Anspruch auf diskriminierungsfreie Verfahrensgestaltung

The equality guarantee of Article 3 of the German Basic Law represents a core promise of the democratic state governed by the rule of law. The author shows that this promise can only be fulfilled if administrative procedures themselves are free from structural discrimination. Discriminatory outcomes, he argues, reflect discriminatory procedures rather than individual misjudgments. Drawing on the concept of fundamental rights protection through administrative procedure, the study develops a constitutional framework for equality in administration that encompasses both formal and substantive dimensions. The author formulates a subjective right to non-discriminatory procedural design, enabling affected persons to challenge discrimination at an early stage and to seek judicial review. Comparative analysis with U.S. due process and the EU "right to good administration" reveals that such procedural equality rights are conceptually recognized in other legal systems. German procurement law serves as a model for implementing these principles domestically. Finally, the author examines the procedural enforcement of this right under German administrative law and identifies existing protection gaps. He argues for legislative reinforcement through instruments such as collective actions, thereby offering a comprehensive framework for realising equality within administrative practice.