This article describes the historical and political background of today�s German party system and characteristics of political parties in the German Bundestag. It focuses on the period between the establishment of the Federal Republic of Germany and last year�s Bundestag election. The author introduces the basic history of Germany�s coalition governments and the political trajectory of each six parties in Germany�s 19th legislative assembly, i.e. CDU/CSU, SPD, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, FDP, Die Linke, and AfD.