The Bundesrat has three central functions within this system, which provides for division of power and combined fulfilment of the tasks incumbent on the state: There is one important difference between the German form of federalism and other federative systems in the underlying structure of responsibilities and the practical implementation of this cooperation: the individual federal state governments participate directly in the decisions taken by the national state, i.e.
As they go about fulfilling their respective remits, the Federation and the Länder work within a checks-and-balances system but also cooperate and show consideration for each other’s concerns.
