Member of the German Bundestag

[1] Unofficially the term Abgeordneter (literally: "delegate", i.e. of a certain electorate) is also common (abbreviated Abg., never follows the name but precedes it).

[2] In accordance with article 38 of the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, which is the German constitution, "[m]embers of the German Bundestag shall be elected in general, direct, free, equal, and secret elections.

They shall be representatives of the whole people, not bound by orders or instructions, and responsible only to their conscience."

An important though not constitutionally required feature of German parliamentarianism is a slightly modified proportional representation.

The 16 federal States of Germany (Länder) are represented by the Bundesrat at the former Prussian House of Lords, whose members are representatives of the respective Länders' governments and not directly elected by the people.