Bundesrat english

!!!Bundesrat

Bundesrat, second chamber of parliament, shares the legislative power 
with the  Nationalrat; the Nationalrat and the Bundesrat together form 
the  Bundesversammlung. The Bundesrat represents the interests of the 
provinces concerning legislation. Its members are elected by the  
Landtage by a proportional system based on the population of the 
province for the duration of a legislative period but they are not 
responsible to the Landtage. The number of members is determined by 
the Federal President according to the result of the national census 
(last census 1993). The largest province sends 12 members, the other 
provinces send fewer members in line with their relative populations, 
the minimum number being 3. In 2000 the Bundesrat consisted of 64 
members (Lower Austria:&nbsp;12, Vienna:&nbsp;11, Upper 
Austria:&nbsp;11, Styria:&nbsp;10, Tirol:&nbsp;5, Carinthia:&nbsp;5, 
Salzburg:&nbsp;4, Vorarlberg:&nbsp;3, Burgenland:&nbsp;3). The 
Bundesrat does not have a fixed legislative period but functions 
continuously, part of its membership being renewed on the basis of 
provincial election results (principle of partial renewal). Please 
consult the tables for an overview of the distribution of seats  
Freiheitliche Partei Oesterreichs (Austrian Freedom Party),  
Oesterreichische Volkspartei (Austrian People's Party),  
Sozialdemokratische Partei Oesterreichs (Austrian Social Democratic 
Party).

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The presidency of the Bundesrat rotates every six months, the 
appointments being made by the Provinces (in alphabetical order). 
Sessions are held at the seat of the Nationalrat in Vienna. The 
members of the Bundesrat enjoy  Immunity like the members of the 
Nationalrat. A member of the Bundesrat cannot be a member of the 
Nationalrat at the same time. The sessions of the Bundesrat are held 
in public, members of the federal government may address the meeting. 
One third of the members of the Bundesrat constitute a quorum. 
Committees are set up for preliminary deliberation.

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The Bundesrat may veto laws passed by the Nationalrat. This veto has 
only suspensive effect, since the Nationalrat may override the veto by 
resolution. Adoption of laws concerning the organisation of the 
Bundesrat or restricting the powers of the provinces require the 
consent of the Bundesrat. Adoptions of laws against which the 
Bundesrat has not right to object (e.g. federal budget), are only 
brought to the notice of the Bundesrat.

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The Bundesrat has the following powers: it may formulate questions to 
the federal government, introduce bills in the Nationalrat; demand a 
plebiscite (Volksabstimmung) if a law passed by the Nationalrat alters 
the federal constitution; participate in the conclusion of state 
treaties and in the dismissal of the Landtage.

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The Bundesrat is politically rather insignificant; therefore, the 
provinces regularly call for reform designed to vest the Bundesrat 
with more powers.

!Literature
H. Schambeck (ed.), Oe. Parlamentarismus, 1986; J. 
Rauchenberger, Stichwort Bundeslaender, Bundesrat, 2000.


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