Currie, Professor Donald P. Dezember BGBl. For conditions governing use of this translation, please see the information provided under "Translations". Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany. By virtue of this fact the Parliamentary Council, represented by its Presidents, has signed and promulgated the Basic Law.
Inspired by the determination to promote world peace as an equal partner in a united Europe, the German people, in the exercise of their constituent power, have adopted this Basic Law. This Basic Law thus applies to the entire German people.
Article 1 [Human dignity β Human rights β Legally binding force of basic rights]. To respect and protect it shall be the duty of all state authority. Article 2 [Personal freedoms]. Freedom of the person shall be inviolable. These rights may be interfered with only pursuant to a law. Article 3 [Equality before the law]. The state shall promote the actual implementation of equal rights for women and men and take steps to eliminate disadvantages that now exist. No person shall be disfavoured because of disability.
Article 4 [Freedom of faith and conscience]. Details shall be regulated by a federal law. Article 5 [Freedom of expression, arts and sciences]. Freedom of the press and freedom of reporting by means of broadcasts and films shall be guaranteed. There shall be no censorship. The freedom of teaching shall not release any person from allegiance to the constitution. Article 6 [Marriage β Family β Children]. The state shall watch over them in the performance of this duty.
Teachers may not be obliged against their will to give religious instruction. Such approval shall be given when private schools are not inferior to the state schools in terms of their educational aims, their facilities or the professional training of their teaching staff and when segregation of pupils according to the means of their parents will not be encouraged thereby.
