Protest movements and demonstrations have made headlines since the beginning of the 21st century, primarily due to their sheer size. The controversy surrounding the G8 summit in Heiligendamm, the billion-euro Stuttgart 21 underground station, and the phase-out of nuclear energy drove hundreds of thousands from all walks of life into the streets. Additionally, right-wing demonstrations have repeatedly attracted attention by effectively staging themselves in the media. Faced with the challenge of channeling the protests and adapting traditional instruments of formal social control, the Federalism Reform of 2006 came at just the right time. Since then, the federal states have been empowered to enact their own assembly laws, and they have made active use of this authority. However, there is little public discussion about the significance and impact of these new laws.