Office for the Protection of the Constitution
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domestic intelligence service
Germany's domestic intelligence service, whose task is to collect information about efforts directed against the free democratic basic order.
Der Verfassungsschutz warnt vor einer zunehmenden Gefahr durch Extremismus.
The domestic intelligence service warns of an increasing threat from extremism.
The word is composed of 'Verfassung' (constitution) and 'Schutz' (protection). It therefore literally means 'protection of the constitution' and directly describes the main task of this agency.
Die Aufgabe des Verfassungsschutzes ist es, die Demokratie zu schützen.
The task of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is to protect democracy.
'Der Verfassungsschutz' (the Office for the Protection of the Constitution) is the official name of Germany's domestic intelligence service. It is therefore not a general term, but a specific state institution.
Der jährliche Bericht des Verfassungsschutzes wird öffentlich diskutiert.
The annual report of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution is publicly debated.
Common formulations are that the Verfassungsschutz 'vor etwas warnt' (warns about something), 'etwas beobachtet' (monitors something), or that a group 'vom Verfassungsschutz beobachtet wird' (is monitored by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution).
Die Organisation steht seit Jahren unter Beobachtung durch den Verfassungsschutz.
The organization has been under observation by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution for years.
state security
Both bodies deal with threats to the state and the constitution, but they have different roles. The Verfassungsschutz is a domestic intelligence service that collects information, whereas the Staatsschutz is a police department that investigates politically motivated crimes. If the focus is on investigations, Staatsschutz is the appropriate term; if it is on intelligence gathering, use Verfassungsschutz.
Der Verfassungsschutz sammelte Informationen über eine Gruppe, die gegen die demokratische Ordnung arbeitete.
The Office for the Protection of the Constitution collected information about a group that was working against the democratic order.
Der Staatsschutz ermittelte gegen die Gruppe, nachdem sie eine politisch motivierte Straftat begangen hatte.
The state security department investigated the group after it committed a politically motivated crime.
