# Commission on the History of Parliamentarianism and Political Parties

> German research institute focused on history of democracy and German politics

**Wikidata**: [Q1780268](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1780268)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/commission-on-the-history-of-parliamentarianism-and-political-parties

## Summary
The Commission on the History of Parliamentarianism and Political Parties (Kommission für Geschichte des Parlamentarismus und der politischen Parteien) is a German research institute established in 1951 to study the history of democracy, parliamentary systems, and political parties in Germany. Based in Berlin and organized as a registered nonprofit association, it focuses on preserving and analyzing historical political structures and their evolution.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1951 as a nonprofit research institute.
- Legal form: Registered association (eingetragener Verein).
- Headquartered in Berlin, Germany.
- Current chairperson: Dominik Geppert (since 2018); previous chairperson: Marie-Luise Recker (until 2018).
- Specializes in the history of German parliamentary democracy and political parties.
- Maintains extensive archives and publishes scholarly works, including the *Handbook of the History of Parliament*.
- Identifier codes: VIAF 134341420, GND 2015995-X, GRID ID grid.461725.3.
- Website: [http://www.kgparl.de/](http://www.kgparl.de/).
- Part of the German research landscape, affiliated with academic networks like Gepris (organization ID 10818).

## FAQs
### Q: When was the Commission on the History of Parliamentarianism and Political Parties founded?
A: The institute was established in 1951 to promote research into Germany’s political and parliamentary history.

### Q: What is the Commission’s primary focus?
A: It specializes in documenting and analyzing the development of parliamentary systems, political parties, and democratic processes in Germany, emphasizing historical context.

### Q: How is the Commission structured?
A: It operates as a registered nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein) with a governing board, currently chaired by Dominik Geppert since 2018.

### Q: What resources does the Commission provide?
A: It maintains archival collections, publishes scholarly literature (e.g., the *Handbook of the History of Parliament*), and supports academic research through grants and collaborations.

### Q: Is the Commission affiliated with other organizations?
A: It is linked to national and international research networks, including identification in databases like Gepris (ID 10818) and GRID (grid.461725.3).

## Why It Matters
The Commission plays a vital role in preserving and interpreting Germany’s political heritage, fostering transparency and critical engagement with the nation’s democratic evolution. By systematically documenting parliamentary history and party politics, it equips scholars, policymakers, and the public with resources to understand the foundations of modern governance. Its work supports evidence-based discourse on democracy’s challenges and resilience, particularly relevant in contexts of political polarization or historical revisionism. As a specialized institute, it fills a niche often overlooked by general academic institutions, ensuring focused, long-term research into topics critical to civic education and national identity.

## Notable For
- Oldest German research institute dedicated to parliamentary and political party history (founded 1951).
- Maintains unique archival collections on German political development, including parliamentary records and party documents.
- Publishes the authoritative *Handbook of the History of Parliament*, a cornerstone reference for political historians.
- Operates as a nonprofit association, ensuring independence from political or commercial influences.
- Recognized internationally through identifiers like VIAF, GND, and GRID, reflecting its integration into global research infrastructure.

## Body
### Founding and Mission
Established in 1951, the Commission emerged in the postwar context of Germany’s democratic reconstitution. Its mission centers on researching and disseminating knowledge about parliamentary traditions, political party dynamics, and the broader history of democratic governance in Germany. This focus addresses the need to critically examine the nation’s political past, including the Weimar Republic’s collapse and the Federal Republic’s stabilization.

### Structure and Leadership
- **Legal Status**: Registered as a nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein), ensuring operational autonomy.
- **Leadership**: Currently chaired by historian Dominik Geppert (since 2018), succeeding Marie-Luise Recker, who led the institute until 2018.
- **Location**: Based in Berlin, a hub for German historical research and political discourse.

### Research and Publications
- **Archival Work**: The Commission preserves and digitizes primary sources, including parliamentary minutes, party archives, and personal papers of political figures.
- **Flagship Publication**: The *Handbook of the History of Parliament* (Handbuch der Geschichte des Parlamentarismus) provides comprehensive analyses of institutional and procedural developments in German parliaments.
- **Scholarly Output**: Researchers affiliated with the institute publish monographs, edited volumes, and journal articles on topics ranging from electoral history to party system evolution.

### Collaborations and Resources
- **Academic Networks**: Partnered with projects like the *History of the German Bundestag* and contributes to digital humanities initiatives (e.g., parliamentary data portals).
- **Funding and Access**: Supports research grants, workshops, and public lectures while maintaining open-access digital resources for scholars and educators.

### Identifiers and Recognition
- **International IDs**: VIAF 134341420, GND 2015995-X, GRID grid.461725.3, and ROR 02dv3wb67.
- **Digital Presence**: Website (kgparl.de) hosts publication catalogs, event calendars, and archival guides, with select materials available online.

### Historical Context
The institute’s creation in 1951 reflected efforts to anchor democratic traditions in post-Nazi Germany by fostering scholarly scrutiny of political institutions. Its work continues to inform debates on parliamentary reform, party financing, and historical memory, underscoring the relevance of institutional history to contemporary governance challenges.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-01-10
2. BnF authorities
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. CiNii Research
5. [Source](https://kgparl.de/vorstand-mitglieder/)
6. GERiT
7. FactGrid
8. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File