Austrian Parliament facts for kids

The Austrian Parliament (which in German is called Österreichisches Parlament) is like the main law-making body for the country of Austria. It's made up of two important parts, or "chambers": the National Council and the Federal Council. This means it's a "bicameral" parliament, which just means it has two houses.

Sometimes, both of these houses come together for special meetings. When they do, they are called the Federal Assembly. The Parliament meets in a beautiful building called the Austrian Parliament Building in the capital city, Vienna.

What is a Parliament?

A parliament is a group of people chosen by citizens to make laws for a country. Think of it as a big meeting where elected representatives discuss important issues and decide on rules that everyone in the country needs to follow. The Austrian Parliament makes sure that Austria has fair laws and that the government works for its people.

The Two Houses

The Austrian Parliament has two main parts, each with different jobs.

The National Council

The National Council is often called the "lower house." It's the more powerful of the two houses.

• Who is in it? Members of the National Council are chosen directly by the people of Austria in elections. This means citizens vote for the people they want to represent them.
• What do they do? Their main job is to create and pass new laws. They also approve the government's budget (how money is spent) and can even vote to remove the government if needed.

The Federal Council

The Federal Council is known as the "upper house." It represents the different states (or "Länder") within Austria.

• Who is in it? The members of the Federal Council are not directly elected by the public. Instead, they are chosen by the parliaments of Austria's nine states.
• What do they do? The Federal Council reviews the laws passed by the National Council. They can sometimes delay or object to laws, but the National Council usually has the final say. This house helps make sure that the interests of all the states are considered when new laws are made.

The Federal Assembly

The Federal Assembly is a special meeting where both the National Council and the Federal Council come together.

• When do they meet? They don't meet very often. They only gather for very specific and important reasons.
• What do they do? Their tasks include things like swearing in the President of Austria or deciding on a declaration of war. It's a rare event that shows both houses working together on big national issues.

The Parliament Building

The Austrian Parliament Building is a famous landmark in Vienna. It's where all the important discussions and decisions happen. The building itself is very old and has a rich history, showing the long tradition of democracy in Austria.

See also

In Spanish: Parlamento de Austria para niños