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Difference between revisions of "Austria"
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'''GNI per capita (U.S.$)''' ( | '''GNI per capita (U.S.$)''' (2013) 48,590<br> | ||
==Background of Austria== | ==Background of Austria== | ||
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Because of its geographic position and historical affinities, Austria in general and Vienna in particular served as a haven for refugees and other emigrants from eastern Europe during the decades of the Cold War, when migration out of the Soviet bloc was severely restricted. Austria supported a generous policy of admitting and maintaining such migrants until places for them abroad could be found. About 170,000–180,000 Hungarians escaped into Austria after the uprising in Hungary in 1956; some remained permanently in Austria, but most were resettled overseas. After the precipitous political upheavals of 1989–91, when the Soviet Union collapsed, Austria became the first station in the West for thousands of emigrants from eastern Europe. Many remained permanently in Austria, particularly in Vienna, Graz, Linz, and other large cities. In the early 21st century, foreign residents accounted for more than one-tenth of the country’s total population. Among them were many EU nationals residing permanently in Austria, a large number of them in Vienna. | Because of its geographic position and historical affinities, Austria in general and Vienna in particular served as a haven for refugees and other emigrants from eastern Europe during the decades of the Cold War, when migration out of the Soviet bloc was severely restricted. Austria supported a generous policy of admitting and maintaining such migrants until places for them abroad could be found. About 170,000–180,000 Hungarians escaped into Austria after the uprising in Hungary in 1956; some remained permanently in Austria, but most were resettled overseas. After the precipitous political upheavals of 1989–91, when the Soviet Union collapsed, Austria became the first station in the West for thousands of emigrants from eastern Europe. Many remained permanently in Austria, particularly in Vienna, Graz, Linz, and other large cities. In the early 21st century, foreign residents accounted for more than one-tenth of the country’s total population. Among them were many EU nationals residing permanently in Austria, a large number of them in Vienna. | ||
==[[Economy of Austria]]== | ==[[Economy of Austria]]== | ||
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Telecommunications systems, including a fibre-optic network, are well developed. Cellular telephones are ubiquitous, and Austria boasted almost 1.5 cellular subscriptions per person in the early 21st century. During this period, rates of personal computer ownership and Internet usage were among the highest in the region, and almost three-fourths of Austrians were regular Internet users. | Telecommunications systems, including a fibre-optic network, are well developed. Cellular telephones are ubiquitous, and Austria boasted almost 1.5 cellular subscriptions per person in the early 21st century. During this period, rates of personal computer ownership and Internet usage were among the highest in the region, and almost three-fourths of Austrians were regular Internet users. | ||
==Government of Austria== | |||
*Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Austria | |||
*conventional short form: Austria | |||
*local long form: Republik Oesterreich | |||
*local short form: Oesterreich | |||
*Government type: federal republic | |||
*Capital: name: Vienna | |||
*geographic coordinates: 48 12 N, 16 22 E | |||
*time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | |||
*daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October | |||
*Administrative divisions: 9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Karnten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria), Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria), Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna) | |||
*Independence: 12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed) | |||
*National holiday: National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the passage of the law on permanent neutrality | |||
*Constitution: several previous; latest adopted 1 October 1920, revised 1929, replaced May 1934 (authoritarian-corporate constitution), replaced by German Weimar constitution in 1938 following German annexation; latest reinstated 1 May 1945 (1920 constitution with 1929 revisions); amended many times, last in 2008 (2013) | |||
*Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court | |||
*International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | |||
*Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal | |||
*Executive branch: | |||
:chief of state: President Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) (since 8 July 2004) | |||
:head of government: Chancellor Werner FAYMANN (SPOe) (since 2 December 2008); Vice Chancellor Michael SPINDELEGGER (OeVP) (since 21 April 2011) | |||
:cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor | |||
:elections: president elected for a six-year term (eligible for a second term) by direct popular vote and formally sworn into office before the Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung; presidential election last held on 25 April 2010 (next to be held on 25 April 2016); chancellor formally chosen by the president but determined by the coalition parties forming a parliamentary majority; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor | |||
:election results: Heinz FISCHER reelected president; percent of vote - Heinz FISCHER 79.33%, Barbara ROSENKRANZ 15.24%, Rudolf GEHRING 5.43% | |||
:note: government coalition - SPOe and OeVP | |||
*Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 seats; delegates appointed by state parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 seats in proportion to its population; members serve five- or six-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by popular vote for a five-year term under a system of proportional representation with partially open party lists) | |||
*elections: National Council - last held on 29 September 2013 (next to be held by September 2018) | |||
*election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SPOe 27.1%, OeVP 23.8%, FPOe 21.4%, Greens 11.5%, Team Stronach for Austria 5.8%, NEOS - The New Austria 4.8%, other 5.6%; seats by party - SPOe 53, OeVP 46, FPOe 42, Greens 22; Team Stronach for Austria 11, NEOS - The New Austria 9 | |||
*Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 85 judges organized into 17 senates or panels of five judges each); Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof (consists of 20 judges including 6 substitutes; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof - 2 judges plus other members depending on the importance of the case) | |||
*judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by executive branch departments and appointed by the president; judges serve for life; Constitutional Court judges nominated by several executive branch departments and approved by the president; judges serve for life; Administrative Court judges recommended by executive branch departments and appointed by the president; terms of judges and members determined by the president | |||
*subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (4); Regional Courts (20); district courts (120); county courts | |||
*Political parties and leaders: Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Josef BUCHER] | |||
Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Michael SPINDELEGGER] | |||
Communist Party of Austria or KPOe [Mirko MESSNER] | |||
Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE] | |||
The Greens [Eva GLAWISCHNIG] | |||
NEOS - The New Austria [Matthias STROLZ] | |||
Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Werner FAYMANN] | |||
"Team Stronach for Austria" [Frank STRONACH] | |||
*Political pressure groups and leaders: Austrian Trade Union Federation or OeGB (nominally independent but primarily Social Democratic) | |||
Federal Economic Chamber | |||
Labor Chamber or AK (Social Democratic-leaning think tank) | |||
OeVP-oriented Association of Austrian Industrialists or IV | |||
Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action | |||
*other: three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, farmers, and other nongovernment organizations in the areas of environment and human rights | |||
*International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CD, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIFIL, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC | |||
*Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hans Peter MANZ (since 2 December 2011) | |||
:chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035 | |||
:telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700 | |||
:FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750 | |||
:consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York | |||
*Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alexa L. WESNER (since 6 September 2013) | |||
:embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna | |||
:mailing address: use embassy street address | |||
:telephone: [43] (1) 31339-0 | |||
:FAX: [43] (1) 3100682 | |||
*National anthem: name: "Bundeshymne" (Federal Hymn) | |||
:lyrics/music: Paula von PRERADOVIC/Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART or Johann HOLZER (disputed) | |||
:note: adopted 1947; the anthem is also known as "Land der Berge, Land am Strome" (Land of the Mountains, Land on the River); Austria adopted a new national anthem after World War II to replace the former imperial anthem composed by Franz Josef HAYDN, which had been appropriated by Germany in 1922 and was now associated with the Nazi regime | |||
*Group: All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe | |||
'''[[Government and Society of Austria]]''' | |||
*Constitutional framework | |||
Under the constitution of 1920—with minor changes made in 1929—Austria is a “democratic republic: its law derives from the people.” A federal republic, Austria consists of nine self-governing Länder (states): Burgenland, Kärnten (Carinthia), Niederösterreich (Lower Austria), Oberösterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria), Tirol, Vorarlberg, and Wien (Vienna). The states have considerable autonomy...[[Government and Society of Austria|>>>>read more<<<<]] | |||
==Languages, culture and religion of Austria== | ==Languages, culture and religion of Austria== | ||