Chancellor of Germany (1949–present) clear focus of power in Germany. Under the provisions of the Basic Law giving him the power to set guidelines for all fields of policy, Adenauer arrogated nearly all major decisions to himself. He often treated his ministers as mere extensions of his authority rather than colleagues. While his successors have tended to be less domineering, the chancellor has acquired enough ex officio authority (in addition to his/her constitutional powers) that Germany is often described by constitutional law experts as a "chancellor democracy". The chancellor determines the composition of the Federal Cabinet. The President formally appoints and dismisses cabinet ministers,
Historical rankings of Chancellors of Germany Historical rankings of Chancellors of Germany Historical rankings of Chancellors of Germany are surveys conducted to construct rankings of the success and popularity of the individuals who have served as Chancellor of Germany in the Federal Republic of Germany. ^ Following Willy Brandt's resignation as Chancellor, Walter Scheel was acting Chancellor for a few days. For the TV show "Unsere Besten", more than 1 million Germans were asked to rank the 100 most notable Germans in an unrepresentative opinion poll. The list also included German Chancellors: Neither Kurt Georg Kiesinger nor Angela Merkel (who was leader of the opposition at