Austrian Citizenship Test flashcards

33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Ausgleich 1867

The Compromise that transformed the Austrian Empire into the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary, creating separate parliaments for Austria and Hungary while sharing the monarch, army and foreign policy.

Anschluss 1938

Nazi Germany's annexation of Austria in March 1938, which ended Austrian independence until 1945 and subjected the population to Nazi rule and persecution.

Staatsvertrag 1955

The Austrian State Treaty signed on 15 May 1955 by the Allies and Austria, restoring full sovereignty and ending the four-power occupation after World War II.

Permanent neutrality

Austria's constitutional declaration of 26 October 1955 that it will not join military alliances or allow foreign troops on its territory, a cornerstone of its foreign policy.

B-VG 1920

The Federal Constitution of 1 October 1920, amended in 1929, which establishes Austria as a federal, parliamentary, democratic republic and is the core constitutional document.

Nationalrat

The lower house of Austria's parliament, with 183 members elected for five years by proportional representation; it is the main legislative body and can remove the government.

Bundesrat

The upper house representing the nine provinces; its members are chosen by the provincial parliaments, and it holds a suspensive veto over Nationalrat legislation.

Federal President

Austria's head of state, directly elected for a six-year term and limited to two consecutive terms; the president appoints the chancellor and can dissolve the Nationalrat.

Grossglockner

Austria's highest mountain at 3,798 metres, located in the High Tauern range of the Central Alps in Carinthia and Salzburg.

Nine Bundesländer

Austria's nine federal provinces: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Vienna.

Neusiedler See

A shallow steppe lake in Burgenland on the Hungarian border, surrounded by reeds and a national park; it is a UNESCO World Heritage cultural landscape.

Danube through Austria

The river enters Austria near Passau, flows about 350 kilometres past Linz and Vienna, and leaves for Slovakia; it is a major transport and cultural axis.

Vienna Secession

An 1897 artists' movement led by Gustav Klimt, breaking from academic art; its exhibition building and journal Ver Sacrum shaped Austrian modernism.

Wiener Kaffeehaus

A traditional Viennese coffeehouse where patrons linger over coffee and newspapers; the culture is listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.

Elfriede Jelinek

Austrian novelist and playwright who received the 2004 Nobel Prize in Literature; her work critiques consumer society and patriarchy.

National Day

Celebrated on 26 October, it marks the 1955 declaration of permanent neutrality and the withdrawal of the last Allied troops from Austria.

ECHR in Austria

The European Convention on Human Rights, which has constitutional rank in Austria and can be invoked directly before the Constitutional Court.

Gleichbehandlungsgesetz

Austria's Equal Treatment Act, prohibiting discrimination in employment and access to goods and services based on sex, ethnicity, religion, age, disability and sexual orientation.

Rule of law

The principle that all state authority is bound by law, that courts are independent, and that citizens are protected against arbitrary action by public bodies.

Freedom of expression

A constitutionally guaranteed right to hold and impart opinions without state interference, subject to limits protecting reputation, public order and national security.

ABGB 1811

The Austrian General Civil Code, regulating civil-law relationships such as contracts, property and family matters; it remains the core of Austrian private law.

OGH

The Oberste Gerichtshof, Austria's Supreme Court, which hears final appeals in civil and criminal matters and ensures uniform application of the law.

VfGH

The Constitutional Court, which reviews the constitutionality of statutes and ordinances, resolves competence disputes and decides complaints of fundamental-rights violations.

VwGH

The Administrative Court, which reviews decisions of administrative authorities for legality and protects citizens against unlawful administrative acts.

Sozialpartnerschaft

Austria's social partnership, in which unions, employers' organisations and government coordinate wage and social policy, contributing to industrial peace and stability.

Euro in Austria

The euro replaced the schilling as Austria's currency in 1999 for accounting and in 2002 for cash, following Austria's EU accession in 1995.

Familienbeihilfe

A monthly family allowance paid by the state to support children, supplemented by tax credits and childcare benefits for families.

AMS

The Arbeitsmarktservice, Austria's public employment service, which administers unemployment benefits and active labour-market programmes for jobseekers.

EU accession 1995

Austria joined the European Union on 1 January 1995, following a referendum in 1994 in which a majority voted in favour of membership.

Schengen area

The border-free zone of European states; Austria participates, meaning internal border checks with neighbouring Schengen states are largely abolished.

OSCE in Vienna

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, headquartered in Vienna, focuses on conflict prevention, election observation and human rights.

Austrian citizenship

Legal membership in the Austrian state, acquired by descent, marriage or naturalisation after residence and language requirements; it confers voting rights and EU citizenship.

Red-white-red flag

Austria's national flag, consisting of three horizontal bands of red, white and red; the colours derive from the medieval Babenberg coat of arms.