The Austrian Federal Government (German: Österreichische Bundesregierung) is a collective body of the highest-ranking officers of the Austrian executive branch. It consists of the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor and the other federal ministers of the cabinet. Together with the President, the Government forms the supreme federal authority.
Since the 1929 reform of the Austrian Constitution, the members of the Federal Government are appointed by the Austrian Federal President (according to Article 70 of the Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz (B-VG)), who nevertheless has to seek a consensus with the National Council, since a parliamentary vote of no confidence would immediately enforce their dismissal. In practical terms it is usually the leader of the strongest political party who is asked to become Federal Chancellor, although there have been exceptions in the past.
The Chancellor presides over the Government meetings as primus inter pares without decisional authority. He nevertheless has the right of proposal concerning the appointment of the cabinet's members by the President. The Federal Government adopts resolutions, in particular the introduction of bills to the National Council, unanimously.
Each federal minister is also responsible for his or her own ministry and may be supported by one or more state secretaries, who also participate in the cabinet's meetings. They are however not considered Government members and have no right to vote in the proceedings.
Read more about Austrian Federal Government: Cabinets Before 1945, List of Cabinets Since 1945
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