Austria's Federal Council: What You Need To Know

Austria is a federal republic consisting of nine federal states. The Austrian Parliament is the bicameral federal legislature of Austria, consisting of two chambers: the National Council and the Federal Council. The Federal Council (German: Bundesrat) is the upper house of the Austrian Parliament, representing the nine States of Austria at the federal level. The National Council is where Austria's federal legislative authority is concentrated; for a bill to become federal law, it must be resolved upon by this chamber. The Federal Council has a right to veto federal laws passed by the National Council, but the National Council can usually overrule this.

The Federal Council is the upper house of the Austrian Parliament

The Federal Council has its seat at the Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna. The 61 members of the Federal Council are elected according to proportional representation by each of the Austrian states' legislatures for 5- to 6-year terms. The composition of the Federal Council changes after every state election and the distribution of seats in the Austrian Landtage. The number of representatives delegated by each state ranges from three to twelve, depending on its population as ascertained by a regular census and fixed by presidential decree.

The Federal Council's role is largely ceremonial, and it has very little power compared to the National Council. The National Council can override most of the Federal Council's decisions. The Federal Council's approval is mandatory in only three areas: constitutional laws or regulations limiting the competencies of the federal states, laws relating to the rights of the Federal Council itself, and treaties concerning the jurisdiction of the federal states.

The Federal Council and the National Council together form a third parliamentary body called the Federal Assembly, which convene for the oath of office of the President of Austria.

The Federal Council has 61 members, elected by each state legislature

Austria is a federal republic consisting of nine federal states. The Federal Council (Bundesrat in German) is the upper house of the Austrian Parliament, representing the nine States of Austria at the federal level. The Federal Council has 61 members, who are elected by each state legislature (Landtage) for 5- to 6-year terms. The number of representatives delegated by each state ranges from three to twelve, depending on its population as ascertained by a regular census. The composition of the Federal Council changes after every state election and the distribution of seats in the Austrian Landtage.

The Federal Council is far less powerful than the National Council, the lower house of the Austrian Parliament. The Federal Council can be overruled by the National Council in most cases. However, the Federal Council's approval is mandatory in certain cases, including constitutional laws or regulations limiting the competencies of the federal states, laws relating to the rights of the Federal Council itself, and treaties concerning the jurisdiction of the federal states.

The Federal Council is made up of a president, who is elected for a term of six months, and two vice-presidents. The president of the Federal Council is nominated by the largest party of each state in semi-yearly intervals.

The Federal Council and the National Council, when in joint session, form a third parliamentary body called the Federal Assembly, which convenes for the oath of office of the President of Austria.

The Federal Council's approval is mandatory for constitutional laws or regulations limiting federal states' competencies

Austria is a federal republic consisting of nine federal states or provinces. The Federal Council is the upper house of the Austrian Parliament, representing the nine states of Austria at the federal level. It is part of a bicameral legislature alongside the National Council, which is the lower house.

The Federal Council's approval is mandatory for constitutional laws or regulations limiting the competencies of the federal states. This is because the Constitution of Austria draws a strict distinction between federal and state legislation. While the National Council is where Austria's federal legislative authority is concentrated, the Federal Council represents the interests of the provinces in Parliament.

The Federal Council's role in approving constitutional laws or regulations limiting the competencies of the federal states is one of the few powers it holds. In most cases, the National Council can override the Federal Council's refusal to approve a bill. However, in the specific case of laws or regulations that impact the competencies of the federal states, the Federal Council has the right to veto, and its approval is mandatory.

This dynamic was demonstrated in February 2019 when the Federal Council prevented an amendment to the Green Electricity Act from being passed. The bill was rejected as it would have restricted the competencies of the states. This example highlights the Federal Council's ability to exert influence in decisions that impact the division of powers between the federal and state levels of government in Austria.

The Federal Council has a dilatory right of veto, which can be overridden by the National Council

The Austrian Parliament is a bicameral federal legislature, consisting of two chambers: the National Council and the Federal Council. The Federal Council is the upper house of the Austrian Parliament, representing the nine States of Austria at the federal level.

The Constitution of Austria draws a strict distinction between federal and state legislation, and so the Federal Council's right to veto is limited. According to Article 42 of the Constitution, the Federal Council only has the right to veto federal laws passed by the National Council. The Federal Council's approval is, however, mandatory in the following cases:

• Constitutional laws or regulations limiting the competencies of the federal states
• Laws relating to the rights of the Federal Council itself
• Treaties concerning the jurisdiction of the federal states

The National Council is the dominant chamber in the Austrian Parliament, and it is where Austria's federal legislative authority is concentrated. For a bill to become federal law, it must be resolved upon by the National Council. Bills passed by the National Council are sent to the Federal Council for corroboration. If the Federal Council approves of the bill or does nothing for eight weeks, the bill has succeeded.

The Federal Council is made up of 61 members, who are elected according to proportional representation by each of the Austrian states' legislatures for 5- to 6-year terms. The composition of the Federal Council changes after every state election and the distribution of seats in the Austrian Landtage.

The Federal Council meets in the Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna

The Federal Council of Austria is the upper house of the Austrian Parliament, representing the nine States of Austria at the federal level. The Federal Council meets in the Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna, which is the seat of the supreme federal authorities. The Federal Council is often referred to as the Bundesrat in German.

The Austrian Parliament is the bicameral federal legislature of Austria, consisting of two chambers: the National Council and the Federal Council. The National Council is the dominant, albeit 'lower' house, and consequently, the terms 'Parliament' and 'National Council' are used synonymously. The Federal Council, on the other hand, has far less power than the National Council. While it has to approve every new law decided by the lower chamber, the National Council can, in most cases, overrule this refusal. The Federal Council's veto is suspensive in most cases, meaning the National Council can pass the law again by an ordinary resolution of at least half of its members.

The Federal Council's 61 members are elected according to proportional representation by each of the Austrian states' legislatures for 5- to 6-year terms. The composition of the Federal Council changes after every state election and the distribution of seats in the Austrian Landtage. The number of representatives delegated by each state ranges from three to twelve, depending on its population.

The Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna underwent a major renovation from 2017 to 2023, during which the Federal Council met in the Hofburg Palace.

Frequently asked questions