The Supreme Chancellor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is the head of government of Austria-Hungary. The Supreme Chancellor (German: Obersterkanzler) is responsible to the Congress, and must have the support of that body to hold office. The Supreme Chancellor is nominated by the Congress and formally appointed by the Emperor. Each Supreme Chancellor represents a political party. Organised parties in Austria-Hungary are formed on a regional basis - therefore, the parties in Congress are loose coalitions of regional parties with similar ideologies.