NomosStudium
An Introduction to German Law
An Introduction to German Law Seventh edition
Nomos
Seventh edition Robbers
NomosStudium Robbers
ISBN 978-3-8487-5834-0
BUC_Robbers_5834-0_7A_engl.indd Alle Seiten 04.07.19 14:17
7. Auflage 2019
© Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, Baden-Baden 2019. Gedruckt in Deutschland. Alle Rechte, auch die des Nachdrucks von Auszügen, der fotomechanischen Wiedergabe und der Übersetzung, vorbehalten.
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically those of translation, reprinting, re-use of illustrations, broadcasting, reproduction by photocopying machine or similar means, and storage in data banks. Under § 54 of the German Copyright Law where copies are made for other than private use a fee is payable to »Verwertungsgesellschaft Wort«, Munich.
Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliografie; detaillierte bibliografische Daten sind im Internet über http://dnb.d-nb.de abrufbar.
Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data is available in the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de.
ISBN 978-3-8487-5834-0 (Print) ISBN 978-3-8452-9968-6 (ePDF)
Foreword to the seventh edition
The law is a topic for ongoing discussion. Its development, formation and application are constantly debated in the interests of attaining agreement and acceptance. This de- bate is open to an international audience, and it is part of the general democratic pro- cess. Such debate can only be fruitful if it does not lose itself in the details, if it pre- serves the wider perspective. This general introduction aims to contribute to the at- tainment of that wider perspective and does not claim to provide an exhaustive and penetrating analysis of the intricacies of the law. This aim is perhaps also sufficient jus- tification for my boldness in going beyond the limits of my own area of specialisation.
The diverse help and intensive advice of colleagues and co-workers has made this project possible. The translation into English is originally the work of Michael Jewell, revisions and updates for the previous edition had been translated by Nina and Oliver Windgätter, those for this edition have been inserted by the author.
Trier, May 2019 Gerhard Robbers
5
Translator’s Note
Accurate translation of a legal text is a difficult task. On the one hand terminology must be chosen which makes it easy for the reader to relate the topic under discussion to similar ideas in his or her own legal system. On the other hand the danger of ignor- ing subtle differences in meaning must be avoided. In addition, a translator into Eng- lish has to consider the fact that there are many countries in which legal business is conducted in English and that in the various countries different terms may be used to describe the same concept.
My approach has been to attempt to use the terminology of England wherever this is compatible with German thinking. I have done so for two reasons. The first is that England, as a country of the European Union, will presumably be the main market for this translation. The second is that the English system, being the original source of the common law, will hopefully be the most commonly accessible of the English language systems for other English speaking lawyers, whether in the Commonwealth, the Unit- ed States or in countries where English is the main foreign language.
I have included key German terms in brackets for the benefit of those who already have some knowledge of German legal terminology or wish to acquire it.
Michael Jewell
Table of contents
Foreword to the seventh edition 5
Translator’s Note 7
Table of contents 9
General Structures
A. 15
The Legal Tradition, Areas of Law and Sources of Law
I. 15
The Legal Tradition
1. 15
Areas of Law
2. 16
Private Law – Public Law – Criminal Law
a) 16
Substantive and Adjective Law
b) 17
Relationship to European and International Law
c) 17
Sources of Law
3. 18
Statutory Instruments
a) 18
Decisions of the Courts
b) 18
Custom
c) 20
The Hierarchy of Norms
d) 20
Interpretation
e) 23
Structure and Functioning of the Court System
II. 24
General Structures and Principles
1. 24
The Structure of the Court System
2. 25
Legal Education and Careers
III. 27
Sources of Legal Information and Research Tools
IV. 29
Public Law
B. 32
History of Constitutional and Administrative Law
I. 32
Constitutional Law
II. 36
General
1. 36
Concept, Nature and Function of the Constitution
a) 36
Territorial Applicability
b) 38
Fundamental Rights
2. 39
General Principles
a) 39
The Various Fundamental Rights
b) 44
Fundamental Constitutional Principles
3. 48
Democracy
a) 48
Constitutional state under the rule of law
b) 50
Social State
c) 51
Republic
d) 52
Federation
e) 52
European Integration
f) 54
Constitutional Organs
4. 55
The President of the Federation
a) 55
The German Bundestag (Parliament)
b) 56
The Bundesrat
c) 59
The Federal Government
d) 60
The Federal Constitutional Court
e) 61
Political Parties
5. 62
9
The Financial Constitution
6. 63
Military Defence
7. 64
Religious Communities
8. 66
Administrative Law
III. 67
General Principles of Administrative Law
1. 67
Duties and Organisation of the Public Administration
a) 67
The Legal Forms of Administrative Action
b) 70
Public Property
c) 72
Administrative Procedure
d) 72
State Liability and Rights to Compensation
e) 74
Special Administrative Law
2. 77
Police Law
a) 77
The Law of Communal Administration
b) 81
Public Construction Law
c) 83
The Law Relating to Foreigners and Asylum
d) 85
Identity Documents and Residence Registration
e) 87
Data Protection
f) 88
Public Service Law
g) 89
The Law Relating to Cultural Administration
h) 90
Media Law
i) 93
Traffic Law
j) 95
Social Security Law
k) 96
Economic Administrative Law
l) 99
Environmental Law
m) 102
Law of Taxation
n) 105
Administrative Procedural Law
3. 107
Criminal Law
C. 111
History and System
I. 111
History
1. 111
System
2. 113
General Provisions of the Criminal Code
II. 115
Basic Principles
1. 115
Commission of an Act Corresponding to the Elements of a Crime
2. 116
Intention and Negligence
3. 118
Liability as a Principal and other Forms of Participation
4. 118
Completed Crimes and Attempts
5. 119
Illegality and Grounds of Justification
6. 121
Culpability (Mens Rea) and Factors Excluding a Culpable State of Mind
7. 123
Mistake in the Context of Criminal Law
8. 125
The System of Penalties
9. 127
Specific Offences
III. 131
The Law on Juvenile Offenders (Jugendstrafrecht)
IV. 138
The Law of Criminal Procedure
V. 140
Private Law
D. 148
History and Structure
I. 148
History
1. 148
Structure
2. 150
Table of contents
The Book of General Provisions of the Civil Code
II. 151
Capacity to Have Rights and Duties
1. 151
Capacity to Perform Legal Acts
2. 152
Legal Persons
3. 153
Declaration of Will
4. 154
Void and Voidable Declarations
5. 156
Legal Transactions
6. 157
Contract
7. 159
Standard Form Contracts
8. 160
Form
9. 161
Agency
10. 162
Public Policy
11. 162
Limitation of Actions (Prescription)
12. 164
The Law of Obligations
III. 164
General Provisions of the Law of Obligations
1. 164
Fundamental Principles
a) 164
How Obligations Come Into Existence
b) 165
How Obligations End
c) 166
The Content of Obligations
d) 167
Good faith
aa) 167
Place of Performance
bb) 167
Obligations to supply ascertained goods and obligations to supply unascertained goods
cc) 168
Liability for the actions of third parties (Vicarious liability)
dd) 168
Contracts for the Benefit of a Third Party
ee) 169
Plurality of Creditors and Debtors
ff) 169
Assignment and novation
gg) 169
Damages
hh) 170
Causation
ii) 171
Contributory Negligence
jj) 171
Irregularities in the Performance of a Contract (Mistake, Breach and Frustration)
e) 172
Impossibility of Performance (Frustration, and Certain Forms of Mistake and Breach)
aa) 172
Failure to Perform Within the Prescribed Time (Mora)
bb) 173
Pre-Contractual Liability (Culpa in Contrahendo)
cc) 174
The Law of Obligations – Special Obligations
2. 174
Contracts Expressly Regulated by the Code
a) 174
Fundamental Principles
aa) 174
Special Rules Protecting Private Consumers
bb) 175
The Contract of Sale
cc) 176
Contract of Donation
dd) 178
Contracts of Lease, Hire, Loan and Loan for Consumption
ee) 179
The Contract of Service and the Contract for Specific Services
ff) 180
Other Types of Contract
gg) 181
Necessitous Intervention (Negotiorum Gestio)
b) 182
Unjustified Enrichment (Restitution)
c) 184
Table of contents
11
Law of Torts (Delict) and Strict Liability
d) 188
Basic Principles
aa) 188
The Main Basis of Liability in Tort
bb) 188
Other Forms of Tort
cc) 190
Extent of Liability
dd) 192
Mandatory and Prohibitory Injunctions
ee) 193
Strict Liability
ff) 193
The Law of Things (Law of Property)
IV. 195
Basic Principles
1. 195
Possession
2. 196
Ownership
3. 197
Limited Real Rights
4. 201
Family Law
V. 203
Basic Principles
1. 203
Engagement to Marry
2. 205
Marriage
3. 205
Entering a Marriage
a) 205
Rights and Duties Arising From Marriage
b) 206
Matrimonial Property
c) 206
Divorce
d) 208
The Registered Partnership for Life
4. 210
The Law on Children
5. 210
Relationship, Adoption, Guardianship and Similar Topics
6. 212
Relationship by Consanguinity (Blood) and by Affinity (Marriage)
a) 212
Adoption
b) 213
Guardianship, Custodianship, and Curatorship for Specific Matters
c) 213
The Law of Succession
VI. 214
Basic Principles
1. 214
Intestate Succession
2. 215
Deliberate Regulation of Succession (Including Wills) and Specific Gifts
3. 216
Family Provision – The Minimum Claim of the Spouse and Blood Relatives
4.
219 The Position of the Heir (Beneficiary)
5. 219
Conflict of Laws (Private International Law)
VII. 221
Corporate and Commercial Law
VIII. 223
Commercial Law
1. 223
Corporations and Other Forms of Joint Undertaking
2. 225
Basic Principles
a) 225
Aktiengesellschaft (AG)
b) 227
Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH)
c) 229
Genossenschaft
d) 230
Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts
e) 230
Offene Handelsgesellschaft
f) 231
Kommanditgesellschaft and Related Forms
g) 231
Negotiable Instruments and Securities
IX. 232
Competition Law and the Protection of Intellectual Property
X. 234
Competition Law
1. 234
Monopolies and Anti-Competitive Practices
2. 236
Table of contents
Patents and Trade Marks
3. 236
Copyright
XI. 237
Labour Law
XII. 238
The Law of Insolvency
XIII. 241
Procedure in Civil Litigation and Special Procedures in Miscellaneous Matters
XIV. 242
Basic Principles
1. 242
The Course of Civil Proceedings
2. 243
Summary Proceedings for the Recovery of Liquidated Claims
3. 246
Model Declaratory Action
4. 247
Execution of Judgement
5. 247
Special Procedures In Family and Miscellaneous Matters (Freiwillige Gerichtsbarkeit)
6. 250
Glossary 253
Index 285
Table of contents
13
