What exactly is a state?

Germany is a large country in Europe. Around 83.5 million people live here. They need roads and highways, train stations and airports, schools and universities, hospitals and nursing homes, as well as garbage collection, water and energy. We want to live in a clean environment and expect to be protected from crime. Children need, for example, kindergartens, playgrounds and schools.


There has to be money available to pay with. There also have to be jobs so that people can earn money. Many things need to be regulated so that everyone can live well. That is why we need rules that apply to everyone. The most important rules in a country are called laws.


For example, we need laws about the taxes we have to pay. That’s because roads, schools, the police, hospitals and other public services cost a lot of money.

Because so many things need to be regulated, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy are not just countries, but also states.


A country has three things:

  • A territory. This is a specific area enclosed by borders. The borders can be secured and guarded. Although there are borders between many European countries, they are often barely noticeable in what is known as the Schengen Area. Many people can travel freely there.
  • A nation. This includes the citizens of a country. They often speak a common language and have developed particular ways of living together. This is called culture.
  • A government authority. This includes the laws that apply in a given area, a parliament that debates and votes on laws, and a government. The government enforces the laws and administers the state. In a democratic state, politicians are elected directly or indirectly.


Germany is one of about 47 countries in Europe. It is surrounded by nine neighbouring countries: Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands.


The United Nations, or UN for short, is an organization in which countries work together. It currently has 193 member states. Federal Statistical Office

Learning sentences:

  1. People in a country need things like roads and __________.
  2. The most important rules of a country are called __________.
  3. __________ are used to pay for things like schools and hospitals. 
  4. A state's territory is called __________.
  5. A country’s territory is surrounded by __________. 
  6. The citizens of a state make up the __________.
  7. New laws are debated and voted on in the __________.
  8. The __________ implements the laws and administers the state. 
  9. Germany has nine __________.
  10. The United Nations are also called __________.
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