Federal Council (Austria)
The Federal Council (German: Bundesrat, pronounced [ˈbʊndəsʁaːt]) is the upper house of the Austrian Parliament, representing the nine States of Austria at the federal level. As part of a bicameral legislature alongside the National Council, it can be compared with an upper house or a senate. In fact, however, it is far less powerful than the National Council: although it has to approve every new law decided for by this lower chamber, the latter can – in most cases – overrule the Federal Council's refusal to approve.
Federal Council Bundesrat | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Type | Upper house of the Austrian Parliament |
| History | |
| Founded | 10 November 1920 |
| Preceded by | Constituent National Assembly |
| Leadership | |
President | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 60 |
Political groups | Government (31)
Opposition (29)
|
| Elections | |
| Appointment by State diets | |
Last election | No direct election |
| Meeting place | |
| Austrian Parliament Building, Vienna | |
| Website | |
| parlament.gv.at | |
| This article is part of a series on the |
| Politics of Austria |
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The Bundesrat has its seat at the Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna. Since 2023, it meets in a chamber formerly used by the National Council's budget committee. During a major renovation of the parliament building from 2017 until 2023, the Federal Council met in the Hofburg Palace.