Austria

National Council

Political system
Presidential-Parliamentary
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Oversight

Oversight tools

Parliament/Chamber has the power to summon members of the government
Yes

Sources: Federal Constitutional Law, Article 75

Parliament/chamber has the power to summon senior government officials
Yes

Sources:

Federal Constitutional Law, Articles 52, 53 (see 3.5.)

Rules of Procedure of the National Council* §18

Rules of Procedure of the Federal Council* §§29 and 37

Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments
No

Sources: Federal Constitutional Law, Articles 23c, 122(4), 147(2) and 148g(2)

Parliament/chamber has the power to approve key government appointments
Yes
Number of written questions asked, per year
3,981
(2023)
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
3,981
(2023)
Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year
100.0%
(2023)
Parliament/chamber has power to carry out inquiries
Yes

Sources: Federal Constitutional Law, Article 53 and Rules of Procedure of the National Council, §33

Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
3
(2023)

Head of State and/or Government

Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government
Parliament does not play a role

Sources: Federal Constitutional Law, art. 70

The Head of Government is also the Head of State
No
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State
Other

Notes: The Head of State is directly elected, then affirmed by the Federal Assembly (consists of all members from both parliamentary chambers).

Sources: Federal Constitutional Law, art. 38

Impeachment and confidence motions

Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
No
Chambers that can be dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
Not applicable

Impeachment procedure

There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution
The whole Government
The Head of Government
Individual members of the Executive
Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment
Lower chamber

Sources: Federal Constitutional Law, art. 76 and 142

No confidence processes

There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution
The whole Government
The Head of Government
Individual members of the Executive
Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence
Lower chamber

Sources: Federal Constitutional Law, Article 74

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No