das  Oberverwaltungsgericht

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈoːbɐfɛɐ̯ˌvaltʊŋsɡəˌʁɪçt/

🏛️ What exactly is an Oberverwaltungsgericht?

The Oberverwaltungsgericht (often abbreviated as OVG), also called Verwaltungsgerichtshof (VGH) in some German federal states, is a court within the administrative jurisdiction in Germany. In the hierarchy, it ranks above the Verwaltungsgericht (Administrative Court) and below the Bundesverwaltungsgericht (Federal Administrative Court).

Its main function is to decide on appeals (Berufungen) against judgments of the Verwaltungsgerichte and complaints (Beschwerden) against other decisions of the Verwaltungsgerichte. Thus, it is an important instance for legal protection against acts of public administration (e.g., official notices from authorities).

It is a neuter noun, and its article is das.

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Das Oberverwaltungsgericht

The word "Oberverwaltungsgericht" is a neuter noun. The article is das. It is a compound noun (ein Kompositum).

Declension (Singular)

Declension (Plural)

The plural "die Oberverwaltungsgerichte" is used when referring to the courts of multiple federal states.

Examples 📜

• Das Oberverwaltungsgericht hat die Entscheidung des Verwaltungsgerichts bestätigt. (The Higher Administrative Court confirmed the decision of the Administrative Court.)
• Die Berufung wurde beim zuständigen Oberverwaltungsgericht eingelegt. (The appeal was filed with the responsible Higher Administrative Court.)
• Der Fall liegt nun beim Oberverwaltungsgericht zur Prüfung. (The case is now before the Higher Administrative Court for review.)
• Die verschiedenen Oberverwaltungsgerichte der Länder haben teils unterschiedliche Rechtsprechung entwickelt. (The various Higher Administrative Courts of the states have partly developed different jurisprudence.)

💡 Usage in Context

The term das Oberverwaltungsgericht is mainly used in legal and administrative contexts. It designates the second instance court in the administrative jurisdiction of the German federal states (Bundesländer).

• Typical cases: Appeals against judgments of Administrative Courts (Verwaltungsgerichte), e.g., in asylum procedures, building permits, civil service law, environmental law.
• Abbreviations: The abbreviation OVG is frequently used. In Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Hesse, this court is called Verwaltungsgerichtshof (VGH), but it serves the same function.
• Distinction: It's important to distinguish the OVG from the Verwaltungsgericht (VG, first instance) and the Bundesverwaltungsgericht (BVerwG, highest instance).

In general language outside legal circles, the term is less common, usually appearing in news reports about important court decisions.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

For the article (das): Remember das Gericht (the court). Many German words ending in "-gericht" are neuter, like das Amtsgericht (local court), das Landgericht (regional court), and thus also das Oberverwaltungsgericht. Think of it like 'the court' in general is 'das Gericht'.

For the meaning: Break down the word:

• Ober-: Means 'higher', 'superior' (like 'upper floor' - Obergeschoss).
• Verwaltung: Refers to administration, public authorities.
• Gericht: Means 'court'.

So, it's a 'higher court for administrative matters'. This helps understand its function as an appellate court.

🔄 Synonyms and Counterparts

⚠️ Note: While OVG and VGH are functionally equivalent, the official name depends on the specific German federal state.

😄 A Little Chuckle

German: Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Sie wollen also Berufung beim Oberverwaltungsgericht einlegen? Haben Sie denn dafür überhaupt einen triftigen Grund?" Antwortet der Angeklagte: "Ja, Herr Richter! Ich will endlich mal sehen, wie ein Oberverwaltungsgericht von innen aussieht!"

English Translation: The judge asks the defendant: "So you want to appeal to the Higher Administrative Court? Do you even have a valid reason for that?" The defendant replies: "Yes, Your Honor! I finally want to see what a Higher Administrative Court looks like from the inside!"

📜 A Poem about the Court

German:
Im Land, wo Recht und Ordnung walten,
Verwaltungsakte oft gestalten,
Was Bürger stört, was nicht gefällt,
Wird vor Gericht zur Schau gestellt.

Die erste Stufe, das VG,
Doch reicht das Urteil manchmal nie.
Dann geht die Klage, klar und schlicht,
Zum Oberverwaltungsgericht.

Es prüft erneut, mit Sachverstand,
Die Aktenlage, Hand in Hand.
Entscheidet dann mit letzter Macht?
Nein, Revision ist oft noch dacht'.

English Translation:
In the land where law and order reign,
Administrative acts often shape the domain,
What bothers citizens, what they dislike,
Is brought before the court, alike.

The first level, the VG's decree,
But sometimes the judgment isn't key.
Then the appeal, clear and plain,
To the Higher Administrative Court goes again.

It reviews anew, with expertise profound,
The case files, on solid ground.
Does it decide with final might?
No, further appeal is often in sight.

🧩 Who or What Am I?

German:
Ich steh' nicht ganz oben, nicht ganz unten,
Hab' mit Bescheiden meine Runden.
Beamte, Bauen, Umweltrecht,
Ich prüfe Urteile, gerecht und echt.
Man kürzt mich OVG oft ab,
In manchen Ländern VGH knapp.

Wer bin ich?

English Translation:
I'm not at the very top, nor at the very bottom,
I deal with administrative decisions often.
Civil servants, construction, environmental law's quest,
I review judgments, fair and best.
I'm often abbreviated OVG, you see,
In some states, VGH concisely.

What am I?

Solution: Das Oberverwaltungsgericht (The Higher Administrative Court)

✨ Other Interesting Details

Word Composition

The word "Oberverwaltungsgericht" is a classic example of a German compound noun (Kompositum):

• Ober-: Prefix meaning 'higher', 'superior'.
• Verwaltung: Noun referring to public administration.
• -s-: Interfix ('Fugen-s'), a connecting sound often placed between word parts.
• Gericht: Noun meaning 'court'.

It belongs to the terminology of the Verwaltungsgerichtsbarkeit (administrative jurisdiction), one of the five branches of the German judiciary.