The Bavarian Ministry of the Interior - State Security
Protecting the Constitution means protecting our citizens
Protection of the Constitution: Tasks and Powers
In its constitution the Federal Republic of Germany is described as a democracy capable of defending itself and set up to protect the freedom of its citizens. The protection of the constitution is an "early-warning system" for averting dangers threatening the free and democratic basic order. The intention is to anticipate any such threats and inform the authorities and the public – either with immediate communications or through publications such as the report on the protection of the constitution. Its statutory mandate is to observe any anticonstitutional activities.
Such activities include those of right-wing, left-wing and foreign extremist groupings as well as the Scientology Organisation as a new kind of extremist movement.
Demonstration in Munich against the "WWII War Crimes Propaganda Exhibition" on October 12, 2002
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Demonstration on the occasion of the Munich Conference on Security Policy in February 2002
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The office for the protection of the constitution has, by law, also been assigned the tasks of counterintelligence and – as yet only in Bavaria, Hesse, Saarland, Saxony and Thuringia – observing movements and activities involving organised crime.
The powers of the office for the protection of the constitution are precisely stipulated by law. To execute its duties, it may for instance collect and store data and, where necessary, also use intelligence services, i.e. procure information by secret means. Its activities are subject to rigorous controls, among others by the Parliamentary Control Commission set up specifically for this purpose.
