Die Bürgersprechstunde — The Councillor's Office Hours

Local Politics in Berlin

Berlin is both a city and a federal state, and it is divided into twelve districts, Bezirke, each with several hundred thousand residents. Every district has an elected council, the Bezirksverordnetenversammlung or BVV, and a district office, the Bezirksamt, which handles much of everyday administration: parks, schools, building permits, registration offices. District councillors are mostly volunteers who hold their seats alongside a regular job. Many hold office hours where residents can raise concerns, and council meetings are open to the public. Unlike elections to the Bundestag or the Berlin state parliament, district elections are open not only to German citizens but also to citizens of other EU countries who live in Berlin. Building projects go through a formal planning procedure. Before land can be developed, a Bebauungsplan, a legally binding development plan, is usually drawn up, and the draft is put on public display so that residents and organizations can submit objections. Disputes over green spaces, trees and housing are common, because Berlin needs new apartments but its residents also value the parks, courtyards and open spaces that make the city livable.