Lexi Webster
Austria is a federal parliamentary republic with a chancellor as the head of government and a president as the head of state. The country consists of nine states, and both regional and federal governments exercise executive power. The Austrian government functions according to the principles of representative democracy and the rule of law. The Austrian Parliament consists of two chambers: the National Assembly (Nationalrat) and the Federal Council (Bundesrat). The country's constitution guarantees fundamental rights to all citizens, including equality before the law, regardless of birth, gender, status, class, or religion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Government | Federal parliamentary republic |
| Number of States | 9 |
| Type of States | Independent federal states |
| Official Language | German |
| Population | 8.9 million |
| Surface Area | 84,000 square kilometers |
| Main Legislative Body | National Assembly |
| Head of Government | Chancellor |
| Head of State | President |
| Main Instruments of Democracy | Referendum, popular initiatives, national opinion polls |
| Minimum Age to Vote | 16 |
| Number of Representatives in the European Parliament | 20 |
| Number of Representatives in the European Committee of the Regions | 12 |
| Number of Representatives in the European Economic and Social Committee | 12 |
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What You'll Learn
Austria's government is a federal parliamentary republic
Austria is a federal parliamentary republic with a chancellor as the head of government and a president as the head of state. The country is made up of nine independent federal states (called Bundesländer or Laender) with their own constitutions, which together constitute a uniform monetary, economic, and customs entity. The federal capital and seat of the country's supreme federal authorities is Vienna.
Austria's government operates according to a constitutional federal republican system. The Federal Constitution, amended in 1929, grants wider powers to the Federal President. The country's legal system distinguishes between three instruments of direct democracy: referendums, popular initiatives, and national opinion polls. Substantial changes to the constitution always require a referendum, while changes to parts of the constitution only require a referendum if demanded by at least one-third of the members of the National Council or the Federal Council. The Federal Government, headed by the Federal Chancellor, is responsible for preparing draft legislation, which is then submitted to the Federal Parliament for approval.
The Federal Parliament consists of two chambers: the directly elected Lower House (Nationalrat) and the Upper House (Bundesrat), which is elected by regional parliaments. The Nationalrat is the main legislative body, with legislative tasks carried out at the federal level in conjunction with the Bundesrat. The National Council, composed of 183 members elected for a maximum term of four years, holds legislative authority. The National Council can dissolve itself by a simple majority vote, or it may be dissolved by the president upon the recommendation of the Chancellor.
Austria's citizens enjoy fundamental rights, including equality before the law regardless of birth, gender, status, class, or religion. The country is ranked highly in terms of electoral democracy and the robustness of its constitutional framework.
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The country is made up of nine states
Austria is a federal parliamentary republic with a chancellor as the head of government and a president as the head of state. The country is made up of nine states (called Bundesländer in German). These states are often referred to as "Laender" in English. Each of these states has its own constitution, which defines it as a republican entity governed according to the principles of representative democracy.
The nine states of Austria are:
- Burgenland
- Carinthia
- Lower Austria (Niederösterreich)
- Upper Austria (Oberösterreich)
- Salzburg
- Styria (Steiermark)
- Tyrol (Tirol)
- Vorarlberg
- Vienna (Wien)
Each state has its own governor, who is elected by the provincial legislature. While most authority rests with the federal government, the states have considerable responsibility for welfare matters and local administration. They also have strong provincial and local loyalties, which are based on tradition and history.
The federal government's tasks include preparing draft legislation, which is then submitted to the federal Parliament for consideration and potential implementation. The federal Parliament consists of two chambers: the directly elected Lower House (Nationalrat) and the Upper House (Bundesrat), which is elected by regional parliaments. Legislative authority is concentrated in the National Council, which is made up of 183 members elected for a maximum term of four years based on proportional representation.
Austria's legal system also distinguishes between three different instruments of direct democracy: referendums (Volksabstimmungen), popular initiatives (Volksbegehren), and national opinion polls (Volksbefragungen). Referendums on bills can be held if demanded by a majority of the National Council's members or by a resolution of the President, co-signed by all members of the government. Changes to the constitution also require referendums, while changes to specific parts of the constitution may require a referendum if demanded by at least one-third of the National Council or the Federal Council.
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The Austrian Parliament has two chambers
Austria is a federal republic with a bicameral federal legislature. The Austrian Parliament consists of two chambers: the National Council (Nationalrat) and the Federal Council (Bundesrat). The National Council is the main legislative body and is composed of 183 members elected through proportional representation in a general election. The legislative period lasts five years, though elections may be held earlier if the National Council prematurely dissolves. The National Council is the dominant (albeit 'lower') house in the Austrian Parliament, and consequently, the terms Parliament and National Council are often used synonymously. The Federal Council, on the other hand, is the second chamber of Parliament and is not directly elected by popular vote. Its composition depends on the relative strength of the parties in the Diets of the Federal Provinces, whose interests it represents at the legislative level. The current Federal Council is composed of 61 delegates.
The Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna is the site of important state ceremonies, most notably the swearing-in ceremony of the President of Austria. The building is closely associated with the two parliamentary bodies and covers over 13,500 square meters, making it one of the largest structures on the Ringstraße. The original plans saw separate buildings for the House of Representatives and the House of Lords, but financial and practical reasons led to the decision to house both chambers in one building. The two chambers are connected by the great hypostyle hall, which was intended to be the meeting point between commoners and lords, reflecting the structure of society at the time.
The National Council and the Federal Council each have distinct roles and responsibilities in the Austrian political system. The National Council is responsible for preparing and implementing legislation, along with the Federal Government and Provincial Governments. It also has far-reaching rights of participation regarding fiscal policy measures at the European level. The Federal Council, while possessing only a dilatory right of veto on most issues, holds absolute veto power over bills intended to alter the powers of the states or the Federal Council itself. Additionally, the Federal Council represents the interests of the provinces in Parliament. In specific cases, both houses of Parliament convene as the Federal Assembly, a body whose function is mostly ceremonial.
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The country's legal system distinguishes between three different instruments of direct democracy
Austria is a federal parliamentary republic with a chancellor as the head of government and a president as the head of state. The country is comprised of nine states (Bundesländer) and both regional and federal governments exercise executive power. The federal Parliament has two chambers: the directly elected Lower House (Nationalrat) and the Upper House (Bundesrat) which is elected by regional parliaments.
Popular initiatives can also start a legislative process. If a popular initiative is signed by at least 100,000 registered voters, the National Council must consider it. As of 2010, 32 initiatives have taken place since their introduction in 1963. National opinion polls or consultative referendums are held before the National Council passes a law, and their results are not legally binding. As of 2015, there has only been one national opinion poll.
Austria's constitution guarantees that all citizens are equal before the law and that there shall be no discrimination or favouritism based on birth, sex, origin, class, or religion. The country's legal system is robust and adequately conducive to peaceful change. Court judgments and decisions are pronounced and published in the name of the Republic, and judges are independent in the exercise of their office.
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The Austrian President has the power to dissolve Parliament
Austria is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional federal republican system. It is governed according to the principles of representative democracy and the rule of law. The Austrian Parliament consists of two chambers: the National Assembly (Nationalrat) and the Federal Council (Bundesrat). The National Assembly is the main legislative body. The Federal Council represents the interests of the provinces in Parliament.
The President can dissolve the National Council upon the Federal Government's proposal, but only once for the same reason. This provision paves the way for new elections in times of political crisis. The Federal Government is headed by the Federal Chancellor, who, along with the Vice-Chancellor, federal ministers, and state secretaries, conducts government business. The Federal President shares responsibilities with the Federal Government as the head of the Administration. The President is not subject to any directives other than the laws.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria is a federal parliamentary republic with a chancellor as the head of government and a president as the head of state.
Austria's government is based on six main principles: the democratic principle, republican principle, federal principle, rule of law, separation of powers, and liberal principle. The country consists of nine states (Bundesländer) with both regional and federal governments exercising executive power.
The Federal Government's main task is to prepare draft legislation, which is then submitted to Parliament. The Federal Government is headed by the Federal Chancellor, who conducts government business along with the Vice Chancellor, federal ministers, and state secretaries.
Austria's legal system distinguishes between three instruments of direct democracy: referendums (Volksabstimmungen), popular initiatives (Volksbegehren), and national opinion polls (Volksbefragungen). The country also has a written constitution that guarantees fundamental rights for all citizens, including equality before the law regardless of birth, gender, status, class, or religion.
