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Direct Democracy

Austria Austria

DD002

Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)
Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments: In case of a complete amendment of the Constitution, a mandatory referendum has to take place. Ad B.: There are two types of optional referenda: Volksabstimmung: a referendum on a bill passed by the lower chamber of the Austrian parliament (National Council): binding; or: Volksbefragung (public opinion polls): carried out before a bill passes the National Council: not binding.
Source: Constitution of Austria, Articles 43-46 http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/au00000_.html Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified: 2012/05/29
DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)
Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments:
Source: Art. 41, 43 & 60 B-VG, Art. 44, 45 & 46 B-VG, Volksbegehrengesetz 1973 (Law on Public Initiatives), Volksabstimmungsgesetz 1972 (Law on Referenda), Volksbefragungsgesetz 1989 (Law on Public Opinion Polls). Constitution of Austria, Articles 1-46 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified: 2012/05/29
DD004

Optional referendums (national level)
Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments:
Source: Art. 41, 43 & 60 B-VG, Art. 44, 45 & 46 B-VG, Volksbegehrengesetz 1973 (Law on Public Initiatives), Volksabstimmungsgesetz 1972 (Law on Referenda), Volksbefragungsgesetz 1989 (Law on Public Opinion Polls). Constitution of Austria, Articles 1-46 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified: 2012/05/29
DD005

Citizens' Initiatives (national level)
Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer: b. No
Comments:
Source: Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified: 2012/05/29
DD006

Agenda Initiatives (national level)
Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments:
Source: Art. 41, 43 & 60 B-VG, Art. 44, 45 & 46 B-VG, Volksbegehrengesetz 1973 (Law on Public Initiatives), Volksabstimmungsgesetz 1972 (Law on Referenda), Volksbefragungsgesetz 1989 (Law on Public Opinion Polls). Constitution of Austria, Articles 1-46 Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified: 2012/05/29
DD007


Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer: b. No
Comments:
Source: Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm Constitution of Austria, Articles 1-46
Verified: 2012/05/29
DD129


Question:Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer: b. Sometimes binding
Comments: Bills which are called to referendum by the Lower House of Austrian Parliament are binding. Bills called to referendum in the National Council are non-binding.
Source: Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm Constitution of Austria, Articles 1-46
Verified: 2012/05/29
DD130


Question:Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer: c. Both constitutional and other issues
Comments:
Source: Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm Constitution of Austria, Articles 1-46
Verified: 2012/05/29
DD131


Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments:
Source: Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm
Verified: 2012/05/29
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