Austria
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- federal parliamentary republic
- CONSTITUTION
- 1920, revised in 1929 and reformulated in 1945; amended many times, last in 2020
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; subject to the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral, Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung) composed of the National Council (Nationalrat) and the Federal Council (Bundesrat)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court of Justice or Oberster Gerichtshof (composed of 85 judges organized into 17 senates or chambers of 5 judges each); Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof (composed of 20 judges including 6 substitutes; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof - 2 judges plus other members depending on the importance of the case); Courts of Appeal (4); Regional Courts (20); District Courts (120); County Courts
RELIGIONS
Roman Catholic 55.2%, Muslim 8.3%, Orthodox 4.9%, Evangelical Christian 3.8%, Jewish 0.1%, other 5.4%, none 22.4% (estimate 2021)
From the country
- FEBRUARY 10, 2004AustriaDEATH PENALTY
Around 50 persons demonstrated against California Governor...
Around 50 persons demonstrated against California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in the main square of the city of Graz, Austria
- FEBRUARY 10, 2004AustriaDEATH PENALTY
Austrian Second President of Parliament and SPÖ presidential...
Austrian Second President of Parliament and SPÖ presidential candidate Heinz Fischer welcomed the news that the US Supreme Court had ordered a new trial for convicted murderer Kevin Cooper, who had been scheduled to die by lethal injection
- FEBRUARY 10, 2004AustriaDEATH PENALTY
Around 50 persons demonstrated against California Governor...
Around 50 persons demonstrated against California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in the main square of the city of Graz, Austria
- FEBRUARY 5, 2004AustriaDEATH PENALTY
Austrian Second President of Parliament and SPÖ presidential...
Austrian Second President of Parliament and SPÖ presidential candidate Heinz Fischer sent California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger a letter appealing to him to set an example and commute all pending death sentences in the state
- FEBRUARY 3, 2004AustriaDEATH PENALTY
Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner said...
Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner said she was "disappointed" by her compatriot Arnold Schwarzenegger because he refused to spare the life of death row inmate Kevin Cooper
- APRIL 24, 2003AustriaDEATH PENALTY
Austria was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the...
Austria was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights, in Geneva
- JANUARY 6, 2003AustriaDEATH PENALTY
An Austria Today editorial said
An Austria Today editorial said
- JANUARY 1, 2003AustriaDEATH PENALTY
Austria has signed but not yet ratified Protocol No...
Austria has signed but not yet ratified Protocol No 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms banning the death penalty in all circumstances
- JANUARY 1, 2003AustriaDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Constitutional Law of the Republic of Austria...
The Federal Constitutional Law of the Republic of Austria at Art
- JANUARY 1, 2003AustriaDEATH PENALTY
The last execution took place in 1950
The last execution took place in 1950
- MAY 3, 2002AustriaDEATH PENALTY
Austria signed Protocol 13 to the European Convention...
Austria signed Protocol 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which ensures the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances
- APRIL 25, 2002AustriaDEATH PENALTY
Austria was a cosponsor and voted for the resolution...
Austria was a cosponsor and voted for the resolution 2002/77 on the death penalty at the 58th UN Commission on Human Rights