The Federal Agency for Civic Education was created in 1952 as the Federal Center for Homeland-Service. Its original portfolio sought to anchor democratic ideals and principles in the population of West Germany. Today, it continues in this pursuit, specifically to “foster understanding for political issues, firm-up democratic consciousness and to strengthen willingness to participate in political processes.” An advisory board composed of 22 members of the German Parliament ensures the political impartiality of the Center’s internal and well as external civic education. Since 2000, Thomas Krüger, a former GDR dissident is the Center’s President.