Landesverfassung

Landesverfassung is the term used for the constitutional framework of a federated state in Germany and Austria. It lays down the state's territorial organization, its political institutions, fundamental rights at the state level, and the procedures for governing. Landesverfassungen are subordinate to the higher-level constitutions: the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz) at the federal level, and the Austrian Federal Constitution at the national level.

In Germany, each of the 16 Länder operates under its own Landesverfassung. It defines the organs of the state: the Landtag (state parliament), the Landesregierung (executive), and the Ministerpräsident or equivalent head of government; it sets rules for elections, the administration, education policy to the extent reserved to the states, and often provisions on state symbols and budgetary authority. It also guarantees and limits fundamental rights within its jurisdiction, and provides the judiciary's organization.

Relation to federal law: Landesverfassungen must comply with the Basic Law. Federal constitutional norms prevail in cases of conflict. Amendments to a Landesverfassung typically require a qualified majority in the respective Landtag and, in several states, a referendum; some changes are reserved to federal competences or require federal consent.

In Austria, several Bundesländer hold their own Landesverfassungen, which describe the state government, the Landeshauptmann, the Landtag, and the administration, as well as regional rights and obligations. They operate within the framework of the Austrian Federal Constitution and must align with national law.

Historically, Landesverfassungen have been drafted and revised across the German states from the 19th century onward, with major revisions during the postwar period to align with modern constitutional principles and the federal structure.