Landeshauptmann#

Landeshauptmann (Provincial governor), from the 13th century onwards, an official who was subordinate to the sovereign, first documentary mention as "vicarius" or "capitaneus" in 1236, at first in charge of military matters, later administrator of the demesne and chairman of the assembly of the Estates and of the Adelsgericht (nobility court). The Landeshauptmann was committed to loyalty and obedience to both the sovereign and the Estates, from which he was recruited. In Lower Austria he used to be called Landmarschall (provincial marshal).

Today the Landeshauptmann is head of the Provincial Government (in Vienna at the same time mayor) and the authority in charge of indirect federal administration. S/he is elected by the Landtag (provincial diet) and sworn in by the Federal President, pledging allegiance to the Federal Constitution. The Landeshauptmann represents the province, passes on adopted bills from the Landtag to the Federal Government, publishes these adopted bills in the provincial Law Gazette, swears in the members of the provincial government. The Landeshauptmann is a member of the provincial government and in charge of the highest administrative tasks of the province. In this respect s/he is responsible to the Landtag, while in his/her capacity of authority in charge of indirect federal administration s/he is answerable to the federal government. His/her deputy is a member of the provincial government and is appointed by the other members of the provincial government (Landeshauptmann-Stellvertreter/deputy of the Landeshauptmann, called Landesstatthalter in Vorarlberg).

Literature#