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State Legislation and Administration
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STATE DIET The State Diets exercise the states' legislative powers. The members of the State Diets are elected by all the female and male residents of the state eligible to vote on the basis of an equal, direct, secret and personal ballot. State legislation must be passed by the State Diet and then certified, countersigned and published in the state gazette by the State Governor. In the event that a state law requires the co-operation of federal bodies for its execution, the Federal Government must give its approval. Immediately after legislation has been passed by the State Diet and before it is published, the State Governor must notify the Federal Chancellery thereof. The executive authority in each state is a State Government elected by the State Diet. The members of the State Government do not have to belong to the State Diet. The State Government is made up of the State Governor, his deputies, and other members (State Councillors). The Federal President is empowered to dissolve any State Diet at the instigation of the Federal Government and with the consent of the 'Bundesrat'. This dissolution may, however, be carried out only once on the same grounds. In the case of Vienna, which is national capital and state at one and the same time, the City Council also serves as the State Diet, the City Senate as the State Government, and the Mayor as the State Governor. STATE GOVERNORThe State Governor represents the state. The State Governor is sworn in on the Federal Constitution by the Federal President, the other members of the State Government by the State Governor before taking office. In the federal states it is the State Governors and the state authorities within their purview that wield federal executive power (indirect federal administration) where this power is not wielded by separate federal authorities (direct federal administration). In matters relating to indirect federal administration, the State Governor is subject to directives issued by the Federal Government and the individual federal ministers. In the case of Vienna, which is national capital and state at one and the same time, the City Council also serves as the State Diet, the City Senate as the State Government, and the Mayor as the State Governor. STATE GOVERNMENTThe State Government, elected by the State Diet, exercises the state's executive powers. The members of the State Government do not have to belong to the State Diet. The State Government is made up of the State Governor, his deputies, and other members (State Councillors). In the case of Vienna, which is national capital and state at one and the same time, the City Council also serves as the State Diet, the City Senate as the State Government, and the Mayor as the State Governor. |