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The conventional long for the country is the Federal Republic of Germany. The short for is just simply Germany. In Germany, however, they refer to their country as Deutschland for short and Bundesrepublik Deutschland for long. The five constitutional bodies of Germany are the Bundestag and Bundesrat with responsibility for legislation, the Federal Constitutional Court with responsibility for supreme court decisions, and the Federal President and the Federal Cabinet with responsibility for the executive. Since July 1999, the chief of state has been President Johannes Rau. The president is elected for a five-year term by a Federal Convention, including all members of the Federal Assembly, and an equal number of delegates elected by the state parliaments. The last election was held May 23, 1999. The head of government is Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder who has been in office since October 27,1998. The chancellor is elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Assembly for a four-year term. The Cabinet, or Bundesminister, (Federal Ministers) is appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chancellor. In the Legislative Branch, the bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Federal Assembly or Bundestag (60