Austria's Politics

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Posted by Your Guide on May 17, 2006 7:42 PM

According to its Federal Constitution of 1920, Austria is a federal, parliamentarian and democratic republic. The head of state, the Federal President, is elected by the people. The Federal Chancellor (who acts as the chairman of the government) is appointed by the president. However, any government person can be removed from his or her position in office by one of two methods: the president can decree it so, or the lower chamber of parliament (the Nationalrat) can vote it so.

Austria’s parliament consists of the Nationalrat (the lower chamber) and the Bundesrat (the higher chamber). The Nationalrat is the dominant chamber and is composed of 183 seats that are filled by a vote of every Austrian citizen who wishes to participate in the free election. In order to reform or amend the constitution, the Nationalrat must receive a two-thirds vote for the proposal. The Bundesrat does, however, have limited veto ability – its primary source of power.

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