Political System
Switzerland is a multi-ethnic, multilingual and multi-confessional nation held together by the desire of its people to be united. It has been a federal State since 1848 – one of 23 in the world and the second oldest after the United States of America. Switzerland has a federal structure with three different political levels:
• Confederation
• Cantons
• Communes
Federalism
The Confederation is the term used in Switzerland to describe the State. The Confederation has authority in all areas in which it is empowered by the Federal Constitution, such as in foreign and security policy, customs and monetary affairs, nationally applicable legislation and defence. Tasks which do not expressly fall within the domain of the Confederation are matters for the cantons, which are the next level down.
Switzerland consists of 26 cantons. These are the original States which joined together in 1848 to form the Confederation to which they ceded part of their sovereignty. Each canton has its own constitution, parliament, government and courts. Direct democracy in the form of the “Landsgemeinde”, or open-air people’s assemblies, is now confined to Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus. In all other cantons the people cast their votes at the ballot box.
All the cantons are divided into communes, of which there are currently over 2,700. Their number is in decline as a result of amalgamations. Around one-fifth of these communes have their own parliament; in the other four-fifths, decisions are taken by a process of direct democracy in the local assembly. The degree of autonomy granted to the communes is determined by the individual cantons and therefore varies considerably.
Direct Democracy
There are very few countries in which the people have such far-reaching rights of co-determination as in Switzerland. The long democratic tradition, the comparatively small size, both in terms of geography and population, and ultimately also the high level of literacy and diversity of media are decisive in ensuring the proper functioning of this particular form of state.
All Swiss citizens over the age of 18 may take part in elections to the National Council both actively and passively: in other words, they may cast their votes and also stand for election themselves. Elections to the Council of States are not organised at federal level; they are governed by cantonal provisions. Persons who are entitled to take part in parliamentary elections may also cast their vote in popular ballots.
Citizens may seek a decision from the people on an amendment they want to make to the Constitution. For such an initiative to be put the vote, the signatures of 100,000 citizens must be collected within 18 months. The authorities sometimes respond to such an initiative with a counterproposal (generally less far-reaching) in the hope that the people and cantons will support that instead. People’s initiatives do not originate from parliament or government, but rather from ordinary citizens. They are regarded as the driving force behind direct democracy.
The people are entitled to pronounce on parliamentary decisions after the event. Federal laws, generally binding decisions of the Confederation and international treaties of indefinite duration are subject to an optional referendum: in this case, a popular ballot is held if 50,000 citizens so request. The signatures must be collected within 100 days of a decree’s publication. The overall impact on the political process of the veto-like right of referendum is to hold back change or to slow it down in that it either blocks amendments adopted by Parliament or the Government or delays their implementation.
The Federal Authorities
According to the Federal Constitution, the Swiss people are sovereign and thus the supreme political authority. The concept includes all Swiss adults who are eligible to vote – some 4.8 million citizens, equivalent to around 64% of the resident population. Those under the age of 18 and foreign nationals have no political rights at federal level.
The Swiss parliament consists of two chambers which, when in joint session, are known as the United Federal Assembly. It is the country’s legislative authority. The National Council, with its 200 members, represents the population of the country as a whole. The individual cantons are represented in proportion to the number of their inhabitants. The Council of States represents the 26 cantons – 20 cantons are represented by two members while the six half-cantons each send one representative to the 46-strong chamber. Both chambers are directly elected by the people: the National Council, (the larger chamber) is elected in accordance with federal rules and the Council of States (the smaller chamber) according to provisions differing from canton to canton. In both cases, the cantons are the constituencies.
The government of Switzerland consists of the seven members of the Federal Council, as well as the Federal Chancellor, and is elected by the United Federal Assembly for a four-year term. The President of the Swiss Confederation is elected each year and is considered primus inter pares, or first among equals, during that time. He chairs the sessions of the Federal Council and undertakes special ceremonial duties.
The highest legal rulings in Switzerland are made by the Federal Supreme Court in Lausanne, the Federal Insurance Court in Lucerne and since 2004 by the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona.
• Confederation
• Cantons
• Communes
Federalism
The Confederation is the term used in Switzerland to describe the State. The Confederation has authority in all areas in which it is empowered by the Federal Constitution, such as in foreign and security policy, customs and monetary affairs, nationally applicable legislation and defence. Tasks which do not expressly fall within the domain of the Confederation are matters for the cantons, which are the next level down.
Switzerland consists of 26 cantons. These are the original States which joined together in 1848 to form the Confederation to which they ceded part of their sovereignty. Each canton has its own constitution, parliament, government and courts. Direct democracy in the form of the “Landsgemeinde”, or open-air people’s assemblies, is now confined to Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus. In all other cantons the people cast their votes at the ballot box.
All the cantons are divided into communes, of which there are currently over 2,700. Their number is in decline as a result of amalgamations. Around one-fifth of these communes have their own parliament; in the other four-fifths, decisions are taken by a process of direct democracy in the local assembly. The degree of autonomy granted to the communes is determined by the individual cantons and therefore varies considerably.
Direct Democracy
There are very few countries in which the people have such far-reaching rights of co-determination as in Switzerland. The long democratic tradition, the comparatively small size, both in terms of geography and population, and ultimately also the high level of literacy and diversity of media are decisive in ensuring the proper functioning of this particular form of state.
All Swiss citizens over the age of 18 may take part in elections to the National Council both actively and passively: in other words, they may cast their votes and also stand for election themselves. Elections to the Council of States are not organised at federal level; they are governed by cantonal provisions. Persons who are entitled to take part in parliamentary elections may also cast their vote in popular ballots.
Citizens may seek a decision from the people on an amendment they want to make to the Constitution. For such an initiative to be put the vote, the signatures of 100,000 citizens must be collected within 18 months. The authorities sometimes respond to such an initiative with a counterproposal (generally less far-reaching) in the hope that the people and cantons will support that instead. People’s initiatives do not originate from parliament or government, but rather from ordinary citizens. They are regarded as the driving force behind direct democracy.
The people are entitled to pronounce on parliamentary decisions after the event. Federal laws, generally binding decisions of the Confederation and international treaties of indefinite duration are subject to an optional referendum: in this case, a popular ballot is held if 50,000 citizens so request. The signatures must be collected within 100 days of a decree’s publication. The overall impact on the political process of the veto-like right of referendum is to hold back change or to slow it down in that it either blocks amendments adopted by Parliament or the Government or delays their implementation.
The Federal Authorities
According to the Federal Constitution, the Swiss people are sovereign and thus the supreme political authority. The concept includes all Swiss adults who are eligible to vote – some 4.8 million citizens, equivalent to around 64% of the resident population. Those under the age of 18 and foreign nationals have no political rights at federal level.
The Swiss parliament consists of two chambers which, when in joint session, are known as the United Federal Assembly. It is the country’s legislative authority. The National Council, with its 200 members, represents the population of the country as a whole. The individual cantons are represented in proportion to the number of their inhabitants. The Council of States represents the 26 cantons – 20 cantons are represented by two members while the six half-cantons each send one representative to the 46-strong chamber. Both chambers are directly elected by the people: the National Council, (the larger chamber) is elected in accordance with federal rules and the Council of States (the smaller chamber) according to provisions differing from canton to canton. In both cases, the cantons are the constituencies.
The government of Switzerland consists of the seven members of the Federal Council, as well as the Federal Chancellor, and is elected by the United Federal Assembly for a four-year term. The President of the Swiss Confederation is elected each year and is considered primus inter pares, or first among equals, during that time. He chairs the sessions of the Federal Council and undertakes special ceremonial duties.
The highest legal rulings in Switzerland are made by the Federal Supreme Court in Lausanne, the Federal Insurance Court in Lucerne and since 2004 by the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona.
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Last modification: 14.01.2008