der  Staatshaushalt

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ʃtaːtshaʊsˌhalt/

💰 What Exactly is 'der Staatshaushalt'?

Der Staatshaushalt (article: der) refers to the state budget or national budget. It's a systematic plan outlining all expected revenues (e.g., Steuern - taxes, Gebühren - fees) and planned expenditures (e.g., for Bildung - education, Verteidigung - defense, Soziales - social welfare) for a specific fiscal year (usually a calendar year).

It's a central instrument of Finanzpolitik (fiscal policy), used by the state to manage its economic and political goals. The Staatshaushalt typically needs to be approved by the parliament (e.g., the Bundestag in Germany).

Since Haushalt (household, budget) is masculine (der Haushalt), the compound noun der Staatshaushalt is also masculine. There are no alternative articles for this specific word.

📊 Grammar in Detail: Declension of Staatshaushalt

The word "Staatshaushalt" is a masculine noun. It is declined as follows:

Example Sentences

1. Der Bundestag debattiert über den neuen Staatshaushalt.
   (The federal parliament is debating the new state budget.)
2. Die Ausgaben des Staatshaushaltes sind im letzten Jahr gestiegen.
   (The expenditures of the state budget increased last year.)
3. Die Regierung muss dem Staatshaushalt zustimmen.
   (The government must approve the state budget.)
4. Die Opposition kritisiert den vorgelegten Staatshaushalt scharf.
   (The opposition sharply criticizes the presented state budget.)
5. In Krisenzeiten werden oft Nachträge zu den Staatshaushalten notwendig.
   (In times of crisis, supplementary budgets to the state budgets often become necessary.)

💬 When and How to Use 'Staatshaushalt'?

The term Staatshaushalt is primarily used in contexts relating to politics, economics, and public finance.

• Politische Debatten (Political Debates): In discussions about government plans, spending priorities, and taxes.
• Nachrichtenmedien (News Media): In reports on the state's financial situation, budget negotiations, or national debt (Staatsverschuldung).
• Wirtschaftswissenschaft (Economics): In analyses of fiscal policy and macroeconomic relationships.
• Verwaltung (Administration): In official documents and when planning state activities.

Distinctions:

• Bundeshaushalt: Specifically refers to the federal budget (e.g., in Germany). Staatshaushalt is more general and can include regional state (Länder) or municipal budgets, but it's often used synonymously for the national budget.
• Budget: A more general term for a financial plan, also used for companies or private individuals. Often synonymous in the context of state finances.
• Etat: A French loanword often used synonymously with budget or Haushalt.

⚠️ Be careful not to confuse Staatshaushalt with private household budgets (Privathaushalte).

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Think of 'der Staat' (the state). Since 'Staat' is masculine, der Staatshaushalt is also masculine. Imagine the (der) strong state controlling the (der) budget plan.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine the State (Staat) as one big Household (Haushalt) that needs to carefully plan how to spend all its money (taxes). The Staatshaushalt is the big financial plan for this 'State Household'.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

Potential for Confusion:

• Haushalt: Can also refer to a private household. Context is key.
• Staatsverschuldung: (National debt) This is the result of deficits in the Staatshaushalt over time, but not the budget itself.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Politiker den Staatshaushalt mit ins Bett?

Damit sie auf dem Geld schlafen können! 😉

---

Why do politicians take the state budget to bed with them?

So they can sleep on the money! 😉

📜 Poem about the State Budget

Der Staatshaushalt, ein dickes Buch,
Zahlenkolonnen, Besuch für Besuch.
Woher das Geld? Wohin es fließt?
Der Plan, der unsre Zukunft grüßt.
Mal rot, mal schwarz, die Summen schwer,
Politik ringt hin und her.
Steuern rein, Ausgaben raus,
So plant der Staat sein großes Haus.

---

The state budget, a hefty book,
Columns of numbers, look after look.
Where's the money from? Where does it flow?
The plan that helps our future grow.
Sometimes red, sometimes black, the sums weigh deep,
Politics wrestle while others sleep.
Taxes in, spending out,
That's how the state plans its big house, no doubt.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich bin ein Plan, vom Staat gemacht,
mit Zahlen voll, bei Tag und Nacht.
Ich zeig, was reinkommt, was man gibt,
und werd' im Parlament geliebt... und kritisiert.

Was bin ich? (Lösung: der Staatshaushalt)

---

I am a plan, made by the state,
Full of numbers, early and late.
I show what comes in, what goes out the door,
And in parliament, I'm loved... and criticized galore.

What am I?
(Solution: der Staatshaushalt / the state budget)

🧩 Other Interesting Details

Word Composition:

The word "Staatshaushalt" is a compound noun, composed of:

• Der Staat: (The State) Refers to the political entity of a country.
• Der Haushalt: (The Household/Budget) Here refers to the plan of income and expenditure.

Trivia:

• Debates about the Staatshaushalt are among the most important political events of the year in many countries. They are often referred to as the "supreme discipline" (Königsdisziplin) of parliamentary work.
• A balanced state budget (ausgeglichener Staatshaushalt), where revenue equals expenditure, is often a political goal but not always achievable or sensible.
• The term "Schwarze Null" (Black Zero) in Germany referred to the goal of achieving a state budget with no new debt.