Der Nationale und der Deutsche Ethikrat

For the first time in Germany's history, the federal government has established a National Ethics Council, a bioethics commission that is intended to inform and advise not only the government and parliament but also the general public. This aims to contribute to the development of cross-state and societal concepts regarding the discussion and clarification of current biopolitical issues. Consequently, there was significant discomfort regarding the government's decision to convene the council almost unilaterally, without involving the Bundestag in any way. This raised the need to clarify the constitutional requirements for the institutionalization of a central political advisory body. It was also examined whether and to what extent this form of independent political consulting is compatible with the Basic Law, particularly with the principles of democracy and the separation of powers; a question that remains relevant even after the National Ethics Council was replaced by the German Ethics Council.