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Direct Democracy

Austria

DD002

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

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

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

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

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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