The Schuldenbremse (Debt Brake) is a constitutional rule that limits how much debt the German government can take on. It was introduced in 2009 and added to Article 109 and Article 115 of the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz) to ensure fiscal discipline and prevent excessive government spending. Exceptions are made for cases of national emergencies (like the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters etc), the government can suspend the rule, but it must create a plan to reduce debt afterward. The goal is to keep budgets balanced in the long term and avoid reliance on borrowing.