative act is the most important instrument of the administration. This is a “sovereign measure taken by a public authority to regulate an individual case in the field of public law and which has a direct legal effect to the outside.” By far, the largest proportion of administrative decisions are taken on the basis of such an administrative act. Particular attention is also paid to the provisions of § 48 and § 49 VwVfG, which govern the withdrawal and revocation of administrative acts. Subsequently, Part IV of the Administrative Procedure Act regulates the admissibility of the public-law contract and its various forms as a further instrument of official action.

 Part V of the Act regulates the special types of proceedings. This again shows the structure of the law, which distinguishes between general and specific provisions of the administrative procedures. This regulates special requirements that only apply to certain procedures. The concluding parts of the Administrative Procedure Act deal with the appeal procedure (Part VI), voluntary work (Part VII), and the final provisions (Part VIII).

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Philipp Bremer

Portrait von Philipp Bremer

Head of the Rule of Law Program Middle East and North Africa

philipp.bremer@kas.de +961 1 385 094 | +961 1 395 094

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About this series

Bridging legal language barriers

 

The rule of law has always, but particularly been noteworthy in the Arab world since the 2011 popular uprisings that reformed the institutions in several countries of the region such as Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Libya and more. Laws and rulings present the norms in which society must conduct itself in. In many of the countries in the region, many laws are unimplemented, are selectively implemented or even are impossible to implement. Alongside the slow socio-economic growth these countries are facing – notably due to ongoing crisis across the region -, societies in the MENA region have to some degree still not grown accustomed to the importance of laws and rulings in organizing their societies.

 

As a result of Germany’s dark Nazi past, the country’s "Basic Law" (Grundgesetz) of 1949 has seen significant value within its people, as they see it as a sign of national pride. The members of the drafting constitutional council spelled out the essence of what they considered to be essential lessons for building a democratic state that upholds the rule of law and protects human dignity (Menschenwürde) against all imaginable future threats. The Grundgesetz created a legal framework for a stable and sustainable democracy, making it an obligation for the executive, legislative and judiciary powers to conform to these laws and the seperation of powers. With time, both laws and rulings have created a stable framework in which society and public institutions simultaneously work together in preserving individual rights.

 

In Middle Eastern and North African countries, there has been a steady evolution of law and legal systems, resulting from a mix between westernized “modern” influence as well as keeping its traditional values in place. Efforts in modernizing judicial and legal practices using western legal means have been a helpful tool in spreading democracy in the region. As part of this series, the Rule of Law Programme Middle East & North Africa translates court decisions and laws from German into Arabic. These efforts will permit young scholars to explore the importance of legislative and judicial work in developing a sustainable democratic system.

 

Beirut, 2023; by Philipp Bremer & Ahmad Jenzarli

Philipp Bremer

Portrait von Philipp Bremer

Head of the Rule of Law Program Middle East and North Africa

philipp.bremer@kas.de +961 1 385 094 | +961 1 395 094

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