Wars. Important politicians who started their career and had their first democratic experience later played important roles in their native countries after the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. These include: In Austria Karl Renner, former deputy of Moravia, later Federal Chancellor and President of Austria Leopold Kunschak, former deputy of Lower Austria, later Austrian conservative leader In Czechoslovakia Tomáš Masaryk, former delegate from Bohemia, later first President of Czechoslovakia Karel Kramář, former delegate from Bohemia, later first Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia Vlastimil Tusar, former delegate from Bohemia, later Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia und Bohumír Šmeral, former delegate from Bohemia, later Czechoslovak Communist leader, in Poland Ignacy Daszyński, former delegate from Galicia, later Sejm Marshal of the Second Polish Republic, Wincenty Witos, former delegate from Galicia, later Prime Minister of Poland, in Italy Alcide De Gasperi, former delegate from the Tyrol, later Prime Minister of Italy, in Yugoslavia Anton Korošec, former delegate from Styria, later Prime Minister of Yugoslavia in Ukraine Yevhen Petrushevych, former delegate from Galicia, later President of Western Ukrainian People's Republic Kost Levytskyi, former delegate from Galicia, later Head of the Government of Western Ukrainian People's Republic The Austrian Imperial Council (Reichsrat) was the recruiting school for central and southeastern democracy and socialism. National Council Chamber Since 1920 the former meeting room of the House of Lords has been used as a plenary meeting room by the National Council. The House of Lords (Herrenhaus) used to have its chamber where today the National Council convenes. The chamber was designed in the classical style, with a horseshoe-shaped seating arrangement facing the chair. The Chamber of the National Council was destroyed in 1945 during aerial bombardments and was completely rebuilt in a modern style. The new chamber was finished in 1956 and is a typical example of 1950s architecture. Apart from the coat of arms made of steel, the chamber is without decoration. The carpet is mint-green, considered to be neutral at the time since it was not the colour of any political party. Green was also said to have a soothing effect, something that apparently weighed in the decision, considering the tumultuous debates the building had to endure before the two World Wars. Behind the speaker's pult is the government bench (Regierungsbank), which is however only fully occupied during important events such as the declaration of the government (Regierungserklärung) or the state budget speech (Budgetrede). Federal Council Chamber Located