AustriaDemokratie 62 · Democracy and the Republic's core principles
The National Council (Nationalrat) has passed a federal law, but the Federal Council (Bundesrat) raises an objection to it. What can happen in most cases?
In the exam (German)
Der Nationalrat hat ein Bundesgesetz beschlossen, aber der Bundesrat erhebt dagegen Einspruch. Was kann in den meisten Fällen geschehen?
- aThe National Council can repeat its decision; then the law becomes valid despite the objection.Der Nationalrat kann seinen Beschluss wiederholen; dann wird das Gesetz trotz des Einspruchs gültig.Correct answer
- bThe law has failed for good and may never be passed again.Das Gesetz ist endgültig gescheitert und darf nie wieder beschlossen werden.
- cThe Constitutional Court decides whether the National Council or the Federal Council is right.Der Verfassungsgerichtshof entscheidet, ob der Nationalrat oder der Bundesrat recht hat.
- dThe people must always decide in a referendum.Die Bevölkerung muss in jedem Fall in einer Volksabstimmung entscheiden.
Why?
For most laws, the Federal Council can only delay a law. If the National Council repeats its decision (Beharrungsbeschluss), the law is published anyway. Only for certain laws, for example when the rights of the federal states are affected, is the consent of the Federal Council needed.
Translated with AI. In the exam the question is in German, as shown above.
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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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