Flag Symbolism: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red; the flag design is certainly one of the oldest - if not the oldest - national banners in the world; according to tradition, in 1191, following a fierce battle in the Third Crusade, Duke Leopold V of Austria's white tunic became completely blood-spattered; upon removal of his wide belt or sash, a white band was revealed; the red-white-red color combination was subsequently adopted as his banner
Executive Branch: President elected for a six-year term (eligible for a second term) by direct popular vote and formally sworn into office before the Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung; presidential election last held on 25 April 2010 (next to be held on 25 April 2016); chancellor formally chosen by the president but determined by the coalition parties forming a parliamentary majority; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor Judicial Branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 85 judges organized into 17 senates or panels of five judges each); Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof (consists of 20 judges including 6 substitutes; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof - 2 judges plus other members depending on the importance of the case) The Legislative Branch: Bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 seats; delegates appointed by state parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 seats in proportion to its population; members serve five- or six-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected by popular vote for a five-year term under a system of proportional representation with partially open party lists) Their US Ambassador: Dr. Hans Peter Manz Their US Embassy: Embassy of Austria 3524 International Court, NW Washington, D.C., 20008 USA Their Consulates: 3524 International Court, NW Washington, D.C., 20008 Our Ambassador: Alexa Wesner U.S. EMBASSY (THERE): Boltzmanngasse 16 1090 Vienna Our Consulates: Parkring 12a 1010 Vienna UN Representatives: Ernst Sucharipa
Chancellor Werner Faymann -
Head of Government
Conventional Long Form Country Name: Republic of Austria Capital City: Vienna Type of Government: Federal Republic Date of Independence: 12
November 1918 (republic proclaimed) National Holiday: National
Day, 26 October (1955) Commemorates the passage of the law on permanent
neutrality Suffrage: 16 years of age National Symbol: Golden Eagle
President Heinz Fischer -
Chief of State
International Disputes: None Refugees: 19,517 (Russia); 10,158 (Afghanistan) (2012) Internally Displaced Persons: N/A Stateless Persons: 542 (2012) Human Trafficking Issues: N/A Illicit Drug trafficking/use: Transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; increasing consumption of European-produced synthetic drugs