Civic education should enable independent judgement.
Someone wanting to understand how a parliament works or why fundamental rights protect democracy can start with the HLZ. Its work includes publications, events and digital material. The specific offerings currently available can be checked on its website.
Non-partisan means that the institution does not campaign for a particular party. It does not mean that human dignity and democracy are merely interchangeable viewpoints. The HLZ describes these values as foundations of its work and aims to help people assess information and positions for themselves.
The other three answers
The other institutions have different main roles, although they may still address political issues.
at the consumer advice center
The consumer advice centre advises on consumer matters and advocates for consumer interests. It can also express political views, but it is not the civic education agency sought here.
at the municipal regulatory office
The municipal regulatory office handles local public safety and order. It is not a general civic education institution.
at the churches
Churches may discuss social and political issues. The question, however, points to the state agency specifically responsible for civic education.
The test answer does not prohibit other sources of information.
In everyday life, the question’s broad wording could allow several places to obtain information. In the supplied answer scheme, the state agency is correct because civic education is its specific remit. That does not mean people may or should obtain information exclusively from it.
The Beutelsbach Consensus requires that learners are not indoctrinated and that political controversies are presented as controversies. This helps with critical reading: which statement is verifiable information, which is a judgement, and which arguments might be missing?
Tasks of the agency · Hessian State Agency for Civic Education ↗Understanding politics → State Agency for Civic Education.
Its remit is already in its name. Connect education with understanding and forming your own judgement.
Three words for this question
- überparteilichnon-partisan
- Not tied to the interests of a single party.
- die Urteilsbildungforming a judgement
- Assessing information and reasons before developing one’s own position.
- die Kontroversecontroversy
- A question on which different positions are argued.