The Austrian Federal Government

The Cabinet is entrusted with the highest administrative duties of the Republic of Austria. The Cabinet is composed of the Federal Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, and the other Federal Ministers. As a collegiate branch of government it executes only those duties which have been expressly entrusted to it by law (or upon decree by the Federal President). All other governmental duties reside with the ministers of the responsible ministry. The Cabinet’s most important constitutional responsibility is its function to pass bills. The Cabinet passes resolutions unanimously; there is no majority decision making.

group-picture of the austrian government

Faymann I:
 first row: Norbert Darabos, Christine Marek, Doris Bures, Claudia Schmied, Werner Faymann, Josef Pröll, Maria Fekter, Gabriele Heinisch-Hosek, Johannes Hahn
second row: Andreas Schieder, Alois Stöger, Rudolf Hundstorfer, Michael Spindelegger, Nikolaus Berlakovich, Reinhold Mitterlehner, Reinhold Lopatka, Josef Ostermayer
(© BKA/HBF)

On 2nd December 2008, the new Austrian Federal Government Faymann was sworn in by Federal President Heinz Fischer.

On 15th January 2009, Claudia Bandion-Ortner was sworn in as Federal Minister of Justice.
On 26th January 2010, Beatrix Karl was sworn in as Federal Minister of Science and Research.