Bundesländer

Bundesländer is the plural form of the German term for federal states. It refers to subnational political units in federal systems, most notably Germany and Austria. In both countries, the Bundesländer maintain a degree of constitutional autonomy and are responsible for a range of policy areas, while the federal level sets nationwide laws and standards.

In Germany, there are 16 Länder. Each has its own constitution, government and parliament and is responsible for areas such as education, policing, culture, and local administration. The Länder participate in federal legislation and administration mainly through the Bundesrat, in which state governments hold seats. Their heads are the Ministerspräsidenten (minister-presidents). Several Länder are city-states (Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen).

In Austria, there are nine Bundesländer. Each has a constitution, an elected Landtag (state parliament) and a governing cabinet led by a Landeshauptmann or Landeshauptfrau. The Länder retain autonomy over fields like education and culture, regional planning, and police, while the federal government handles national matters. The Bundesrat represents the Länder at the federal level, contributing to legislation. Capitals include Vienna (for the state of Vienna) and other state capitals like Graz, Linz, Innsbruck.

Together, the Bundesländer form a key layer of governance, mediating between citizens and the federal state and balancing regional diversity with national unity. The concept also underscores the federal character of Germany and Austria, where regional administrations implement laws and policies and reflect local needs within a national framework.