Federal Constitutional Law (Austrian act)

The Federal Constitutional Law (German: Bundes-Verfassungsgesetz, abbreviated B-VG) is the centerpiece of the constitution of the Republic of Austria. The act defines Austria to be a democratic parliamentary republic with free multi-party elections and universal suffrage. It characterizes Austria as a federation (Bund) consisting of nine federal states (Bundesländer) but vests the supposed states it creates with comparatively little autonomy.