Hofrat

Hofrat, initially a member of an authority established by Emperor Maximilian I, since 1765 title for senior Austrian civil servants. It was abolished as an official title in the central offices in 1850; under the authorities´ reform of 1873 introduced as official title for subordinate offices, e.g. for heads of central authorities, high-ranking civil servants of the provincial authorities and as an award for university and teachers at all types of Gymnasium secondary school. Today official title ("Hofrat", "Wirklicher Hofrat", in Lower Austria "Vortragender Hofrat") in the federal authorities and the provinces (except Vienna and Carinthia), e.g. in the provincial central finance office, police force (jurists), main branches of the employment services, senior service in the labour inspectorates, public archives and the university administration. The Federal President awards the title of Hofrat to civil servants working in the administration.

Literature: J. Ulbrich, Das österreichische Staatsrecht, 1909.