The Senator for Justice and the Constitution Die Senatorin für Justiz und Verfassung

As the highest administrative authority in the justice sector, the necessary personnel and material conditions must be created to enable the judiciary to fulfil its tasks, particularly in the areas of jurisdiction, criminal prosecution and the execution of sentences. In relation to the courts, it should be noted that these belong to the independent third branch of government in their judicial functions. The Senator for Justice and the Constitution safeguards the independence of the third branch of government. In this respect, she only performs organisational, management and supervisory functions insofar as independence is not affected. With this requirement, the Senator for Justice and the Constitution is responsible for personnel management within the framework of the Justice product plan, including personnel management measures. Notwithstanding this, the heads of departments are in turn responsible for their own departments (product groups) due to decentralised resource responsibility and are required to report within the framework of controlling. Other tasks of the Senatorial Department include participation in legislation, auditing and the granting of pardons. Another task of particular importance is the further development of an effective prison system with its security and rehabilitation tasks. The department is also responsible for constitutional matters. It is responsible for all questions relating to the interpretation and application of the state constitution and for constitutional policy and reform. The Senator for Justice and Constitutional Affairs may participate in and comment on constitutional disputes before the State Court of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen. Detailed information – in particular about the Department of Justice and Constitutional Affairs and individual topics – is available on our website: www.justiz.bremen.de