The Volkskammer ("People's Chamber") was the de jure Legislature of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). From its founding in 1949 until the first free elections on March 19, 1990, all members of the Parliament were elected on a slate controlled by the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED), called the National Front. Despite the appearance of a multi-party system, all opposition parties were effectively controlled by the dominant SED. In addition, seats were also allocated to various mass organizations affiliated with the SED, such as the Free German Youth. A legislature is a governmental deliberative assembly with the power to adopt laws. ... National motto: none Official languages German Capital East Berlin Largest city East Berlin Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 106th 108,333 km² Negligible Creation -Unified 7 October 1949 3 October 1990 Currency East German mark Time zone  â€“ in summer CET (UTC+1) CEST (UTC+2) National anthem Auferstanden aus Ruinen Internet... 1949 (MCMXLIX) is a common year starting on Saturday. ... March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... This article is about the year. ... The logo of the SED The Socialist Unity Party of Germany (German: Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands, or SED) was the governing party of East Germany from its formation in 1949 until the elections of 1990. ... The National Front was a united front of political parties and mass organisations in East Germany. ... The Free German Youth (Freie Deutsche Jugend or FDJ) was the official youth movement of the government of the German Democratic Republic. ...

On paper, the Volkskammer had great power, appointing the Councils of State and Ministers, and the Chairman of the National Defence Council. However, the Parliament had little real power, and the most dissent ever shown by Parliament to the SED was the nays of fourteen and abstensions of eight CDU representatives in a vote on liberalising abortion law.

A typical slate was as follows:

In 1976, the Volkskammer moved into a specially-constructed building on Marx-Engels-Platz (now Schlossplatz again), the Palast der Republik (Palace of the Republic). The logo of the SED The Socialist Unity Party of Germany (German: Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands, or SED) was the governing party of East Germany from its formation in 1949 until the elections of 1990. ... The Free German Trade Union Federation, in German Freier Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (FDGB), was the trade union federation in East Germany. ... The Christian Democratic Union of Germany was an East German political party founded in 1945. ... The Liberal Democratic Party of Germany (German: Liberal-Demokratische Partei Deutschlands (LDPD)) was a political party in East Germany. ... The Democratic Farmers Party of Germany (German: Demokratische Bauernpartei Deutschlands (DBD)) was an East German political party. ... The National Democratic Party (German: Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands, or NDPD) was an East German political party that acted as an organisation for former members of NSDAP or Wehrmacht. ... The Free German Youth (Freie Deutsche Jugend or FDJ) was the official youth movement of the government of the German Democratic Republic. ... The Democratic Womens League of Germany (German Demokratischer Frauenbund Deutschlands, or DFD) was the mass womens organisation in East Germany. ... The Cultural Association of the DDR (German: Kulturbund) was an organisation in East Germany, which was a federation of thousands of local clubs. ... Schlossplatz (in English, Palace Square) is a square in the centre of Berlin in Germany. ... Schlossplatz (in English, Palace Square) is a square in the centre of Berlin in Germany. ... The Palast der Republik in 2003 The Palast der Republik (Palace of the Republic) is a building in Berlin, on the bank of the River Spree, and on Schlossplatz (called Marx-Engels-Platz from 1951 to 1994). ...

After the 1990 elections, the disposition of the parties was as follows

The Alliance for Germany (German: Allianz für Deutschland) was an opposition coalition in East Germany. ... The Christian Democratic Union of Germany was an East German political party founded in 1945. ... Democratic Awakening (German: Demokratischer Aufbruch) was an East German opposition political movement. ... German Social Union (German: Deutsche Soziale Union) was an East German conservative opposition group. ... SPD redirects here. ... Party of Democratic Socialism is a political party in India; see Party of Democratic Socialism (India) the former name of a German political party; see Left Party (Germany). ... The Association of Free Democrats (German: Bund Freier Demokraten) was a liberal coalition formed in East Germany on 12 February 1990. ... The German Forum Party (German:Deutsche Forumpartei) was an opposition political party in East Germany. ... The Free Democratic Party (GDR) (German:Freie Demokratische Partei (DDR)) was an opposition political party in East Germany. ... The Liberal Democratic Party of Germany (German: Liberal-Demokratische Partei Deutschlands (LDPD)) was a political party in East Germany. ... Alliance 90 (Bündnis 90) was an alliance of opposition groups in East Germany. ... The Green Party in East Germany was founded in February 1990. ... The National Democratic Party (German: Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands, or NDPD) was an East German political party that acted as an organisation for former members of NSDAP or Wehrmacht. ... The Democratic Womens League of Germany (German Demokratischer Frauenbund Deutschlands, or DFD) was the mass womens organisation in East Germany. ...

Chairmen of the People's Chamber