die
Verfassungsbeschwerde
⚖️ What exactly is a Verfassungsbeschwerde?
The Verfassungsbeschwerde is an extraordinary legal remedy in the German legal system. With it, any person (jedermann, meaning 'everyone') can claim that their fundamental rights (Grundrechte) or rights equivalent to fundamental rights have been violated by public authority (öffentliche Gewalt), such as a court ruling, a law, or an administrative act.
It is filed with the Bundesverfassungsgericht (Federal Constitutional Court) in Karlsruhe. It is often the final step in a legal dispute after all other legal remedies (the so-called Rechtsweg, or 'legal channels') have been exhausted.
Since the word ends in '-e' and denotes a specific type of 'complaint' (die Beschwerde), the article is die (feminine).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar: Declension of die Verfassungsbeschwerde
The word 'Verfassungsbeschwerde' is a feminine noun. It is declined as follows:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Verfassungsbeschwerde |
| Genitive | der | Verfassungsbeschwerde |
| Dative | der | Verfassungsbeschwerde |
| Accusative | die | Verfassungsbeschwerde |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Verfassungsbeschwerden |
| Genitive | der | Verfassungsbeschwerden |
| Dative | den | Verfassungsbeschwerden |
| Accusative | die | Verfassungsbeschwerden |
Example Sentences for Illustration
- Die Verfassungsbeschwerde wurde vom Bundesverfassungsgericht angenommen. (The constitutional complaint was accepted by the Federal Constitutional Court.)
- Der Erfolg der Verfassungsbeschwerde ist ungewiss. (The success of the constitutional complaint is uncertain.)
- Mit der Verfassungsbeschwerde hofft er auf Gerechtigkeit. (With the constitutional complaint, he hopes for justice.)
- Er reichte die Verfassungsbeschwerde fristgerecht ein. (He submitted the constitutional complaint on time.)
- Viele Verfassungsbeschwerden werden jährlich eingereicht. (Many constitutional complaints are filed annually.)
- Die Begründetheit der Verfassungsbeschwerden wird sorgfältig geprüft. (The merits of the constitutional complaints are carefully examined.)
- Das Gericht gab nur wenigen Verfassungsbeschwerden statt. (The court upheld only a few constitutional complaints.)
- Das Gericht prüft die Verfassungsbeschwerden auf ihre Zulässigkeit. (The court examines the constitutional complaints for their admissibility.)
📜 When and how to use 'Verfassungsbeschwerde'?
The term Verfassungsbeschwerde is used almost exclusively in a legal and political context. It denotes the specific legal remedy available at the Bundesverfassungsgericht.
- Context: Law, politics, fundamental rights (Grundrechte), judiciary, legislation.
- Typical Usage: Eine Verfassungsbeschwerde einlegen/einreichen (to file a constitutional complaint), prüfen (to examine), abweisen (to dismiss), stattgeben (to uphold); Erfolgsaussichten einer Verfassungsbeschwerde (prospects of success of a constitutional complaint).
- Distinction: A Verfassungsbeschwerde is not a normal appeal (Berufung) or revision (Revision) at a specialized court (like a regional court or the Federal Court of Justice). It does not review the application of ordinary law, but exclusively the violation of constitutional law (Grundrechte).
One speaks of an 'erfolgreiche Verfassungsbeschwerde' (successful constitutional complaint) when the Federal Constitutional Court confirms the violation of fundamental rights.
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
- Article Mnemonic: Think of 'die Beschwerde' (the complaint). The Verfassungsbeschwerde is a specific type of complaint, so it keeps the feminine article die. Many German legal terms for actions or complaints are feminine (die Klage - lawsuit, die Revision - appeal on points of law, die Berufung - appeal).
- Meaning Mnemonic: Break down the word: Verfassung (Constitution) + s (linking element) + Beschwerde (Complaint). It's a complaint related to the Constitution (specifically, the fundamental rights guaranteed therein). You complain because you believe the constitution has been violated.
Imagine Lady Justice (feminine -> die) filing a hefty document (die Beschwerde) at the highest court to protect the constitution.
↔️ Similar and Opposing Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Individualbeschwerde: Emphasizes that it concerns individual rights.
- Grundrechtsbeschwerde: Highlights that it concerns the violation of fundamental rights.
- Staatsgerichtsbeschwerde (in some state constitutions): A similar instrument at the state level.
Antonyms (Opposites - more conceptual):
- Rechtsmittelverzicht: Waiver of legal remedies (like the Verfassungsbeschwerde).
- Verfassungsbruch / Grundrechtsverletzung (from the state's perspective): The constitutional breach / fundamental rights violation that the complaint targets.
- Gesetzeskraft / Rechtskraft (of a decision): Legal validity/finality before a Verfassungsbeschwerde succeeds.
⚠️ Similar, but different terms:
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Wollen Sie noch etwas sagen, bevor wir das Urteil verkünden?"
Antwortet der Angeklagte: "Ja, kann ich schon mal die Formulare für die Verfassungsbeschwerde haben?"
(Translation: The judge asks the defendant: "Do you want to say anything else before we announce the verdict?"
The defendant replies: "Yes, can I have the forms for the constitutional complaint already?")
📜 A Poem about the Verfassungsbeschwerde
Das Recht verletzt, der Weg beschritten weit,
Kein Richter half in letzter Instanz,
Doch Grundgesetz gibt Hoffnung, Streit,
Bringt vor das hohe Haus den Tanz.
Die Verfassungsbeschwerde, stark und klar,
Des Bürgers Schild, des Rechtes letzter Hort,
In Karlsruhe wacht die Richterschar,
Schützt Freiheit an dem heil'gen Ort.
(Translation:
The right violated, the path trodden far,
No judge helped in the final instance,
But Basic Law gives hope, despite the scar,
Brings the case before the high court's glance.)
(The Constitutional Complaint, strong and clear,
The citizen's shield, law's final hold,
In Karlsruhe, the judges watch near,
Protecting freedom, brave and bold.)
🤔 Riddle Time
Ich bin kein normaler Klageweg,
doch schütze ich dein höchstes Recht.
Nach Karlsruhe führt mein Steg,
wenn Unrecht dir geschah, ganz schlecht.
Fühlst du dein Grundrecht tief verletzt,
durch Staat und Urteil, alt und neu,
werd' ich als letztes eingesetzt.
Wie heiß ich wohl, sag an, sei treu?
(Translation:
I'm not a normal legal path,
yet I protect your highest right.
To Karlsruhe leads my path,
when wrong was done to you, with might.)
(If you feel your basic right deeply hurt,
by state and judgment, old and new,
I am deployed last, to assert.)
(What am I called, tell me, be true?)
Solution: die Verfassungsbeschwerde
✨ Other Interesting Details
Word Composition: The word is a compound noun, formed from:
- die Verfassung: The Basic Law (Grundgesetz) or a state constitution.
- -s-: A linking 's', often used between nouns in German compounds.
- die Beschwerde: A formal complaint or appeal.
Significance of the Court: The Bundesverfassungsgericht (BVerfG) holds a preeminent position in the German legal system. Decisions made in Verfassungsbeschwerde cases can have far-reaching consequences, even declaring laws null and void.
Statistics: Thousands of constitutional complaints are filed with the BVerfG each year, but only a very small percentage are successful (often less than 2%). The hurdles for admissibility and merit are high.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Verfassungsbeschwerde?
The correct article for Verfassungsbeschwerde is die. It is a feminine noun (die Verfassungsbeschwerde, der Verfassungsbeschwerde, ..., die Verfassungsbeschwerden).
