Gregory's Server
They are states. 16 states with a constitution (Länderverfassung) and a parliament each.
Germany doesn't have a constitution because it would be in conflict with the 16 other ones. That's why the Grundgesetz is not a constitution and Germany is a federal state.
Some of these states just have different ways of defining themselves and their role within the federation.
@AdeptVeritatis @young_ullrich Makes sense, thanks! I said it sounds like a mistranslation because I was reminded of some misconceptions about Bundesland vs. US state. So I prefer “land”, but it's easy to confirm that you're right and I need to be more careful with the terminology.
Btw. Switzerland has Kantonsverfassungen and Austria has Landesverfassungungen and there doesn't seem to be a conflict. I don't see why the Grundgesetz wouldn't or couldn't be a constitution: https://www.bmi.bund.de/EN/topics/constitution/constitutional-issues/constitutional-issues.html
@AdeptVeritatis @young_ullrich Makes sense, thanks! I said it sounds like a mistranslation because I was reminded of some misconceptions about Bundesland vs. US state. So I prefer “land”, but it's easy to confirm that you're right and I need to be more careful with the terminology.
Btw. Switzerland has Kantonsverfassungen and Austria has Landesverfassungungen and there doesn't seem to be a conflict. I don't see why the Grundgesetz wouldn't or couldn't be a constitution: https://www.bmi.bund.de/EN/topics/constitu