Acquiring Political Craft: Training Grounds for Top Officials in the German Core Executive

Political craft is an essential qualification of senior officials in the German Federal ministerial administration. The emphasis on political craft as a vital complement to administrative-technical competence reflects a policy-making system that is characterized by multi-party government, an assertive Parliament, a strong opposition, influential Lander , and growing informalization. In fostering political craft, three institutions play a key role: (i) the Chancellery; (ii) the political support units to the executive leadership; and (iii) the parliamentary parties in the Bundestag, which employ Federal ministerial officials on temporary leave. The centrality of these institutions in Federal policy-making makes them into outstanding training grounds for future top officials.