Konrad Adenauer

Adenauer chaired West Germany's Parliamentary Council and used that position to negotiate with both German participants and the Western occupying powers. He proclaimed the Basic Law in May 1949 before becoming the first federal chancellor. His contribution was political coordination around a settlement built collectively, rather than personal drafting of all its safeguards. The continuing constitutional framework connects federal government to rights and institutional limits; its survival beyond his leadership is part of the achievement.