Parliament elects the head of government.
The Landtag elects the Minister-President by secret ballot without debate. The first ballot requires a majority of its members. If that is not achieved, a subsequent ballot requires a majority of votes cast. Citizens therefore do not directly elect this office in the Landtag election.
The Minister-President sets the policy guidelines. Within them, ministers run their own portfolios on their own responsibility. The head of government and individual departments have connected but different functions.
The other three answers
Distinguish the office title, its translation and the municipal level.
First Minister
First Minister is not the German constitutional title used in Sachsen. The required answer is Minister President.
Prime Minister
Premierminister is not the German office title in this catalogue. Be careful in English: the official website does translate the office as Prime Minister. That is not a different office, but Minister President remains the correct option in this fixed quiz.
Mayor
Mayor is an office at the municipal level. The question concerns leadership of the state government for all Sachsen.
A political office is more than its current officeholder’s name.
The question requires the office title, rather than a current person’s name. The constitutional title remains Minister-President after a change of government.
The Landtag can express no confidence in the head of government by a majority of its members electing a successor. This constructive vote of no confidence links the change to a newly elected head. It is not an arbitrary dismissal by an individual.
Articles 59, 60 and 63 · Constitution of Sachsen ↗Sachsen’s state government → Minister-President.
In the English quiz, choose Minister President, even if you read Prime Minister in official translations.
Three words for this question
- die Ministerpräsidentin / der MinisterpräsidentMinister-President
- The head of the state government elected by the Landtag.
- die Richtlinien der Politikpolicy guidelines
- The main political direction set by the head of government.
- das konstruktive Misstrauensvotumconstructive vote of no confidence
- Parliament replaces the head of government by electing a successor.