Legal Grounding

The National Council of Austria, the country's lower house of parliament, is governed by a set of rules and regulations that ensure its smooth functioning and adherence to legal principles.

The National Council is subject to the Federal Constitutional Law (B-VG), which serves as the fundamental legal framework for the parliament. This law outlines the powers, responsibilities, and procedures of the National Council, among other governing bodies in Austria.

One of the key aspects of the National Council's governance is the principle of incompatibility, a principle that is implied from the National Council's subject to the Information Act (InfOG) and the Information Ordinance (InfoV), both of which have principles of incompatibility. This principle restricts certain activities and positions that may conflict with the duties and responsibilities of a member of the National Council.

The National Council is also subject to several other acts and ordinances that regulate its operations. These include the EU Information Act, the ESM Information Act, and the House Rules for the Parliamentary Buildings (HO). The Information Ordinance (InfoV) and the Rules of Procedure Act of the National Council (GOG-NR) are also crucial in governing the National Council's procedures.

The Rules of Procedure Act of the National Council (GOG-NR) provides the detailed rules and procedures for the National Council's operations. This includes the Rules of Procedure for Parliamentary Investigative Committees (VO-UA) and the Standing Joint Committee Rules of Procedure, which are based on § 9 F-VG 1948.

Furthermore, there are specific regulations on the use of the Parliamentary Library and Archives for the National Council. These regulations ensure that the resources are used efficiently and effectively in the service of the National Council's duties.

The parties currently represented in the Austrian National Council are the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ), The Greens (GRÜNE), and NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum (NEOS). Each of these parties plays a crucial role in the decision-making processes of the National Council, reflecting the diversity of opinions and perspectives within Austrian politics.

In conclusion, the National Council of Austria is governed by a comprehensive set of rules and regulations, ensuring its smooth functioning and adherence to legal principles. These regulations cover a wide range of aspects, from the principles of incompatibility to the use of the Parliamentary Library and Archives, and the Rules of Procedure for Parliamentary Investigative Committees to the Standing Joint Committee Rules of Procedure. The diversity of parties represented in the National Council reflects the richness of Austrian politics and the democratic process.