Consider the form of state and other features separately.
The options do not all concern the same conceptual level. Monarchy describes a form of state with a monarch as head of state. Democracy concerns political legitimacy, the rule of law concerns legal constraints, and the social state concerns social responsibility.
Germany combines the latter three principles. Its head of state takes office through election, not as a king or queen. Monarchy is therefore the answer to what Germany is not.
The other three answers
The remaining terms belong to Germany’s constitutional order.
a democracy
Democracy fits: public authority has democratic legitimacy.
a constitutional state
Rule of law fits: public action is bound by law and can be reviewed.
a welfare state
Social state fits: the constitution commits the state to social responsibility.
Avoid a conceptual trap.
This answer does not imply that every monarchy is automatically a dictatorship. It tests Germany’s particular form of state, not the democratic quality of every other country.
The Federal President and Federal Chancellor hold different offices. The head of state is the relevant office for the contrast with monarchy.
Article 54 · Basic Law ↗Republic rather than monarchy; democratic, law-bound and social.
When the question says “not”, select the description that does not fit.
Three words for this question
- die Monarchiemonarchy
- A form of state with a monarch as head of state.
- die Republikrepublic
- A form of state without a monarch as head of state.
- das Staatsoberhaupthead of state
- The office that represents the state at its head.