Composition
The 62 members of the Federal Council (Bundesräte) are elected according to proportional representation by each of the Austrian states' legislatures (Landtage) for 4- to 6-year terms. The composition of the Bundesrat therefore changes after every state election and the distribution of seats in the Austrian Landtage. The second largest faction of the particular Landtag has the right to designate at least one deputy. The number of representatives delegated by each Bundesland ranges between three and twelve, depending on its population as ascertained by a regular census; it is fixed per presidential decree.
Though the Federal Council has no strong party discipline, the deputies may ally along party lines and form political groups, which have to meet a quorum of five seats, if not admitted by particular resolution (as in case of the FPÖ). There are currently three groups in the Bundesrat:
| MPs | ÖVP | SPÖ | FPÖ | Non-Inscrits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burgenland | 3 | 1 | 2 | – | – | |
| Carinthia | 4 | 1 | 1 | – | 2 | (FPK) |
| Lower Austria | 12 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | (Greens) |
| Salzburg | 4 | 2 | 2 | – | – | |
| Styria | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | – | |
| Tyrol | 5 | 3 | 1 | – | 1 | (FRITZ) |
| Upper Austria | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | (Greens) |
| Vienna | 11 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 1 | (Greens) |
| Vorarlberg | 3 | 2 | – | 1 | – | |
| Overall | 62 | 27 | 22 | 7 | 6 |
The President of the Federal Council is nominated by the largest party of each state in half-yearly intervals.
Read more about this topic: Federal Council (Austria)
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