National Council
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National Council
The name for the larger of the two chambers of parliament in Austria and Switzerland. It is the representative body directly elected by the people.
Der Nationalrat in Wien hat heute über das neue Gesetz abgestimmt.
The National Council in Vienna voted on the new law today.
The word is made up of 'National-' (belonging to the nation) and 'Rat' (council, assembly of advisers, committee). So it is literally the 'council of the nation'.
Die Mitglieder des Nationalrates werden alle fünf Jahre gewählt.
The members of the National Council are elected every five years.
This term is specific to politics in Austria and Switzerland. There, it refers to the large chamber of parliament directly elected by the people.
In der Schweiz hat der Nationalrat 200 Mitglieder.
In Switzerland, the National Council has 200 members.
'Der Nationalrat' (the National Council) usually refers to the entire parliamentary chamber. But if someone says 'ein Nationalrat' (a National Council member), it means a male member of this parliament. The female form is 'eine Nationalrätin' (a female National Council member).
Der Nationalrat debattiert über die Steuerreform.
The National Council is debating the tax reform.
Federal Council
In Austria, Bundesrat and Nationalrat refer to the two chambers of parliament. The Bundesrat represents the interests of the federal states, while the Nationalrat is the larger chamber and is directly elected by the people. When referring to representation of the federal states, Bundesrat is used; for representation of the people, Nationalrat is used.
In Österreich wird der Nationalrat direkt vom Volk gewählt.
In Austria, the National Council is directly elected by the people.
In Österreich vertritt der Bundesrat die Interessen der Bundesländer im Parlament.
In Austria, the Federal Council represents the interests of the federal states in parliament.
