The Austrian Senate: Understanding Its Inner Workings

The Austrian Parliament is made up of two chambers: the National Council and the Federal Council. The National Council is the dominant house, and the terms Parliament and National Council are often used interchangeably. The Federal Council represents the interests of the provinces in Parliament. The two chambers meet in the Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna.

The Federal Council (Bundesrat) is the upper house of the Austrian Parliament

The Federal Council is elected indirectly, through the provincial assemblies (Landtage) of the nine States of the Federal Republic. The number of seats each state receives in the Federal Council reflects the distribution of seats in the Austrian Landtage.

The Federal Council is far less powerful than the National Assembly. Although it has to approve every new law decided for by the National Assembly, the National Assembly can – in most cases – overrule the Federal Council's refusal to approve. The Federal Council meets in the Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna.

The National Assembly (Nationalrat) is the main legislative body

The Austrian Parliament is a bicameral federal legislature, consisting of two chambers: the National Assembly (Nationalrat) and the Federal Council (Bundesrat). The National Assembly is the main legislative body, and is the dominant (albeit 'lower') house in the Austrian Parliament. The National Council has 183 members, who are elected through proportional representation in a general election. The legislative period lasts five years, although elections are held earlier if the National Council prematurely moves for its own dissolution.

The Federal Council represents the interests of the provinces in Parliament. Legislative tasks are carried out at a federal level by the National Assembly in conjunction with the Federal Council. The Federal Council represents the nine states of Austria at the federal level, and although it has to approve every new law decided for by the National Assembly, the National Assembly can – in most cases – overrule the Federal Council's refusal to approve.

The Federal Council represents the interests of the provinces in Parliament

The Austrian Parliament consists of two chambers: the National Assembly (Nationalrat) and the Federal Council (Bundesrat). The Federal Council represents the interests of the provinces in Parliament. It is the upper house of the Austrian Parliament, representing the nine States of Austria at the federal level.

The Federal Council is elected indirectly, through the provincial assemblies (Landtage) of the nine States of the Federal Republic, and reflects the distribution of seats in the Austrian Landtage. Each federal province is administered by a Provincial Government, which is headed by a Provincial Governor (Landeshauptmann) elected by the respective Provincial Assembly.

The National Assembly is the main legislative body, and the preparation and implementation of legislation takes place in the Federal Government or in the Provincial Governments. Legislative tasks are carried out at the federal level by the National Assembly in conjunction with the Federal Council.

The Austrian Parliament has, first and foremost, the task of examining bills and passing them into laws, and of checking the work of the Government. The law-making bodies are the National Council, the Federal Council and – in the federal provinces – the Provincial Diets.

The National Council is composed of 183 members elected through proportional representation

The Austrian Parliament consists of two chambers: the National Assembly (Nationalrat) and the Federal Council (Bundesrat). The National Assembly is the main legislative body, and the Federal Council represents the interests of the provinces in Parliament. The National Council is composed of 183 members elected through proportional representation. This means that the National Council is formed based on the party-list system of proportional representation, where voters have to decide in favour of one single party.

The National Council is elected by all citizens entitled to vote, every five years or sometimes sooner. The National Council is the lower chamber of the Austrian Parliament, and it is far more powerful than the Federal Council. Although the Federal Council has to approve every new law decided for by the National Council, the latter can – in most cases – overrule the Federal Council's refusal to approve.

The Federal Council meets in the Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna

The Austrian Parliament consists of two chambers: the National Assembly (Nationalrat) and the Federal Council (Bundesrat). The National Assembly is the main legislative body, and the preparation and implementation of legislation takes place in the Federal Government or in the Provincial Governments. Legislative tasks are carried out at the federal level by the National Assembly in conjunction with the Federal Council.

The National Council is the lower chamber of the Austrian Parliament. The 183 Members of the National Council are elected by all citizens entitled to vote, every five years or sometimes sooner. Voters have to decide in favour of one single party. The National Council is then formed on the basis of what is called the party-list system of proportional representation.

Frequently asked questions