An electoral term is the period between parliamentary new beginnings.
In a state election, eligible voters determine the composition of their elected state representation. The parliament passes state laws and the state budget and scrutinises the executive. This work takes place across many sittings during an electoral term.
Five years is the basic rule. News about a sitting, a budget vote or a new political majority therefore does not automatically mean that a new electoral term has begun. Notice the word elected in the question: it asks about the term of the elected parliament.
The other three answers
The other numbers do not match Brandenburg’s normal parliamentary term.
3
Three years is shorter than the rule in Article 62. A possible early election does not change the correct standard answer.
4
Four years is not the term specified here. Do not transfer a familiar number from another election to Brandenburg’s parliament without checking.
6
Six years exceeds the normal five years. The state constitution does not specify a six-year term for this question.
Early dissolution is possible.
Parliament can dissolve itself with a two-thirds majority of its members. If it is dissolved, a new election must take place within seventy days. Five years therefore means the normal duration, not a guarantee that every term lasts that long.
The newly elected parliament meets within thirty days of the election, ending the previous electoral term. The exact election date is set through the constitutional procedure. This study page is not an election calendar and does not give the next election date.
Article 62 · Electoral term and new election · Constitution of Brandenburg ↗Brandenburg’s parliament: normally five years.
An electoral term and an individual sitting describe different periods.
Three words for this question
- die Wahlperiodeelectoral term
- The period for which a parliament is elected, subject to early termination.
- die Neuwahlnew election
- An election that determines the parliament’s new composition.
- die Auflösungdissolution
- The early termination of a parliament under the applicable rules.