National Council (Austria)
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| National Council (Austria) | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Council |
| Native name | Nationalrat |
| Legislature | Parliament of Austria |
| House type | Lower house |
| Body | Bicameral Federal Council |
| Leader1 type | President |
| Leader1 | Wolfgang Sobotka |
| Party1 | Austrian People's Party |
| Election1 | 2017 |
| Leader2 type | Second President |
| Leader2 | Doris Bures |
| Party2 | Social Democratic Party of Austria |
| Election2 | 2017 |
| Leader3 type | Third President |
| Leader3 | Norbert Hofer |
| Party3 | Freedom Party of Austria |
| Election3 | 2019 |
| Members | 183 |
| Political groups1 | Government (97), ÖVP (71), Greens (26), Opposition (86), SPÖ (40), FPÖ (30), NEOS (15), Independent (1) |
| Voting system1 | Proportional representation (D'Hondt method) |
| Last election1 | 29 September 2019 |
| Meeting place | Austrian Parliament Building, Vienna |
| Website | www.parlament.gv.at |
National Council (Austria). The National Council, known as the Nationalrat, is the dominant lower house of the Parliament of Austria. It is the primary federal legislative body, responsible for passing federal laws, approving the federal budget, and exercising oversight over the Federal Government of Austria. Its 183 members are elected by the Austrian people through a system of proportional representation.
History
The National Council was established by the Federal Constitutional Law of 1920, which founded the First Austrian Republic following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Its predecessor during the Austrian Empire was the Imperial Council. The institution was suspended after the Anschluss with Nazi Germany in 1938 and was reconstituted after World War II under the Allied occupation. Key historical legislative periods include the era of grand coalitions between the SPÖ and the ÖVP, and significant events like Austria's accession to the European Union in 1995, which required ratification by the National Council.
Composition and election
The National Council is composed of 183 members elected for a five-year term, unless early elections are called. Elections are conducted under a nationwide system of proportional representation using the D'Hondt method, with a minimum threshold of four percent of the vote required for parliamentary representation. The country is divided into nine regional state constituencies and further into 43 local districts. Notable recent elections include the 2017 Austrian legislative election and the 2019 Austrian legislative election, the latter triggered by the Ibiza affair scandal. The President of Austria formally convenes the council after each election.
Functions and powers
The core function of the National Council is the enactment of federal legislation, which requires a simple majority of votes cast. It holds exclusive power over the federal budget and must approve all international treaties, such as the Treaty of Lisbon. The council exercises political oversight through mechanisms like interpellations, committees of inquiry, and votes of no confidence against the Chancellor of Austria or the entire Federal Government of Austria. It also participates in the appointment of key officials to bodies like the Constitutional Court and the Austrian Court of Audit.
Leadership and organization
The presiding officer is the President of the National Council, elected from among its members; this position is currently held by Wolfgang Sobotka of the ÖVP. The president is assisted by two vice-presidents, traditionally from the other major parties, currently Doris Bures (SPÖ) and Norbert Hofer (FPÖ). Legislative work is organized through permanent committees, such as the Main Committee, which acts on behalf of the full plenum when it is not in session. The council convenes in the historic Austrian Parliament Building on the Ringstraße in Vienna.
Political parties and groups
The political landscape is characterized by a multi-party system. The current governing coalition consists of the ÖVP, led by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, and The Greens – The Green Alternative. The main opposition parties are the SPÖ, the FPÖ, and NEOS. To form a parliamentary group, a party must hold at least five seats. These groups receive state funding and have enhanced rights in parliamentary procedures, including speaking time and committee positions. The distribution of seats frequently leads to coalition negotiations, as seen after the 2006 and 2013 elections.
Relationship with other institutions
The National Council operates within a bicameral framework alongside the upper house, the Federal Council, which represents the interests of the nine federal states. While the National Council is dominant, certain legislation requires the consent of the Federal Council. The council interacts with the Federal Government of Austria, which is accountable to it, and the President of Austria, who appoints the chancellor and ministers based on its proposals. It also interacts with the judiciary, particularly through its role in appointing judges to the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Justice. As a member state of the European Union, laws passed in the National Council must align with European Union law, and Austrian MEPs are elected concurrently with national elections.
Category:National legislatures Category:Politics of Austria Category:Government of Austria