Austria, the Federal Republic of
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The Federal Republic of Austria is a federal republic in the European Union, located north of Czech Slavia and west of Belarum.Basic Facts:
- Full name: Federal Republic of Austria
- Shortened name: Austria
- Motto: None
- Demonym: Austrian
- National Anthem: Sei gesegnet ohne ende
- Official languages: German (Czech, Slovak, Croatian, and Hungarian are recognized minority languages)
- Capital city: Vienna
The state of Austria was, in its current name, founded in 1156 as an independent duchy of a rump Holy Roman Empire. In 1276, the Habsburg family would ascend to the throne of the duchy, making in an Archduchy, one that would become an "empire" after the final collapse of the already weakened Holy Roman Empire in 1806.
By all means, the "empire" was not an empire, instead simply being a near-absolute monarchial state, later a constitutional monarchy, that "united" the Austrian people. However, it was both popular and long lived for most of its history, lasting 150 years.
In the 1920s and 30s, however, it experienced a crisis. Increasing political tensions between the right and the left resulted in violence throughout the country, a violence perpetuated by paramilitaries so powerful that they were out of the control of the military and police. As a result, in 1933, the emperor of the time attempted to restore the absolutist state, cracking down on the smallest dissent and creating a number of totalitarian structures, resulting in a mass terror that may have killed up to 1.5 million people between 1933 and 1939.
The newly absolutist empire would have difficultly surviving, having to suppress ever greater opposition to the ultra-conservative social order and state. As the emperor grew infirm, this became increasingly difficult, especially as his heirs were in near-total, albeit hidden, opposition to his regime. Upon the death of the emperor, at the age of 74, in 1962, the next, the fifty year old Crown Prince, immediately abdicated, resulting in the creation of an "Austrian State." Social conservatism continued to prevail, resulting in the President of this State retaining the same absolute powers of the Emperor, while at the same time continuing to maintain the various institutions of the absolutist regime. As society began to strain even against the milder social conservatism of the State, the Christian Social Party, in many ways the embodiment of the ideals of the State, began to limit suffrage while at the same time becoming ever-more conservative, eventually resulting in the re-establishment of what was essentially a copy of the former absolutist regime. As society continued to modernize, it began to rebel against the excessive regulations of the Austrian State, resulting in a popularly-supported military coup that forced the dissolution of the "Parliament" of the State and resulted in new elections that returned a legislature entirely composed of independent candidates. During this coup, almost everyone who was related to the governance of Austria, as well as those connected to the fascist party, was killed or imprisoned.
The new parliament, elected in 1996, was, in contrast to the former conservative parliament, dominated by socialists and communists, who immediately:
- instituted universal suffrage to all above the age of 16, from a previous restriction to men over the age of 55 who had proven themselves to be "extraordinary citizens" who owned more than 100 hectares of land, earned over 400,000 schillings a year, and without a criminal record nor a "mark" on their state record.
- abolished the nobility
- abolished the neo-feudal economic system
- "socialized" the economy, with the consent of some conservatives
- instituted a high minimum wage
- increased protections for unions
- increased welfare
- legalized immigration
- created a process of naturalization
- legalized religions other than the Catholic Church
- secularized the state
- instituted a nonpartisan political system
- allowed foreign "residents" to vote in local elections
- renamed the "Austrian State" the "Federal Republic of Austria"
- abolished the death penalty
- established basic political freedoms
among other reforms.
They could not, however, change the constitution as to abolish the totalitarian structures, as they were one vote short of a supermajority. Modern politics are relatively similar to those of the late 1990s. -
Legislature
All legislation is either written or amended by the three federal councils - the Federal Council of States, the Federal Economic Council, and the Federal Cultural Council. Each is made up of representatives sent from political bodies beneath the federal government - the Federal Council of States is made up of representatives from the states, the Federal Economic Council is made up of representatives from the professional chambers (formerly Staende) , and the Federal Cultural Council is made up of representatives from the various ethnic groups of Austria. Legislation is assigned to the councils by the Federal President as according to its content - if legislation addresses the state, it is sent to the Council of States, and so on and so forth. The councils have the right to veto legislation. Their main work is simply to create two reports on the legislation, one in favor and one against.
Upon the conclusion of deliberation in the councils, the legislation passes into the Assembly, made up of forty delegates from each of the preparatory councils. The Assembly debates the legislation for a set period before holding a vote. If the vote passes, then it moves to the President.
Legislation may be vetoed by the Federal President; however, this can only happen if he or she believes it to be unconstitutional, as a result of precedent. The State Council of the Ministry of the Republic, which exists to protect republican institutions, may remove the individual occupying the Presidency if veto power is misused.
If deemed constitutional by the President, there is a two week waiting period during which the Constitutional Court must conduct a preliminary review of it. If any objection is found, then it much launch an inquiry into the matter. If not, then the legislation passes to the Government, to be promulgated and executed.
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The Federal Economic Council
The Federal Economic Council is a joint assembly of the all the 100-member professional chambers, of which there are 7. Its name is derived from the system of 1933 - 1982, when these chambers were quite unfortunately known as Estates.
The Federal Economic Council has only the responsibility of regulating relations between the professions, and, to an extent, the classes, by establishing basic regulations on production, pay, and other norms, including those of arbitration. This is done four times a year, in a four week process each time, or in cases in which it is deemed necessary.
Its regulations regarding relations between professions, which include the creation of indicative plans and other regulations on coordination of production, are near absolute; they cannot be contradicted except by a labor court, or in the case of 'adaptation,' in which regulations are slightly modified as to better fit the situation of a constituent national group.
In contrast, those regarding relations between classes are much looser. They cannot be nearly as definitive as those regarding the professions; at the same time, they can be freely modified to a much greater extent, under the rule of 'adaptation,' than other regulations, and in some cases can be ignored entirely. However, in rare cases, especially those establishing minimums for the treatment of workers as well as arbitration, they can be made absolute by a labor court with national jurisdiction.
The Federal EconomicCouncil also serves as the 'medium of synchronization,' through which the regulations of the individual professions are synchronized with the 'national interest,' represented by the President. This is done in a three-week long process on a yearly basis, or when the President or the Council deems it necessary.
Federal Cultural Council
The Federal Cultural Council exists and functions similarly to the Federal Economic Council. However, due to the little power that individual ethnic groups hold, the Council is not viewed as being an equal of the ; in fact, many see it simply as being symbolic. Despite this, the Federal Cultural Council does sometimes make important decisions, largely in the area of education regarding language and culture.
The Federal Council of States
The Federal Council of States is the counterpart of the Federal Economic Council for the states of Austria. As with the Federal Cultural Council, it exists and functions in almost the exact same way as the Federal Economic Council; however, it has significantly more power than the former, and thus is viewed as an institution of importance, albeit not as far as the Federal Economic Council.
The Federal Council of States harmonizes laws regarding:
- VAT and LVT.
- severance taxes
- non-cultural education
- public utilities
- devolution of powers to other public institutions
all of which fall under the power of the states.
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The Austrian Economic System
Structure
The Austrian Economic System is officially known as "Austrian Socialism." More orthodox socialists, however, view it as being capitalistic; capitalists, as well as fascists, view it as being orthodox socialist.
Society under the system is divided into two classes - producers and directors. Directors are responsible for directing the economy as well as the production; producers must follow their orders. However, they may only do this according to a framework set quarterly by a joint assembly of representatives from both the productive and director classes, in which each has equal power. This framework, which places a high number of regulations on directors, is enforced by labor courts made up of unelected representatives half from the producer class and the directors class, chosen based upon their impartiality, level of education, and knowledge of the law. These labor courts are heavily regulated by the Ministry of the Republic, made up of a sort of elite of those considered to be the most educated, impartial, and loyal of those in the courts.
The framework also decides pay, which, according to the constitution, must be be the exact compensation for work done added to living wage. This results in the supervisory class almost always having the lowest pay in all Austria, which generally prevents those in search of wealth or power from joining it.
To join the director class, one must meet the same criteria needed to become a member of a labor court.
In contrast, the class of producers is open to all meeting its criteria above the age of 22. One must have at least graduated either the grammar or vocational schools to join it; if not, one must return to the school.
Classes
Both classes have separate assemblies, in which other frameworks complementary to those of the professional chambers. In the class of producers, this framework regulates cooperation, the maintenance of equipment, strikes, and devolved welfare; in the class of directors, this framework regulates the relation between higher and lower supervisors, cooperation, and devolved welfare.
This is done on a yearly basis, and adjusted quarterly.
Planning
At meetings of the Council of Estates, on a yearly basis, an all-encompassing economic plan guiding all production is drawn up, with the aid of the president and councils of experts. This plan is technically optional; following it is rewarded with subsidies. However, it is universally followed, largely as a result of the economic structure, in which supervisors at the top can demand, within the framework created by the total body of supervisors, that lower supervisors carry out specific tasks, concentrating power in the hands of a few dozen people who almost always agree completely with the economic .plan. However, the plan is often modified by lower functionaries as to fit 'material conditions,' within an extent defined by the yearly framework.
Every quarter, the plan is reevaluated, and in some cases is adjusted.