AustriaDemokratie 30 · Democracy and the Republic's core principles
What is true about a popular initiative (Volksbegehren) at federal level?
In the exam (German)
Was stimmt über ein Volksbegehren auf Bundesebene?
- aThe National Council must pass the requested law exactly as it is written in the popular initiative.Der Nationalrat muss das verlangte Gesetz genau so beschließen, wie es im Volksbegehren steht.
- bIf at least 100,000 people entitled to vote have signed it, the National Council must deal with it.Haben es mindestens 100.000 Stimmberechtigte unterschrieben, muss sich der Nationalrat damit befassen.Correct answer
- cOnly people aged at least 21 may sign it.Unterschreiben dürfen nur Personen, die mindestens 21 Jahre alt sind.
- dIt can be signed at any municipal office in Austria or online with ID Austria.Man kann es auf jedem Gemeindeamt in Österreich oder online mit ID Austria unterschreiben.Correct answer
Why?
From 100,000 signatures, the National Council must deal with the proposal, but it does not have to pass a law on it. Anyone entitled to vote from the age of 16 may sign; since a reform in 2018 this can be done in any municipality, not only in one's own, or online with ID Austria.
Translated with AI. In the exam the question is in German, as shown above.
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Take a free mock examDemokratie 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.
Demokratie 34
Certain electoral principles apply to the National Council election. Which statements fit them?Correct answer:You fill in the ballot paper alone and unobserved in the voting booth.
Correct answer:Nobody may put pressure on you to vote for a particular party.
Correct answer:Every valid vote counts equally, no matter who casts it.
Für die Nationalratswahl gelten bestimmte Wahlrechtsgrundsätze. Welche Aussagen passen dazu? — Sie füllen den Stimmzettel allein und unbeobachtet in der Wahlzelle aus. · Niemand darf Sie unter Druck setzen, eine bestimmte Partei zu wählen. · Jede gültige Stimme zählt gleich viel, egal wer sie abgibt.
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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