Kurienwahlrecht

Kurienwahlrecht (Kurien election system): Representative bodies in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy (Reichsrat until 1907, Landtag and Gemeinderat bodies until 1918) were elected by electoral classes ("Kurien" [curiae]) and according to tax payments. In the Reichsrat there were 4 curiae: 1) big landowners, 2) towns, market towns and industrial towns, 3) chambers of trade and commerce, 4) rural municipalities. The 3 upper curiae elected the deputies according to the majority rule in constituencies, while the rural municipalities had electors. Until 1873 all deputies were elected from the Landtage, where there were also 4 different curiae; bishops and university presidents had additional votes ("Virilstimmen"). In the municipalities assignment to an electoral class was contingent upon having received a certain level of education or public office as well as the payment of a certain amount of tax.