The executive branch of Austria consists of a Federal President who is elected by popular vote for a six-year term with a maximum of two consecutive terms. The president serves as head of state and has duties such as signing treaties and granting pardons. A chancellor serves as head of government and prime minister, appointed by the president. The legislative branch has a 183-seat Nationalrat lower house elected for five-year terms through proportional representation. A 63-seat Bundesrat upper house represents the interests of provinces. All laws passed by the Nationalrat must be reviewed by the Bundesrat, which can delay laws through a suspensive veto. A joint Bundesversammlung of the two chambers witnesses the

1. The
Government
of Austria

2. The Executive
Branch

3. Federal President- elected by popular
vote for a term of six years and limited
to two consecutive terms of office.
Candidates must be:
1. At least thirty-five years of age.
2. and is nominated by political
parties.

4. To win an election: a candidate must
receive the majority vote.
The President will
serve as the
Head of the State

5. Presidential duties:
1. Call a formal meeting.
2. In rare cases dissolving the Nationalrat,
Cabinet members and the Chancellor.
3. The president signs treaties, verifies that
legal procedures for legislation have been
carried out, and grants reprieves and
pardons.

6. Pressing charges against the President:
Referendum: one-half of the Nationalrat
deputies must be present and vote by a
two-thirds majority to ask the chancellor
to convoke the Bundesversammlung,
which then must vote by a simple majority
for a referendum. The referendum is
carried if a simple majority of voters vote
in favor of it.

7. Chancellor (Prime Minister)- is
appointed by the president and
can also be dismissed by him. He
is usually the leader of the party
that has won the most seats in
the latest parliamentary
election.

8. To be a chancellor: he must be eligible to
serve in the Nationalrat.
The Chancellor is the
Head of Government
as well as
Chairman of the Cabinet

9. Cabinet- is appointed by the
President with the recommendation
of the Chancellor.
Note:
1. Cabinet members do not have to be
members of the Nationalrat, but they
must be eligible to be elected to it.
2. Persons chosen as cabinet ministers
are usually leading members of a
political party or interest group.

10. The Legislative
Branch

11. Nationalrat- lower house of the
governmet.
Note:
1. Has 183 members, elected for a five
year term by proportional representation.
To be represented in parliament a party
needs to either win at least four percent
of votes across the nation or win a seat in
one of the 43 regional constituencies.

12. Nationalrat : Candidates must be
at least twenty years old on January
1 of the election year and must also
be eligible to vote.

13. Bundesrat- upper house of the
governmet.
Note:
1. Has 63 seats which are apportioned
depending on the population.
2. As of late 1993, the breakdown of
seats was as follows: Vienna and Lower
Austria had twelve each; Styria and Upper
Austria, ten each; Tirol, five; Carinthia and
Salzburg, four each; and Burgenland and
Vorarlberg, three each.

14. The Bundesrat:
1. It protects provincial interests.
2. All laws passed by the Nationalrat
must be presented to the Bundesrat
for review. However, the Bundesrat can
at most delay the passage of laws by
means of a suspensive veto.

15. Bundesversammlung (Federal
Assembly)- Joint session of the two
chambers.
Note:
1. To witness the swearing in of the
president, to bring charges against him, or
to declare war.

16. END