17th Electoral Term of the Chamber of Ambassadors

Political Parties
The election of the Prussian Chamber of Ambassadors for its 17th electoral term brought considerable changes in the composition of the parliament. The Conservatives (C) and Royal Conservatives (RC), which traditonally form a single parliamentary group won 239 seats - an increase of 13 - while the Labour Party won 146 seats - 76 fewer than in 2006. The third-largest parliamentary group in the Chamber is that of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), with 76 seats (22 more than in 2005). The Prussian Democrats (PD) has 76 seats (22 more than in 2006) and the Centre Party has 68 seats -an increase of 17.

Current Coalition
Although the incumbent coalition of the Conservatives, Royal Conservatives and the Labour Party did not lose its parliamentary majority in the elections of 27 September 2006, the C and RC were also able to command a majority by coalescing with the FDP, and this what they did to form the new government. On 28 October 2006, Angela Rowston of the C/RC group was elected to office of Chancellor.

Members
Of the 622 Members of the Chamber, 203 (32%) are newcomers. The remaining 419 have already served in the Chamber. The average age at the start of the electoral term was about 49. Fourteen members were younger than 30. The age range covers several generations: the youngest member being 23 years of age and the oldest 72 years old. Women make up about 47.9% of the membership of the Chamber, a ration that has scarcely changed since the last electoral term.

It is commonly asserted that many teachers are drawn to a career in politics. On 27 of them, however, are in the 17th Chamber. Lawyers, with 98 representatives, constitute the largest occupational category. A total of 39 members possess engineering qualifications, and 37 of them are qualified in economics or buisness management. Other occupations are represented too, with one miner, three computer specialists and nine physicians. Three were previously ministers of the church, six are still studying, two give their occupation as artists, and one Member is a concert pianist.

More than half of the Ambassadors, namely 350, give their occupation as representatives of the people.