Bundesrat

noun

Bun·​des·​rat

ˈbu̇ndəsˌrät,

G -räät

plural -s

: a federal council especially having legislative or executive functions: such as

a

: the upper house of the German and Austrian parliaments composed of members selected by the state governments

b

: the chief executive authority of Switzerland consisting of members elected by the Federal Assembly

Word History

Etymology

German, from bundes (genitive of bund federation) + rat council, advice, from Old High German rāt advice; akin to rātan to advise

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