U.S. English Foundation Research

AUSTRIA
Legislation

Constitution
(Adopted in 1929)

(Document Status on July 1, 1983)

Article 8

Without prejudice to the rights provided by federal law for linguistic minorities, German is the official language of the Republic.

Article 14

(6) Public schools are those schools, which are established and maintained by authorities so required by law. The Federation is the authority so required by law in so far as legislation and execution in matters of the establishment, maintenance, and dissolution of public schools are the business of the Federation. The State or, according to the statutory provisions, the County, or a County Association is the authority so required by law in so far as legislation or implementing legislation and execution in matters of establishment, maintenance and dissolution of public schools are the business of the State. Admission to public school is open to all without distinction of birth, sex race, status, class, language and religion, and in other respects within the limits of the statutory requirements. The same applies analogously to kindergartens, centers, and student hostels.

Note: The complete text of the Constitution and further information on the constitutional background of Austria are provided by the International Constitutional Law Project at the University of Wuerzburg.