The most important citizen rights are fixed in the “Grundgesetz” (the basic law of Germany). In the articles 1 to 19, the fundamental rights of the individual are stated. Some very important rights are the protection of human dignity, the right for physical integrity, the equality of all people concerning the law, freedom of believe, freedom of speech, freedom to assemble, freedom to choose one’s profession, protection for property and the law of inheritance, freedom of the press.
The article 20 contains the main principles the political system of Germany is build on: the federal state, democracy, the state under the rule of law, the welfare state.