Fundamentals of Democracy (1) - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 1981 - 60 Pfennig

The German Federal Post Office begins a new special postage stamp series "Basic Thoughts of Democracy" with three stamps, which refer to basic principles of the state organization: 40 Pf - Rechtsstaat; 50 Pf - separation of powers; 60 Pf - People's sovereignty. All three principles are laid down for our constitutional order in Article 20 of the Basic Law (GG), which has also been called a "constitution in short form". State power emanates from the people. It is exercised by the people in elections and polls. The principle that all violence emanates from the people (Article 20 (2) of the Basic Law) is the fundamental principle of democracy. It implies that every form of state action must be traceable to, and legitimized by, the will of the people. In a parliamentary democracy like ours, willpower is exercised in votes and above all in elections. The people thus exercise the power of the state indirectly, through elected representatives. An immediate exercise of state power would not be appropriate for the mass society of a highly organized industrialized country. However, every citizen has a fundamental right to participate in the indirect exercise of state power, for example by allowing himself to be elected to a legislative body. (Text: Federal Ministry of the Interior, Bonn)