Free elections are one of the fundamental principles of any parliamentary democracy. The constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Basic Law, stipulates in its article 20(2) that "all state authority emanates from the people" who exercise that authority "by means of elections and referendums and through special legislative, executive and judicial organs." These principles are irrevocable. This booklet includes the text of the Electoral Law of the Federal Republic of Germany enacted on May 7, 1956 and material about the electoral system, electoral bodies, franchise and eligibility, preparations for elections, the polls, establishment of the election results, special regulations for by-elections and repeat elections, attaining and losing membership in the German Bundestag, and final provisions. (BZ)