Landesebene

Landesebene is a term used in German-language public administration to denote the level of government that comprises the federated states of a federation. It represents the subnational layer between local municipalities and the national level.

Typically, the Landesebene has its own elected parliament and government, and administers a range of powers defined by the constitution and the state constitutions. Responsibilities commonly associated with this level include education and culture, policing and internal security, regional planning and infrastructure, health and social services, and certain taxation and fiscal matters within its jurisdiction. The exact scope and division of powers vary by country and over time.

In federal systems, the Landesebene is a key component of governance and interacts with both the national level and subnational municipalities. The degree of autonomy and the specific competencies of the Landesebene are determined by constitutional arrangements and law. In Germany, for example, the 16 Länder exercise substantial authority in many policy areas and participate in federal legislation through the Bundesrat. In Austria, the nine states also enjoy constitutional autonomy with their own governments and parliaments under the federal framework.

The term is often used in discussions of federalism and regional governance to distinguish the state level from the Bund (federal level) and from local (municipal) levels. The precise terminology and usage can vary, with some writers preferring forms such as Länderebene to describe the same concept.