German Basic Course 1732 Studios

German · Unit 23

Unit 23: Im amerikanischen Handelszentrum

Volume 2

In the American Trade Center, Frankfurt am Main.

199 lines

Basic Sentences I

  1. 1

    In the American Trade Center, Frankfurt am Main.

    Imin the
    AmerikanischenAmerican
    Handelszentrum,Trade Center
    FrankfurtFrankfurt
    a/M.best
  2. 2

    Consul Becker is just talking to a visitor, Mr. Knagge.

Besucher
the visitor
  1. 3

    Didn't you tell me yesterday on the telephone your brother owns an export and import firm in Lubeck and you are just a silent partner?

seien
you are
Teilhaber
silent partner
  1. 4

    That's right, Mr. Becker. Besides that my brother has a small factory for mechanical toys.

  2. 5

    And your brother wants to get in touch with American firms?

  3. 6

    Exactly. We have up to now no business connections at all with American firms.

  4. 7

    But my brother wrote me, he plans a business trip to the USA.

Spielzeuge
the toy
Geschäftsverbindungen
the business connection
  1. 8

    That would be the most reasonable thing.

  2. 9

    (fortfahrend ...) Er habe vor, an Ort und Stelle Beziehungen zu amerikanischen Firmen aufzunehmen und ich solle mitfahren und mir Land und Leute ansehen.

    (continuing ...) He plans to make connections on the spot with American firms and I shall go along and look at the land and the people.

Vernünftigste
the most reasonable thing
(fortfahrend
continuing
vor
he plans
Beziehungen
the connection
solle
I should, shall
  1. 10

    Not a bad idea of your brother. Write him that the Trade Center will be glad to help you with working out your travel plans.

  2. 11

    That's very kind of you.

  3. 12

    May I introduce you to one of our men responsible (for this sort of thing)?

  4. 13

    I would like to write my brother first before I bother you with that.

  5. 14

    But we're really glad to do it. We'll give you also the addresses of American exporters and a register of firms with whom you can possibly get in touch.

  6. 15

    In the American Trade Center, Frankfurt am Main.

  7. 16

    Consul Becker is just talking to a visitor, Mr. Knagge.

  8. 17

    Didn't you tell me yesterday on the telephone your brother owns an export and import firm in Lubeck and you are just a silent partner?

  9. 18

    That's right, Mr. Becker. Besides that my brother has a small factory for mechanical toys.

  10. 19

    And your brother wants to get in touch with American firms?

  11. 20

    Exactly. We have up to now no business connections at all with American firms.

  12. 21

    But my brother wrote me, he plans a business trip to the USA.

  13. 22

    That would be the most reasonable thing.

  14. 23

    (fortfahrend ...) Er habe vor, an Ort und Stelle Beziehungen zu amerikanischen Firmen aufzunehmen und ich solle mitfahren und mir Land und Leute ansehen.

    (continuing ...) He plans to make connections on the spot with American firms and I shall go along and look at the land and the people.

  15. 24

    Not a bad idea of your brother. Write him that the Trade Center will be glad to help you with working out your travel plans.

  16. 25

    That's very kind of you.

  17. 26

    May I introduce you to one of our men responsible (for this sort of thing)?

  18. 27

    I would like to write my brother first before I bother you with that.

  19. 28

    But we're really glad to do it. We'll give you also the addresses of American exporters and a register of firms with whom you can possibly get in touch.

helfe
helps, will help
freundlich
friendly, kind
Register
the register
eventuell
possibly
aufnehmen
to get into contact, touch

Basic Sentences II

  1. 29

    My brother wrote me that in this regard he wants to inquire at the American Consulate General in Hamburg.

  2. 30

    Write him he ought rather to go to the Commercial Section of the Consulate General personally. It's rather complicated by mail.

  3. 31

    That I can understand. I'll write him this evening.

diesbezüglich
in this regard
wolle
he wants
solle
he should, ought to
persönlich
personally
Brieflich
by letter, mail
  1. 32

    Tell him, they will help him in every way. He may, if he wants, also be placed in our trade lists there so that your firm will be known in the USA too.

  2. 33

    I'll do that. - How about the Trade Center here? My brother wrote he has read about it and I ought to inquire (about it).

  3. 34

    It's a sort of show window of American industry in the Federal Republic. There are shows here in which you can see the latest American industrial products.

werde
they will
Beziehung
in every regard, way
lassen
he may ... have himself taken up, placed
Handelslisten
the trade list
Art
a kind, sort of
Industrieerzeugnisse
the industrial product
  1. 35

    Is that only for heavy industry like, for example, the mining and iron industries?

Bergbau
the mining
  1. 36

    No, the consumer goods industry also participates: groceries, household wares, the newest equipment in the sphere of auto repair.

  2. 37

    But you've probably never shown toys. Or have you?

Lebensmittel
the groceries
Haushaltswaren
the household ware
Gebiet
in the sphere
  1. 38

    Yes, last year before Christmas, right after a show of teaching machines from America.

  2. 39

    If my brother had only known that! Are there still any folders about it on hand?

  3. 40

    Yes. I think we could even find a catalogue for you.

  4. 41

    Thanks a lot. How often do these shows take place?

Weihnachten
the Christmas
vorhanden
on hand
  1. 42

    Every few months. At the moment we are preparing a precision instrument show.

  2. 43

    If you give me the dates, I'll pass them on to my brother.

  3. 44

    My brother wrote me that in this regard he wants to inquire at the American Consulate General in Hamburg.

  4. 45

    Write him he ought rather to go to the Commercial Section of the Consulate General personally. It's rather complicated by mail.

  5. 46

    That I can understand. I'll write him this evening.

  6. 47

    Tell him, they will help him in every way. He may, if he wants, also be placed in our trade lists there so that your firm will be known in the USA too.

  7. 48

    I'll do that. - How about the Trade Center here? My brother wrote he has read about it and I ought to inquire (about it).

  8. 49

    It's a sort of show window of American industry in the Federal Republic. There are shows here in which you can see the latest American industrial products.

  9. 50

    Is that only for heavy industry like, for example, the mining and iron industries?

  10. 51

    No, the consumer goods industry also participates: groceries, household wares, the newest equipment in the sphere of auto repair.

  11. 52

    But you've probably never shown toys. Or have you?

  12. 53

    Yes, last year before Christmas, right after a show of teaching machines from America.

  13. 54

    If my brother had only known that! Are there still any folders about it on hand?

  14. 55

    Yes. I think we could even find a catalogue for you.

  15. 56

    Thanks a lot. How often do these shows take place?

  16. 57

    Every few months. At the moment we are preparing a precision instrument show.

  17. 58

    If you give me the dates, I'll pass them on to my brother.

Feinmechanik
the precision tool, instrument

Basic Sentences III

  1. 59

    Lieber Hans, Heute sprach ich mit dem Leiter des Handelszentrums, Konsul Becker. Er sagte, in Hamburg werde man alles tun, um uns behilflich zu sein. Man werde dort unsere Firma in die amerikanischen Handelslisten aufnehmen und werde uns bei unseren Reiseplänen helfen. Er sagte auch, hier im Handelszentrum finde zwischen dem 17.6. und dem 3.7. eine Ausstellung der Feinmechanik statt. Vielleicht solltest Du eine kleine Reise nach Frankfurt machen um diese Ausstellung zu besuchen. Ich habe, Gott sei Dank, alles schnell erledigen können und komme übermorgen nach Lübeck. Dann kann ich Dir alles ausführlicher erklären. Mit herzlichen Grüssen Dein Klaus

    Dear Hans, Today I spoke with the director of the Trade Center, Consul Becker. He said that in Hamburg they would do everything to be of help to us. They would place our firm in the American trade lists and would help us with our travel plans. He also said, here in the Trade Center between the 17th of June and the 3rd of July there will be (take place) a precision instrument show. Perhaps you ought to take a little trip to Frankfurt to visit this show. I have, thank God, been able to finish everything quickly and will come to Lubeck day after tomorrow. Then I can tell you everything in more detail. All the best Your Klaus

Dank
Thank God
übermorgen
day after tomorrow

Present form of the subjunctive

The present form of the subjunctive

The subjunctive has a second set of forms. The set built on the past is the past form. This new set is the present form.

The present form is built on the infinitive stem of the verb. Two examples: Gott sei Dank. Er schrieb, dass er sich beim Konsulat erkundigen wolle.

As in the past form, the ich form is the same as the er form. The sie form is the same as the wir form.

Reading the tables of forms

The er form ends in -e: habe, solle, wisse.

The wir form adds -n to it: haben, sollen, wissen. The du form adds -st: habest, sollest, wissest. The ihr form adds -t: habet, sollet, wisset.

Sein has no -e in the er form: sei. Its wir and ihr forms are seien and seiet. In its du form, the e before the -st is optional.

Present form of the subjunctive

The present form in writing

No firm rule says when to use the present form and when to use the past form.

In speech the past form is more frequent. The present form can sound stiff and bookish.

In writing the present form is frequent. It is the usual form to report what another person said: Augenblicklich sei eine Verständigung die erste Notwendigkeit. This means At the moment an understanding is the first necessity.

  1. 60

    (At the moment an understanding is the first necessity. That this is recognized is shown by the fact that the English Government has scarcely reacted to the sharp rejection.)

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 23, Notes on Grammar

A. PRESENT FORM OF THE SUBJUNCTIVE

I. FORMATION

In addition to the forms of the subjunctive based on the Past Tense, there are forms based on the Present Tense:

Gott sei Dank!

Er schrieb, dass er sich beim Konsulat erkundigen wolle.

The forms of this subjunctive are based on the infinitive stem of the verb. A summary of representative forms are given below. The personal endings are the same as those for the Past form given in Unit 22.

er - form: sei; habe; solle; wisse
wir - form: seien; haben; sollen; wissen
du - form: sei(e)st; habest; sollest; wissest
ihr - form: seiet; habet; sollet; wisset
A. PRESENT FORM OF THE SUBJUNCTIVE

II. Use in Indirect Speech

"Augenblicklich sei eine Verständigung die erste Notwendigkeit. Dass dies erkannt werde, zeige die Tatsache, dass die Englische Regierung auf die scharfe Zurückweisung kaum reagiert habe.
(At the moment an understanding is the first necessity. That this is recognized is shown by the fact that the English Government has scarcely reacted to the sharp rejection.)

There is no definite rule of when one uses a Present Tense subjunctive based on the Past stem and when one uses the Present Tense subjunctive based on the Present or Infinitive stem. In spoken usage the Past form is more frequent since the Present form can sound stiff and bookish. In writing however, the Present form occurs frequently and, as a rule, when relating what another has said:

Special uses of the present form

One form in place of the other

In speech and in writing, either form can replace the other. This happens where a subjunctive form is the same as the indicative, and the meaning could be unclear.

Er sagte, alles, was er wisse, sei, dass er nichts wisse. The present form for viele would be wissen, the same as the indicative. So the sentence goes on with the past form: viele wüssten aber auch dieses nicht.

Wüssten has no past meaning here. It stands with the present forms wisse and sei.

Present, past and future time

Each pair of sentences has the same meaning. One uses the present form, the other the past form: sei and wäre, habe and hätte, werde and würde.

For present time, the subjunctive stands alone: Er sagte, er sei krank.

For past time, it goes with a past participle: Er sagte, er sei krank gewesen.

For future time, werde or würde goes with an infinitive: Er sagte, er werde krank sein.

Other uses of the present form

The present form of the subjunctive also has uses outside indirect discourse. They are wishes and pious formulas, recipes and directions, phrases that mean let it be, and formulas in mathematics.

Wishes and pious formulas

Short wishes and pious formulas use the present form.

Gott sei Dank means Thank God. Er lebe hoch means Long may he live. So sei es means So be it.

Recipes and directions

Recipes and directions use man with the present form.

A recipe can open with Man nehme, which means Take. A list follows, such as zwei Eier, two eggs.

Man denke dabei, dass means Keep in mind that.

Phrases that mean let it be

Es sei and es seien can open a sentence with the meaning let it be.

Es sei noch einmal erwähnt, dass means Let it be mentioned once more that. Es seien nur ein paar Tatsachen erwähnt asks that only a few facts be mentioned.

The verb is sei for one thing and seien for several things.

Formulas in mathematics

Mathematical and other formulas also use the present form.

Das Dreieck A - B - C sei dem Dreieck D - E - F gleich. This means Let the triangle A - B - C be equal to the triangle D - E - F.

  1. 61

    Thank God.

  2. 62

    Long may he live.

  3. 63

    So be it.

  4. 64

    Man nehme 200 Gramm Mehl, zwei Eier ...

    Take 200 grams of flour, two eggs ...

  5. 65

    Man denke dabei, dass ...

    Keep in mind that ...

  6. 66

    Es sei noch einmal erwähnt, dass ...

    Let it be mentioned once more that ...

  7. 67

    Let us mention only a few facts.

  8. 68

    Let the triangle A - B - C be equal to the triangle D - E - F.

FSI German Basic Course (1961), Unit 23, Notes on Grammar

B. FREE INTERCHANGE OF PAST AND PRESENT TENSE SUBJUNCTIVE

The Past form is often used instead of the Present form and vice versa in both speaking and writing where it is felt that when subjunctive and indicative forms are identical the meaning might be obscured:

Er sagte, alles, was er wisse, sei, dass er nichts wisse; viele wüssten aber auch dieses nicht.

Wüssten is used here because the Present form would be identical with the indicative wissen. Note, that there is not a trace of past meaning to the Past form. It fits in quite naturally with the Present forms.
C. TIME AND TENSES

To review the ways of expressing time in the subjunctive, the following table is presented:

Present Time:
Er sagte, er sei krank.
Er sagte, er wäre krank.
Er sagte, sie habe das Buch.
Er sagte, sie hätte das Buch.

Past Time:
Er sagte, er sei krank gewesen.
Er sagte, er wäre krank gewesen.
Er sagte, sie habe das Buch gehabt.
Er sagte, sie hätte das Buch gehabt.

Future Time:
Er sagte, er werde krank sein.
Er sagte, er würde krank sein.
Er sagte, sie werde das Buch haben.
Er sagte, sie würde das Buch haben.
D. SPECIAL USES OF THE PRESENT FORM

Besides the use of the Present Form in indirect speech there are a number of special uses:
D. SPECIAL USES OF THE PRESENT FORM

1. Exhortations and pious formulas

Gott sei Dank!
Thank God.

Er lebe hoch!
Long may he live.

So sei es!
So be it.
D. SPECIAL USES OF THE PRESENT FORM

2. Recipes and directions

Man nehme 200 Gramm Mehl, zwei Eier ...
Take 200 grams of flour, two eggs ...

Man denke dabei, dass ...
Keep in mind that ...
D. SPECIAL USES OF THE PRESENT FORM

3. Introductory phrases with the meaning of "let it (or us)" followed by the verb

Es sei noch einmal erwähnt, dass ...
Let it be mentioned once more that ...

Es seien nur ein paar Tatsachen erwähnt.
Let us mention only a few facts.
D. SPECIAL USES OF THE PRESENT FORM

4. Mathematical and other formulas

Das Dreieck A - B - C sei dem Dreieck D - E - F gleich.
Let the triangle A - B - C be equal to the triangle D - E - F.

Substitution Drill

  1. 69

    Didn't you tell me yesterday that her brother owns an export and import firm?

  2. 70

    My brother wrote me he was planning a business trip.

  1. 71

    My brother wrote me he was planning a business trip.

  2. 72

    That would be the most reasonable thing.

  3. 73

    I was told he intended to establish connections in America.

  4. 74

    Write him that the trade center would be glad to help him.

  1. 75

    Write him that the trade center would be glad to help him.

  2. 76

    I'd like to write my brother before I trouble you.

  3. 77

    Here is a register of firms you can get in contact with.

  4. 78

    Write him he had better go to the commercial section in person.

  1. 79

    Write him he had better go to the commercial section in person.

  2. 80

    Tell him he'll be helped in every respect.

  3. 81

    Let him know he can have himself entered in our trade lists.

  4. 82

    Didn't you say yesterday that he owns a pharmacy?

  1. 83

    Didn't you say yesterday that he owns a pharmacy?

  2. 84

    Didn't you say you were a silent partner?

Variation Drill

  1. 85

    Didn't you tell me yesterday your brother owns an export - import firm?

  2. 86

    Didn't you say you are a silent partner in your brother's firm?

  3. 87

    My brother wrote me he is planning a business trip to the USA.

  1. 88

    My brother wrote me he is planning a business trip to the USA.

  2. 89

    He said I am supposed to go along.

  3. 90

    Write him they will be glad to help him in working out his itinerary.

  1. 91

    Write him they will be glad to help him in working out his itinerary.

  2. 92

    My brother wrote me that he wants to inquire at the American Consulate General.

  3. 93

    Inform him he should come to the commercial section in person.

  4. 94

    They told me it will last several days.

  1. 95

    They told me it will last several days.

  2. 96

    Tell him he may, if he wants to, be entered in our trade lists.

  3. 97

    My brother wrote me he has read about it.

Conversion Drill I

  1. 98

    His brother is a silent partner in the company.

  2. 99

    Her uncle owns a factory for mechanical toys.

  3. 100

    Konsul Becker is speaking with a visitor right now.

  4. 101

    He wants to get in touch with American companies.

  5. 102

    The minister will advocate a reduction in working hours.

  6. 103

    The party is preparing for the convention.

  7. 104

    He is going to the sailing regatta in Kiel.

  8. 105

    The precision mechanics exhibition is being held in Frankfurt this year.

  1. 106

    Klaus has injured his knee.

  2. 107

    His uncle vouches for him.

  3. 108

    Her father is going on a business trip to the U.S.A.

  4. 109

    Vice Consul Jones gives her the addresses of American companies.

  5. 110

    She can drive anywhere in Europe with the International Driving Permit.

  6. 111

    The consumer-goods industry is taking part in the exhibition this time.

  7. 112

    She sent him the lists of American companies.

Translation Drill 1

  1. 113

    In the American Trade Center in Frankfurt am Main, Consul Becker is talking with a visitor.

  2. 114

    That is Mr. Knagge who had already told Consul Becker on the phone that his brother has an export and import firm in Lubeck in which he is a silent partner.

  3. 115

    Mr. Knagge tells the Consul that his brother also has a small factory for mechanical toys.

  4. 116

    He says that up to now he has no business contacts with American firms but he is planning a business trip to America.

  5. 117

    Consul Becker thinks that that would be the most reasonable thing to do.

  6. 118

    Continuing, Mr. Knagge says his brother has written him he should go along and see the country and the people.

  7. 119

    His brother intends to make contacts with American firms on the spot.

  8. 120

    Mr. Becker says to Mr. Knagge the Trade Center will be glad to help him in working out his itinerary.

  9. 121

    Then, he continues, he wants to introduce Mr. Knagge to one of the responsible gentlemen.

  10. 122

    He wants to write his brother first before he bothers Mr. Becker about it, says Knagge.

  11. 123

    Consul Becker will be glad to give them the addresses of American exporters and a register of firms with whom the Knagge brothers could make business contacts.

  12. 124

    The visitor says his brother wants to inquire about that at the American Consulate General in Hamburg by letter.

  13. 125

    The Consul answers him that it is rather complicated by mail, he ought rather to do it in person.

Translation Drill 2

  1. 126

    Mr. Knagge states he can understand that and he will write to his brother still today.

  2. 127

    Consul Becker also tells him, the Knagge firm ought to have itself placed in the trade lists in order to become known in the USA.

  3. 128

    Then the Consul tells the visitor that the Trade Center is a sort of show window for American industry.

  4. 129

    He says further these exhibitions are not only for heavy industry but also for the consumer goods industry.

  5. 130

    They are showing, for example, the latest appliances in the realm of automobile repair, but also household goods and foodstuffs.

  6. 131

    A toy industry show already took place.

  7. 132

    In addition there was an exhibition of equipment which are used in instruction.

  8. 133

    If Knagge's brother had known that, he would surely have gone to see the exhibition of the toy industry.

  9. 134

    Consul Becker believes that they can still find a catalogue of it in the Trade Center.

  10. 135

    He mentiones also, that they are preparing an exhibition of precision instruments.

Response Drill 1

  1. 136

    Whom did Consul Becker speak with?

  2. 137

    With a visitor, Mr. Knagge.

  3. 138

    What did Knagge already say on the telephone?

  4. 139

    That his brother owned an export-import company in Lübeck and that he himself was a silent partner in this company.

  5. 140

    What did he say his brother still had?

  6. 141

    He said that he had a small factory that made mechanical toys.

  7. 142

    What did he say his brother wanted to do?

  8. 143

    He said he wanted to contact American companies.

  9. 144

    Does he already have business connections with American companies?

  10. 145

    No, so far he has no business connections with American companies.

  11. 146

    What did Knagge's brother write about a trip?

  12. 147

    He wrote that he was planning a business trip to the U.S.A.

  13. 148

    Did he write what he wanted to do there?

  14. 149

    He wrote that he intended to establish contacts with American companies on the spot and that his brother should come along and see the country and its people.

  15. 150

    What did Consul Becker say about that?

  16. 151

    He said that was not a bad idea and that the trade center would be glad to help him work out his plans.

  17. 152

    Whom did the consul want to introduce Mr. Knagge to?

  18. 153

    He wanted to introduce him to one of the gentlemen in charge.

  19. 154

    What did Knagge say about that?

  20. 155

    He said he would like to write to his brother first before troubling Konsul with it.

  21. 156

    What did Consul Becker want to give Mr. Knagge?

  22. 157

    He said that he would give him the addresses of American exporters and a directory of companies that Knagge might contact.

  23. 158

    What had Knagge's brother already wanted to do about it?

  24. 159

    He wrote that he intended to inquire at the American consulate general in Hamburg.

  25. 160

    What did Consul Becker say about that?

  26. 161

    He said that Mr. Knagge should write to his brother and tell him that he would be better off going personally to the Commercial Section of the Consulate General.

Response Drill 2

  1. 162

    Why did he say that?

  2. 163

    Because, as he said, doing it by correspondence was rather cumbersome.

  3. 164

    What is Mr. Knagge supposed to do at the consulate general?

  4. 165

    Becker said that he should also have himself included in the trade directories there so that his company would become known in the United States as well.

  5. 166

    What did Konsul Becker say about the American Trade Center?

  6. 167

    He said that it was a kind of showcase for American industry in the Federal Republic.

  7. 168

    What did he say about the exhibitions at the trade center?

  8. 169

    He said that there were exhibitions there where one could see the latest American industrial products.

  9. 170

    What types of industry are participating in it?

  10. 171

    Heavy industry and the consumer goods industry.

  11. 172

    What, for example, is there to see there?

  12. 173

    The latest equipment in the fields of automobile repair, household goods, and food products as well.

  13. 174

    What was shown last year shortly before Christmas?

  14. 175

    First they showed an exhibition of teaching equipment from America and then toys.

  15. 176

    What kind of exhibition are they preparing at the moment?

  16. 177

    Consul Becker said that an exhibition of precision mechanics was being prepared.

NARRATIVE (continued from Unit 21)

  1. 178

    The most important federal organ is the Bundestag, which is elected by the entire people for a four-year term in general, direct, free, equal, and secret elections.

  2. 179

    The Bundestag passes laws and thus constitutes the legislative branch.

  3. 180

    At the same time, it exercises oversight over the executive branch.

  4. 181

    Laws are adopted in plenary session by a simple majority after three readings (debate and vote).

  5. 182

    Laws amending or supplementing the Basic Law, however, require the approval of two thirds of the members of the Bundestag and the Bundesrat.

  6. 183

    The basic rights, the principle of separation of powers, and the federal structure of the Federation cannot, however, be altered by any law.

  7. 184

    The Bundesrat was created to represent the states.

  8. 185

    Its task is to ensure the participation of the states in federal legislation and administration, and to that extent it constitutes a second chamber.

  9. 186

    Die Mitglieder des Bundesrates (dazu die Vertreter von Berlin (West), die nur beratende Stimme haben) werden nicht vom Volk gewählt, sondern von den Länderregierungen, denen sie angehören, ernannt und sind an deren Weisungen gebunden.

    The members of the Bundesrat (as well as the representatives of Berlin (West), who have only an advisory vote) are not elected by the people but appointed by the state governments to which they belong, and they are bound by those governments' instructions.

  10. 187

    Thus, unlike the members of the American Senate, for example, the state representatives in the Bundesrat do not have the right to make decisions independently.

  11. 188

    Since agreement between the Bundesrat and the Bundestag is required for a legislative resolution to become law, one can, at least in this respect, speak of a "bicameral system."

  12. 189

    Laws passed by the Bundestag are sent to the Bundesrat.

  13. 190

    The latter may approve the bills, but it may also, in order to secure amendments, refer them to the "Mediation Committee" between the Bundestag and Bundesrat, which consists of ten members from each parliament.

  14. 191

    If the Mediation Committee amends the bill, the two legislative bodies begin a new round of deliberations.

  15. 192

    Once a law has been passed by the Bundestag and Bundesrat, it is signed by the Federal President, countersigned by the Federal Chancellor or the responsible federal minister, and promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette.

  16. 193

    The authority to decide constitutional disputes and review the constitutionality of laws rests with the Federal Constitutional Court, which has its seat in Karlsruhe.

  17. 194

    In it, the third branch of government, the judiciary, has attained its highest form.

  18. 195

    And there, dear Kurt, you have the information you wanted.

  19. 196

    In my opinion, it would be advisable for you to put it into your own words for your essay.

  20. 197

    Please give my regards to your dear parents when you visit them.

  21. 198

    With best wishes for a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year

  22. 199

    Your Uncle Fritz.

The particulars

The course
Foreign Service Institute, German Basic Course, Washington, 1961. Public domain. The teaching pages, the glosses and the narration of lines the tape lacks are ours.
Reading aloud
Digital narration, directed by 1732 Studios.
The app
The course on your phone, with the drills, your place kept and the audio offline.
App StoreGoogle Play
The book
New Poems, the work this course leads to, free to read here.
Data
JSON · Markdown · A guide for agents
Two whoopie pies and a pine. An inside joke.