of
labor force (1988)

@Austria, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Austria
conventional short form:
Austria
local long form:
Republik Oesterreich
local short form:
Oesterreich
Digraph:
AU
Type:
federal republic
Capital:
Vienna
Administrative divisions:
9 states (bundeslander, singular - bundesland); Burgenland, Karnten,
Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol,
Vorarlberg, Wien
Independence:
12 November 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire)
National holiday:
National Day, 26 October (1955)
Constitution:
1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)
Legal system:
civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative
acts by a Constitutional Court; separate administrative and
civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
19 years of age, universal; compulsory for presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992); election last held 24
May 1992 (next to be held 1996); results of second ballot - Thomas
KLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43%
head of government:
Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June 1986); Vice Chancellor
Erhard BUSEK (since 2 July 1991)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; chosen by the president on the advice of the
chancellor
Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung)
Federal Council (Bundesrat):
consists of 63 members representing each of the provinces on the basis
of population, but with each province having at least 3
representatives
National Council (Nationalrat):
elections last held 7 October 1990 (next to be held October 1994);
results - SPOE 43%, OEVP 32.1%, FPOE 16.6%, GAL 4.5%, KPOE 0.7%, other
3.1%; seats - (183 total) SPOE 80, OEVP 60, FPOE 33, GAL 10
Judicial branch:
Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for civil and criminal
cases, Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgerichtshof) for bureaucratic
cases, Constitutional Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) for
constitutional cases
Political parties and leaders:
Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPOE), Franz VRANITZKY, chairman;
Austrian People's Party (OEVP), Erhard BUSEK, chairman; Freedom Party
of Austria (FPOE), Joerg HAIDER, chairman; Communist Party (KPOE),
Walter SILBERMAYER, chairman; Green Alternative List (GAL), Peter
PILZ, chairman; Liberal Forum (LF), Heidi SCH