States of Austria

Since Austria is a federal republic according to the constitutional framework of Austrian politics, Austria's nine provinces are customarily referred to as States of Austria or Bundesländer, singular Bundesland.

Federalism and state competences

Each Austrian state has an elected legislature, the Landtag, a state government, the Landesregierung, and a governor, the Landeshauptmann. Elections are held every five years (six years in Upper Austria). The state constitution, among other things, determines how the seats in the state government are assigned to political parties, with most states having a system of proportional respresentation based on the number of delegates in the Landtag in place. The Landeshauptmann is always elected by the Landtag, meaning that it may be necessary to form a coalition in order to secure the election of a particular candidate.

Related Topics:
Landtag - Landesregierung - Landeshauptmann - Upper Austria

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However, Austrian federalism is sometimes considered largely notional, as the federal states are granted comparatively little actual legislative autonomy. On one hand, federal legislature takes precedence over state legislature in most matters of practical importance, including, but not limited to, criminal law, civil law, corporate law, most other aspects of economic law, education, academia, welfare, telecommunications, and the health care system. On the other hand, Austria's federal states have no stand-alone judiciary, the federal constitution defining jurisdiction to be exclusively federal matter.

Related Topics:
Federalism - Federal state - Legislature - Judiciary

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However, the state governor (Landeshauptmann) is also in charge of the administration of much of federal administrative law within the respective state, which makes this post an important political position. Furthermore, state competences include zoning laws, planning issues and public procurement on the regional level, which adds considerable weight to state politics. As a practical matter, there have been cases where states have been able to block projects endorsed by the federal government, as in the case of a railway tunnel that was to be built below the Semmering.

Related Topics:
Landeshauptmann - Semmering

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Still, Austrian Bundesländer are formally and practically endowed with a much smaller degree of statehood than American or even German states are. Even so, Austrians tend to passionately identify with their respective states and often defend what little independent governance their provinces have. It is not unheard of for Austrians to consider themselves, for instance, Tyrolean first, Austrian second.

Related Topics:
American - German - Tyrol

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