Bundesrat

American  

[boon-duhs-raht, boon-duhs-raht] / ˈbʊn dəsˌrɑt, ˈbʊn dəsˌrɑt /

noun

1. the upper house of the federal legislature of Germany.

2. the federal council of Switzerland and of Austria.

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Bundesrat British  

/ ˈbʊndəsˌrɑːt /

noun

1. (in Germany and formerly in West Germany) the council of state ministers with certain legislative and administrative powers, representing the state governments at federal level

2. (in Austria) an assembly with some legislative power that represents state interests at the federal level

3. (in Switzerland) the executive council of the confederation

4. (in the German empire from 1871–1918) the council representing the governments of the constituent states, with administrative, judicial, and legislative powers

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Etymology

Origin of Bundesrat

1870–75; < German, equivalent to Bundes, genitive of Bund federation + Rat council

Example Sentences

Last week, Germany's Upper House, the Bundesrat, approved measures by Parliament to allow wolves to be hunted.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

"The scientific prognoses show us that the peak of the wave is in sight," Scholz said in a speech in the Bundesrat upper house.

From Reuters • Feb. 11, 2022

The Bundesrat, Germany’s upper chamber, would then take up the matter in April, meaning the earliest it could come into force would be a month later.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 9, 2022

If the upper house, or Bundesrat, approves Friday’s bill, workers in health care facilities will need to show they are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 by mid-March next year.

From Washington Times • Dec. 10, 2021

Of the thalers, the Vereinsthaler, coined until 1867 in Austria, was by ordinance of the Bundesrat declared illegal tender since the 1st of January 1903.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 7 "Geoponici" to "Germany" by Various