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
- MARCH 12, 2002AustriaDEATH PENALTY
Human rights protests mounted as Iranian President...
Human rights protests mounted as Iranian President Mohammed Khatami started the second day of his official visit to Austria
- JANUARY 1, 2002AustriaDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Constitutional Law of the Republic of Austria...
The Federal Constitutional Law of the Republic of Austria (1920 as amended in 1968) at Art
- DECEMBER 9, 2001AustriaDEATH PENALTY
A former Iraqi ambassador accused of embezzlement is...
A former Iraqi ambassador accused of embezzlement is in hiding in Austria to avoid a possible death penalty at home, according to the magazine Profil
- OCTOBER 30, 2001AustriaDEATH PENALTY
One Austrian citizen in four stands for death penalty...
One Austrian citizen in four stands for death penalty in cases of heavy crimes
- OCTOBER 24, 2001AustriaDEATH PENALTY
The opposition Iranian "Resistance Council" called...
The opposition Iranian "Resistance Council" called on Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel to cancel his talks in Iran
- APRIL 25, 2001AustriaDEATH PENALTY
Austria was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death...
Austria was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 25, 2001
- JANUARY 1, 2001AustriaDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Constitutional Law of the Republic of Austria...
The Federal Constitutional Law of the Republic of Austria (1920 as amended in 1968) at Art
- DECEMBER 14, 2000AustriaDEATH PENALTY
Austrian President Thomas Klestil sent congratulations...
Austrian President Thomas Klestil sent congratulations to [US president-elect George] Bush
- MAY 29, 2000AustriaDEATH PENALTY
The chairman-in-office at the OSCE, Austrian foreign...
The chairman-in-office at the OSCE, Austrian foreign minister Benita Ferrero-Waldne was received by the President of Turkmenistan Saparmyrat Turkmenbashy
- MAY 9, 2000AustriaDEATH PENALTY
A 12-year-old boy was arrested for the rape of a girl...
A 12-year-old boy was arrested for the rape of a girl aged five, in Baden, 30 kilometres south of Vienna
- APRIL 26, 2000AustriaDEATH PENALTY
Austria cosponsored the resolution on the death penalty...
Austria cosponsored the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 26 (no
- APRIL 4, 2000AustriaDEATH PENALTY
Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, in a speech...
Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, in a speech at the EU-African summit, emphasised the importance of good governance, human rights, the democratic process and the rule of law