The federal states form the Federation, not vice versa. In 1949, eleven state premiers signed the Basic Law, thus creating the Federal Republic as an amalgamation of these federal states. Germany's federalist state structure is reflected in the fact that the states have a say in the Bundesrat on laws and ordinances at the federal level.

The State Representation in Berlin prepares this participation in all decisions at the federal political level for Rhineland-Palatinate. In the Bundesrat, the country has four votes that must be cast unanimously. State Premier Malu Dreyer also leads the Rhineland-Palatinate state government in the Bundesrat; the representative of the State to the Federal Government, State Secretary Heike Raab, prepares the extensive meetings together with the team of the State Representation.

Pursuant to Article 76(1) of the Basic Law, the federal states may submit their own draft legislation to the German Bundestag via the Bundesrat or make suggestions by means of resolutions. In European legislation, too, the Bundesrat is comprehensively involved in the formation of the Federal Government's will in accordance with Art. 23 of the Basic Law. Rhineland-Palatinate is very active in the Bundesrat, as you can see on the right.