Federal Assembly of Austria
The
Federal Assembly (in
German,
Bundesversammlung) is the name given to a formal joint-session of the two houses of the
Austrian
federal parliament, the
National Council and the
Federal Council.
The presidents of the two parliamentary chambers take turns presiding over sessions of the Federal Assembly.
The Federal Assembly does not function as a legislative body; the two chambers enact legislation, and even amend the
Constitution, as strictly separate entities.
The principal responsibility of the Federal Assembly is to convene for the ceremonial swearing-in of the
Federal President.
In theory, the Federal Assembly also functions as an instrument of
checks and balances; upon request by a two-thirds majority of the National Council, the Federal Assembly may
impeach the president before the
Constitutional Court, or call for a
referendum to have the president removed from office by the electorate. Neither of these powers, however, has so far been exercised. The assent of the Federal Assembly would also be required for the president's
immunity against
criminal prosecution to be withdrawn.
The Federal Assembly is also responsible for
declaring war.
