About Austria

The Republik Österreich is federation of 9 constituent Bundesländer, however, a comparatively high degree of centralization. The Bundesländer have a say on regional planning, hospitals, electricity, and agriculture, but education, the police, and fiscal and social policies are within the competence of the Federal government. Some small changes in 1974 granted the Bundesländer executive powers over inland shipping and the river police, but the central government continues to be of prime importance.

The spheres of legal and administrative competence of both the Federation and the Bundesländer are clearly defined. Four groups are distinguished in articles 10 - 15 of the constitution.

1. Law-making and administration are the responsibility of the Federation. Article 10 of the Constitution enumerates, inter alia, foreign affairs, justice and finance;
2. Law-making is the responsibility of the Federation, admini-stration is the responsibilty of the Bundesländer, e.g. elections, population matters and road traffic;
3. The Federation lays down the rudiments of the law, the Bundesländer make the law and administer it, e.g. charity, rights of agricultural workers, land reform (concurrent legislation);
4. Law-making and administration are the responsibility of the Bundesländer in all matters not expressly assigned to the Federation, e.g. municipal affairs, building theatres and cinemas, i.e. the residue of powers falls to the Bundesländer.

All 9 Bundesländer have their elected unicameral parliaments, the Landtage.