Austria's republican system places day-to-day executive leadership in the hands of the government, with a separate head of state performing constitutional duties. Christian Stocker serves as Chancellor of Austria and leads the national government.
Austria is a parliamentary republic. The head of state is a president whose role is generally representative, constitutional, or limited, while day-to-day executive authority is exercised by a prime minister and cabinet. The government normally depends on the confidence of parliament, so the composition of the legislative majority is central to forming and sustaining the executive.
Legislative authority is exercised through a bicameral national parliament. The two chambers share responsibility for passing laws and approving public finances, with their precise powers and methods of selection defined by the constitution. Parliamentary committees and plenary sessions provide formal mechanisms for scrutiny, while the courts are institutionally separate and may review government action as permitted by law.
Austria is organized on a federal basis, so constitutional authority is divided between national institutions and constituent states, regions, provinces, or other federal units. Those subnational governments have their own legally protected responsibilities, while defense, foreign affairs, national finance, and other sovereign functions remain principally at the federal level. Political authority is exercised through the constitutional institutions described above, with elections, parliamentary confidence, or other constitutional procedures determining who holds office.
