The Austrian Constitutional Court after 100 Years: Remodelling the Model?

Abstract

The establishment of the Constitutional Court more than 100 years ago was the beginning of the “Austrian model” of judicial review and marked a new era with the implementation of a centralized system. Throughout the years, this model underwent major and minor changes and continued to evolve. A number of players and developments lead to this dynamic process. This process depended not only on the development of powers or internal influence, but also on the external influence caused by Austria’s accession to the European Union and the impact on the Constitutional Court. Above all, the Constitutional Court itself, with its case law, was a major player in this dynamic transformation over the last decades. This all lead to the “Austrian model” in its current form, which has never been static and has thus become successful.