AustriaDemokratie 29 · Democracy and the Republic's core principles
With which instruments of direct democracy can those entitled to vote in Austria have a say themselves or express their opinion at federal level?
In the exam (German)
Mit welchen Mitteln der direkten Demokratie können die Wahlberechtigten in Österreich auf Bundesebene selbst mitbestimmen oder ihre Meinung einbringen?
- aMotion of no confidenceMisstrauensantrag
- bReferendumVolksabstimmungCorrect answer
- cPopular initiativeVolksbegehrenCorrect answer
- dConsultative referendumVolksbefragungCorrect answer
Why?
The popular initiative (Volksbegehren), the referendum (Volksabstimmung) and the consultative referendum (Volksbefragung) are the three instruments of direct democracy at federal level. A motion of no confidence (Misstrauensantrag), by contrast, is brought by members of the National Council, not by citizens.
Translated with AI. In the exam the question is in German, as shown above.
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Take a free mock examDemokratie 30
What is true about a popular initiative (Volksbegehren) at federal level?Correct answer:If at least 100,000 people entitled to vote have signed it, the National Council must deal with it.
Correct answer:It can be signed at any municipal office in Austria or online with ID Austria.
Was stimmt über ein Volksbegehren auf Bundesebene? — Haben es mindestens 100.000 Stimmberechtigte unterschrieben, muss sich der Nationalrat damit befassen. · Man kann es auf jedem Gemeindeamt in Österreich oder online mit ID Austria unterschreiben.
Demokratie 31
In which case must a referendum be held throughout Austria?Correct answer:For a total revision of the Federal Constitution
In welchem Fall muss in ganz Österreich eine Volksabstimmung stattfinden? — Bei einer Gesamtänderung der Bundesverfassung
Demokratie 32
In January 2013 a consultative referendum (Volksbefragung) on compulsory military service was held throughout Austria. What applies to a consultative referendum in general?Correct answer:It shows politicians what the population thinks, but its result is not legally binding.
Im Jänner 2013 gab es in ganz Österreich eine Volksbefragung über die Wehrpflicht. Was gilt allgemein für eine Volksbefragung? — Sie zeigt der Politik die Meinung der Bevölkerung, ihr Ergebnis ist aber rechtlich nicht bindend.
Demokratie 33
In the National Council election, the right to vote is "direct" (unmittelbar). What does that mean?Correct answer:Those entitled to vote elect the members of parliament directly, with no electors in between.
Bei der Nationalratswahl gilt das „unmittelbare“ Wahlrecht. Was heißt das? — Die Wahlberechtigten wählen die Abgeordneten direkt, ohne Wahlleute dazwischen.
Source
Our own practice questions on the content of the official learning material “Mein Österreich” and the federal states’ learning materials. They are not the real exam questions – those are not published – and we have not copied wording from the materials. Every question was answered a second time, independently, and checked against public sources. The English translation and the explanations were made with AI; in the exam the questions are asked in German. Not an official service: no connection with the Federal Ministry of the Interior or the offices of the state governments.
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