The Constitutional Court Reviews the Early Dissolution of the West German Parliament

The December 1982 dissolution of the Bundestag, in order to make way for new elections, was only the second time in the thirty-five year history of the Federal Republic that such an event occurred. The 1949 Bonn Constitution provides severely restrictive provisions regarding early dissolution. The Federal Constitutional Court, however, upheld the dissolution proceedings. This Article investigates the legal issues raised by the early dissolution, and the Constitutional Court\u27s decision as to its constitutionality. It also discusses several proposals which have been made which would amend the Bonn Constitution to permit easier dissolution. The dissolution marked an important milestone in the postwar West German experience with democracy. As such, it is of interest not only to legal scholars but also to political scientists and historians