The Austrian National Council (Nationalrat) is the lower house of the Parliament of Austria. It consists of 183 members who are elected every five years through a proportional representation system. The council plays a crucial role in the legislative process, proposing and debating laws that affect the country. The National Council works alongside the Federal Council (Bundesrat), which is the upper house. Together, they ensure that the interests of both the federal and regional governments are represented. The National Council also has the power to approve the federal budget and oversee the actions of the Austrian government.