House of Deputies (Austria)

The House of Deputies (German: Abgeordnetenhaus) was the lower house of the Imperial Council (Reichsrat) of Austria-Hungary from 1861 to 1918. The Imperial Council was the parliament of the Austrian (Cisleithanian) part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Initially, members were indirectly elected by the diets of the various crown lands. Electoral reforms in 1873, 1882, 1896 and 1907 gradually broadened the electorate, culminating in universal manhood suffrage in 1907. This meant that all male citizens over the age of 24, who met certain residency requirements, could vote directly for representatives.

The House of Deputies was responsible for legislating on matters concerning the Austrian part of the empire, including budget approvals, taxation, and civil and criminal law. The composition of the House reflected the diverse ethnic and political makeup of Austria-Hungary, with various German, Czech, Polish, Ukrainian, Italian, Slovenian, Croatian, and other national groups represented. This often led to political instability and parliamentary gridlock, especially concerning language rights and regional autonomy.

The House of Deputies, alongside the House of Lords (Herrenhaus), formed the two chambers of the Imperial Council. Laws passed by the Imperial Council required the assent of both houses and the Emperor to become law. The system was abolished with the collapse of Austria-Hungary in 1918 and the establishment of the First Austrian Republic.