magistrate / city government
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city government
In some German federal states (e.g. Hesse) and historically, the term for the city government or city council as a collegial body that leads the administration of a city.
Der Magistrat der Stadt Frankfurt hat die neuen Bauprojekte genehmigt.
The city government of Frankfurt approved the new construction projects.
Careful: 'der Magistrat' is not a judge like the English 'magistrate'. In German, it usually refers to the city government as a body, not to an individual judicial person.
Der Magistrat der Stadt hat über den neuen Bebauungsplan entschieden.
The city government decided on the new development plan.
You can tell from the context whether the city government (the body) or the building (the town hall/city hall) is meant. Actions are carried out by the body, while location references point to the building.
Der Magistrat hat die neuen Regeln beschlossen.
The city government passed the new rules.
The term 'Magistrat' (city government) for the city administration is not common throughout all of Germany. It is used especially in Hesse and in city-states such as Berlin and Bremen.
In Hessen wird der Bürgermeister vom Magistrat unterstützt.
In Hesse, the mayor is supported by the city government.
When 'Magistraten' (magistrates) appears in the plural or in connection with antiquity, it refers to high officials in the Roman Empire. Watch for signal words such as 'römisch' (Roman) or 'im alten Rom' (in ancient Rome).
Die römischen Magistrate hatten sowohl richterliche als auch militärische Aufgaben.
The Roman magistrates had both judicial and military duties.
civil servant
'der Beamte' and 'der Magistrat' both belong to the area of the state, public office, and administration. Today, 'Beamter' means an individual person in public service, a civil servant. In some regions, 'Magistrat' means the city government as a group; historically, it can also mean a high official. For this reason, the words are not simply interchangeable. Learners may confuse them because both sound official. If you are talking about an individual person in an authority or office, 'Beamter' is correct. If you are talking about the leadership of a city as an official body, 'Magistrat' fits.
Der Magistrat entscheidet morgen über den neuen Spielplatz.
The city government will decide tomorrow about the new playground.
Im Rathaus erklärt mir ein Beamter, welche Unterlagen fehlen.
At city hall, a civil servant explains to me which documents are missing.