Austrian Politics and Constitution: Federal Structure and Governance
Austria is a federal, parliamentary republic. The constitution is not a single document but a collection of constitutional laws, with the Federal Constitutional Law (Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz, B-VG) of 1920, amended in 1929, as the core. Learn the seven Bundesländer beyond Vienna: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg - nine states in total, with Vienna both a state and the capital.
The Federal President is directly elected for six years and is head of state; the Federal Chancellor is head of government and depends on parliamentary confidence. The Nationalrat (183 seats) is the directly elected chamber; the Bundesrat represents the states and has only a suspensive veto. Federal legislation passes the Nationalrat, is sent to the Bundesrat, and is certified by the President and countersigned by the Chancellor. The Constitutional Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) reviews laws; the Administrative Court and Supreme Court handle other jurisdiction. Direct democracy exists but is limited: Volksbegehren (citizens' initiative), Volksabstimmung (referendum) and Volksbefragung (consultative poll).
Traps: confusing the President's role with the Chancellor's; assuming the Bundesrat can block legislation outright (it cannot); and mixing the three plebiscitary instruments. Another trap is the constructive vote of no confidence, which requires naming a successor to the Chancellor.
Rule of thumb: President = state and ceremonial plus reserve powers; Chancellor = government and day-to-day politics.
Worked example: "Who appoints the Federal Chancellor?" Formally the President appoints the Chancellor, but practice and the constitution tie the choice to parliamentary majorities - so the precise answer names the President while noting the parliamentary constraint.