<PAGE>
                                                      40 ACT FILE NO. 811-2271

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM S-6

For Registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of Securities of Unit
Investment Trusts Registered on
Form N-8B-2

<TABLE>
<S>  <C>                  <C>
A.   Exact name of Trust: NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUST, SERIES 1197

B.   Name of Depositor:   NUVEEN INVESTMENTS

C.   Complete address of Depositor's principal executive offices:

                          333 West Wacker Drive
                          Chicago, Illinois 60606

D.   Name and complete address of agents for service:

                          NUVEEN INVESTMENTS
                          Attn: Alan G. Berkshire
                          333 West Wacker Drive
                          Chicago, Illinois 60606

                          CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
                          Attn: Eric F. Fess
                          111 West Monroe Street
                          Chicago, Illinois 60603

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

/ /  immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)

/ /  on September 28, 2000 pursuant to paragraph (b) of rule 485

/ /  60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)

/ /  on September 28, 2000 pursuant to paragraph (a) of rule 485 or 486

E.   Title of securities being registered: Units of fractional undivided beneficial
     interest.

F.   Approximate date of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the
     effective date of the Registration Statement.

/ /  Check box if it is proposed that this filing will become effective on (date) at
     (time) pursuant to Rule 487.
</TABLE>

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THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES
AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE
A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A)
MAY DETERMINE.
<PAGE>
                             ---------------------
                PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED SEPTEMBER 28, 2000
                ------------------------------------------------
                           NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUST

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            SERIES 1197
                                                       (A UNIT INVESTMENT TRUST)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The final Prospectus for a prior Series incorporated by reference herein is
hereby used as a preliminary Prospectus for the above-stated Series. The
narrative information and structure of the attached final Prospectus will be
substantially the same as that of the final Prospectus for this Series. Although
the incorporated Prospectus includes trusts as indicated therein, the specific
trusts included in this Series when deposited may differ from such trusts.
Information with respect to the actual trusts to be included, pricing, the
number of Units, dates and summary information regarding the characteristics of
securities to be deposited in this Series is not now available and will be
different since each Series has a unique Portfolio. Accordingly the information
contained herein with regard to the previous Series should be considered as
being included for informational purposes only. Ratings of the securities in
this Series are expected to be comparable to those of the securities deposited
in the previous Series. However, the Estimated Current Return for this Series
will depend on the interest rates and offering prices of the securities in this
Series and may vary materially from that of the previous Series.
A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THE UNITS OF THIS SERIES HAS BEEN FILED
WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION BUT HAS NOT YET BECOME EFFECTIVE.
THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY
NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER
TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

(Incorporated herein by reference is the final prospectus for Nuveen Tax Free
Unit Trust, Series 1195 (Registration No. 333-46074) as filed on September 28,
2000, which shall be used as a preliminary prospectus for the current series of
the Fund.)
<PAGE>
                       CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT

A.  Bonding Arrangements of Depositor:

The Depositor has obtained the following Stockbrokers Blanket Bonds for its
officers, directors and employees:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                          <C>
    INSURER/POLICY NO.                                         AMOUNT

    Reliance Insurance Company                               $26,000,000
    B 262 6895
</TABLE>

B.  THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT COMPRISES THE FOLLOWING PAPERS AND DOCUMENTS:

                                The facing sheet

                                 The Prospectus

                                 The signatures

                              Consents of Counsel

                                    Exhibits

C.  EXPLANATORY NOTE:

The Registration Statement will contain a prospectus that may include separate
unit investment trusts. The prospectus will consist of a Part A, a Part B and an
Information Supplement.

D.  UNDERTAKINGS:

The Information Supplement to the Trust will not include third party financial
information.
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant,
Nuveen Tax-Free Unit Trust, Series 1197 has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly
authorized in the City of Chicago and State of Illinois on September 28, 2000.

                                          NUVEEN TAX-FREE UNIT TRUST, SERIES
                                          1197
                                                             (Registrant)

                                          By NUVEEN INVESTMENTS
                                                             (Depositor)

                                          By:  Ronald J. Buttarazzi
                                          --------------------------------------
                                                             Vice President

                                          Attest:  Nicholas Dalmaso
                                          --------------------------------------
                                                             Assistant Secretary

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and
on the dates indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          SIGNATURE                        TITLE*              DATE
<S>                            <C>                             <C>  <C>
Timothy T. Schwertfeger        Chairman, Board of Directors,    )
                               Chief Executive Officer and      )
                               Director                         )
                                                                )
                                                                )
John P. Amboian                President and Director           )          Larry W. Martin
                                                                )        Attorney-In-Fact**
                                                                )
                                                                )        September 28, 2000
Margaret E. Wilson             Vice President and Controller    )
                                                                )
                                                                )
                                                                )
</TABLE>

--------------
* The titles of the persons named herein represent their capacity in and
relationship to Nuveen Investments, the Depositor.

** The powers of attorney for Messrs. Amboian and Schwertfeger and for Ms.
Wilson were filed on May 3, 2000 as Exhibit 6.2 to Nuveen Unit Trusts,
Series 94 (File No. 333-35488).
<PAGE>
                         CONSENT OF CHAPMAN AND CUTLER

The consent of Chapman and Cutler to the use of its name in the Prospectus
included in the Registration Statement will be filed by amendment.

                            CONSENT OF STATE COUNSEL

The consents of special counsel to the Fund for state tax matters to the use of
their names in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement will be
filed by amendment.

                    CONSENT OF KENNY S&P EVALUATION SERVICES

The consent of Kenny S&P Evaluation Services to the use of its name in the
Prospectus included in the Registration Statement will be filed by amendment.

                      CONSENT OF CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN

The consent of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn to the use of its name in the
Prospectus included in the Registration Statement will be filed by amendment.

                         CONSENT OF ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

The consent of Arthur Andersen LLP to the use of its report and to the reference
to such firm in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement will be
filed by amendment.