ˈbu̇dəsˌrät, G -räät noun
( -s )
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: German, from bundes (gen. of bund federation) + rat council, advice, from Old High German rāt advice; akin to rātan to advise — more at read
: a federal council especially having legislative or executive functions: 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