How the Bundestag Works: Visit the Infomobile in Heilbronn

All constituencies in the Federal Republic can be reached with the Infomobile. The truck stays in one place for three days.

Photo: Marie Provencal

Photo: Provencal, Marie”> All constituencies in the Federal Republic are driven to with the Infomobile. The truck stays in one place for three days. Photo: Marie Provencal Photo: Provencal, Marie

How exactly does the Bundestag work? How do MPs work, what is the function of committees and how is a law actually passed? Parliament is at the heart of our democracy, but how exactly it works is sometimes quite complicated.

In order to bring more clarity to the way of working, there is the Bundestag’s infomobile. This mobile is a 17 meter long truck that visits all 299 constituencies over the course of two electoral periods, i.e. a total of eight years.

Three days at Kiliansplatz

The truck has been stopping at Kiliansplatz in Heilbronn since Monday and will be available for citizens until Wednesday.

When you enter the information mobile, you will first see many printed information brochures: facts and figures about the Bundestag and the Basic Law.

There are also digital stations where you can test your knowledge or take a virtual tour of the Bundestag.

In addition to serious knowledge questions, there are also curious facts such as the question of which animals live in the Bundestag. There are two honorary members of the Bundestag on site whose job it is to answer questions and impart knowledge.

Answer questions and make contact

Peter Stephan and Susanne Pumpe are on duty in Heilbronn: “There were already two registered school classes there on Monday morning. During the first lesson, two other teachers spontaneously approached us for their classes,” says Peter Stephan.

The students on Monday were between 13 and 15 years old, but that varied greatly. The previous knowledge is also very different and with it the questions that the students ask.

Another goal of the infomobile is to establish contact between MPs and citizens. However, none of the local MPs registered in Heilbronn.

A basic idea from the times of reunification

“But I’ve often had the experience that many people come spontaneously because these appointments get lost in the hustle and bustle in Berlin,” explains Peter Stephan. “Besides, the summer break has just started,” he adds. You have to be careful there too.

The basic idea for the infomobile dates back to the time of reunification, explains Susanne Pumpe. “You had new federal states and people who didn’t grow up with the Bundestag. The aim of the infomobile was to establish a connection and proximity,” she says. Members of parliament from the “old” federal states quickly found the concept convincing, and so the information mobile is touring through the whole state today.

opening hours

The Bundestag’s infomobile can be found on Kiliansplatz and is open on Tuesday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Wednesday, July 19, the truck can then be visited from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Next stop of the truck is Würzburg.

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