Austrian Parliament facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Austrian ParliamentParlament Österreich |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | Federal Council National Council |
| Leadership | |
|
President of the Federal Council
|
Peter Samt (FPÖ)
Since 1 July 2025 |
|
President of the National Council
|
Walter Rosenkranz (FPÖ)
Since 24 October 2024 |
| Structure | |
| Seats |
|
.svg) |
|
|
Federal Council political groups
|
Government (42)
Opposition (18)
|
.svg) |
|
|
National Council political groups
|
Government (110)
Opposition (73)
|
| Elections | |
| Appointment by State Landtage | |
| Proportional representation | |
|
National Council last election
|
29 September 2024 |
| Meeting place | |
 |
|
| Parliament Building Vienna, Austria |
|
| Website | |
| parlament.gv.at | |
The Austrian Parliament (called Parlament Österreich in German) is where the laws for Austria are made. Think of it as the main decision-making body for the whole country. It has two main parts, like two different teams working together: the National Council and the Federal Council. Sometimes, both teams meet together in a special session called the Federal Assembly. All these important meetings happen in the beautiful Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna.
Contents
Understanding the Austrian Parliament
The Austrian Parliament is made up of two main parts, often called "chambers." Each chamber has a different job and different ways its members are chosen.
The National Council: Making National Laws
The National Council is the most important part of the Austrian Parliament. It has 183 members. These members are chosen directly by the people of Austria in country-wide elections.
- The last election for the National Council was held on 29 September 2024.
- Members usually serve for five years.
- This is where most of the important laws are discussed and passed.
The Federal Council: Representing the States
The Federal Council is the other important part of the Parliament. Its members are not chosen directly by the public. Instead, they are selected by the local parliaments (called Landtage) in each of Austria's nine states.
- The Federal Council currently has 61 members.
- The number of members from each state depends on its population.
- This council helps make sure that the interests of all the different states are heard.
The National Council: The Main Lawmakers
The National Council is the most important part of the Austrian Parliament. It has 183 members. These members are chosen by the people of Austria in a country-wide election. This election uses a system called proportional representation. This means that political parties get a number of seats in the Council that matches the percentage of votes they received.
Once elected, these members usually serve for five years. However, sometimes they might decide to hold new elections sooner if there's a big change needed. Because the National Council is so central to making laws, people often use the words "Parliament" and "National Council" to mean the same thing.
The Federal Council: A Voice for Austria's States
The Federal Council is the other important part of the Parliament. Its members are not chosen directly by the public. Instead, they are selected by the local parliaments (called Landtage) in each of Austria's nine states. This means the Federal Council represents the different regions of Austria.
The number of members each state sends to the Federal Council depends on how many people live in that state. After every big count of the population (a census), the number of seats for each state might change a little. Right now, there are 61 members in the Federal Council.
When the National Council wants to pass a new law, the Federal Council gets to review it. For most laws, the Federal Council can suggest changes or even delay a law. However, the National Council can usually pass the law anyway. If a law would change the powers of the states or the Federal Council itself, then the Federal Council has a stronger say and can completely stop that law.
The Federal Assembly: A Special Joint Meeting
Sometimes, all the members from both the National Council and the Federal Council come together for a very special meeting. This is called the Federal Assembly (or Bundesversammlung). These meetings don't happen very often.
The Federal Assembly usually meets for important ceremonies. For example, it meets when the President of Austria officially starts their job. Even though it's mostly for special events, the Federal Assembly has some very serious powers in rare situations. These powers are outlined in the Austrian constitution. For example, it would play a key role if there were ever a need to remove a President from office.
Where the Parliament Meets
All these important meetings of the National Council, the Federal Council, and the Federal Assembly happen in the grand Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna. This building is located on a famous street called the Vienna Ring Road. For a few years, from 2017 to 2022, while the main Parliament Building was being renovated, the members met in a different historic place. They met in the Redoute Wing of the Hofburg Palace. Now, they are back in their beautifully restored main building.
See also
In Spanish: Parlamento de Austria para niños
- Constitution of Austria: Learn about the main rules and laws of Austria.
- Austrian Parliament Building: Discover more about the historic place where the Parliament meets.
- Imperial Council (Austria): Find out about the parliament that existed in Austria a long time ago, between 1861 and 1918.
- Imperial Diet (Austria): Read about an even older parliament from 1848 to 1849.
