The starting point of the investigation is the debate surrounding the legal status of the so-called old Bundestag, particularly the question of its democratic legitimacy. The author essentially highlights three areas: he presents the historical development of the transition from an old to a new parliament and illustrates the legal framework of the transition from the old to the subsequent Bundestag. However, the focus of the work lies in the legal assessment of the material competence of the old Bundestag, meaning the exercise of parliamentary powers by the old Bundestag. The author succeeds in vividly and carefully analyzing the topic within the tension between constitutional law, parliamentary practice, state theory, and politics. Also interesting and enlightening is the initial look at the "lame duck sessions" of the American Parliament.