Chancellor of Germany was usually held by Archbishops of Mainz. The title was, at times, used in several states of German-speaking Europe. The modern office of chancellor was established with the North German Confederation, of which Otto von Bismarck became "Bundeskanzler" (meaning "Federal Chancellor") in 1867. With the enlargement of this federal state to the German Empire in 1871, the title was renamed to "Reichskanzler" (meaning "Chancellor of the Realm"). With Germany's constitution of 1949, the title of "Bundeskanzler" was revived. During the various eras, the role of the chancellor has varied. From 1867 to 1918, the chancellor was the only responsible minister
Chancellor of Germany is the country's effective leader, although in formal protocol, the "Bundespräsident" and "Bundestagspräsident" are ranked higher. In German politics, the chancellor is the equivalent of a prime minister in many other countries. The chancellor is elected by the Bundestag. The current, official title in German is "Bundeskanzler(in)", which means "federal chancellor", and is sometimes shortened to "Kanzler(in)". The 8th and current chancellor is Angela Merkel, who is serving her fourth term in office. She is the first female chancellor. The title of Chancellor has a long history, stemming back to the Holy Roman Empire, when the office of German archchancellor