Article 50 [Functions]
The States participate through the Senate in the legislation and
administration of the Federation and in European Union
matters.
Article 51 [Composition]
(1) The Senate consists of members of the State governments
which appoint and recall them. Other members of such
governments may act as substitutes.
(2) Each State has at least three votes; States with more than
two million inhabitants have four, States with more than six
million inhabitants five, and States with more than seven million
inhabitants six votes.
(3) Each State may delegate as many members as it has votes.
The votes of each State may be cast only as a block vote and
only by members present or their substitutes.
Article 52 [President, rules of procedure]
(1) The Senate elects its President for one year.
(2) The President convenes the Senate. He convenes the Senate
where delegates from at least two States or the Government so
demand.
(3) The Senate takes its decisions with at least the majority of
its votes. It draws up its rules of procedure. Its meetings are
public. The public may be excluded.
(3a) For European Union matters, the Senate can establish a
European Chamber whose decisions are considered decisions or
the Senate; Article 51 (2) & (3) 2 is applicable mutatis
mutandis.
(4) Other members of or persons commissioned by State
governments may serve on the committees of the Senate.
Article 53 [Presence of members of the Government]
The members of the Government have the right, and on demand
the duty, to attend the meetings of the Senate and of its
committees. They have the right to be heard at any time. The
Senate is being kept informed by the Government as regards the
conduct of affairs.