The Bundesversammlung only meets to elect the President . Its members are the entire Bundestag and an equal number of state delegates selected especially for this purpose in proportion to election results for the state parliaments . The President is elected every five years by the Federal Assembly ( Bundesversammlung ) , a special body convened only for this purpose , comprising the entire Bundestag and an equal number of state delegates selected especially for this purpose in proportion to election results for the state diets .