The Swiss Confederation a Brief Guide
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The Swiss Confederation a brief guide 2021 T h e It R i iv s o e v r e A a rl o re o k m e d e a b n y d t e h r e s F it e s d w e a r a y l t h P r a o la u c g e h , t B h e e r n h . e a r t o f S w i s s p o l it i c a l li f e . Get the app! CH info Preface “Democratic proce- Dear Reader Political developments in recent years show that not every dures take longer, but country has to remain democratic just because it once was. In fact, democratic processes are increasingly being called provide more stability into question because they allegedly produce ‘the wrong outcome’. Reference is made to lower COVID-19 case num- and engender greater bers in authoritarian states or to higher economic growth rates. Some peevishly ask whether the urgent problems of acceptance in the long today can ever be resolved through lengthy democratic term.” procedures and compromises. Federal Chancellor Walter Thurnherr Those who argue in this way have not understood the es- sence of democracy. There are countries where the govern- ment controls the people. And there are countries where the people control the government. Democracies fall under the second category. It is true that even authoritarian regimes sometimes make decisions that are supported by the majority. But there are no rules defining how the majority can overturn decisions if they no longer agree with them. Democratic procedures take longer, but over the years, they provide more stability and engender greater acceptance. Those who want to preserve democracy respect the institu- tions, the independence of the courts, the competences of the different powers and the fundamental values of the con- stitution. If you would like to gain a better understanding of Switzer- land’s style of democracy, you will gain an initial overview by browsing through this copy of ‘The Swiss Confederation – a brief guide’. And if you want to defend it, exercise your right to vote and stand for election! Federal Chancellor Walter Thurnherr 3 Table of Contents Facts Foundation Switzerland Direct democracy 6 16 •The history of Switzerland 10 •Separation of powers 20 •Federalism 12 •Votes 22 •International agreements •Elections 24 and memberships 14 •Political parties in the Federal Council and in Parliament 26 Complementary resources to accompany the brochure: • CH info app for smartphones and tablets • Teaching material • Barrier-free PDF for the visually impaired 4 The Legislature The Executive The Judiciary Parliament The Government The Courts 28 46 72 Switzerland •The roles of Parliament 32 •The Federal Council 50 •The Federal Supreme Court 76 •Organisation of Parliament 34 •The Federal Council’s tasks 52 •The Federal Criminal Court 78 •Particularities of Parliament 40 •Federal Administration 54 •The Swiss Federal Democracy Administrative Court 79 •How new laws come about 42 •Federal Chancellery FCh 56 •Federal Patent Court 80 •The Parliamentary Services 45 •Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA 58 •Judgments delivered by the federal courts 81 •Federal Department Parliament of Home Affairs FDHA 60 •Federal Department of Justice and Police FDJP 62 •Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport DDPS 64 Government •Federal Department of Finance FDF 66 •Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education Courts and Research EAER 68 •Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC 70 5 Switzerland The people of Switzerland get the day off thanks On 1 August, Switzerland celebrates its National to a popular initiative from 1993 ‘for a national Day. Beacon fires are lit around the country that holiday on 1 August’, adopted after 84 % of voters can be seen for miles around. came out in favour. Switzerland Switzerland is a small country with a population of 8.6 million people. It has 4 language regions and 26 cantons, which are largely inde- pendent and consist of numerous local authorities or communes. Multilingualism and federalism have their roots in the past, yet still shape Switzerland today. Its neutrality is recognised by all states of the world. Switzerland 26 cantons SH BS Thurgau BL Aargau Zurich Jura AR SO AI St Gallen Zug Lucerne Schwyz Neuchâtel Glarus NW Bern OW Uri Graubünden Fribourg Vaud Ticino Geneva Valais AI Appenzell Innerrhoden NW Nidwalden AR Appenzell Ausserrhoden OW Obwalden BL Basel-Landschaft SH Schaffhausen www.statistik.ch BS Basel-Stadt SO Solothurn 8 8.6 million people 4 national languages There are 8.6 million people living in Switzerland, a quar- Switzerland is a multilingual country. The four national ter of them without a Swiss passport. More than half of languages are German, French, Italian and Romansh. these foreign nationals were either born in Switzerland or 62 per cent of the population primarily speak (Swiss-) have been living here for at least ten years. The majority German, 23 per cent French, 8 per cent Italian and of the foreign population comes from an EU country. 0.5 per cent Romansh. For 25 per cent of the population, The largest foreign national groups are from Italy (15 %), their mother tongue is not one of Switzerland’s national Germany (14 %) and Portugal (12 %). languages. Many people state that they have two main languages, i.e. they are bilingual. 62 % German 23 % French Switzerland 0.5 % Romansh Non-Swiss citizens 2 175 000 8 % Italian Christian majority High life expectancy 66 per cent of people living in Switzerland claim affiliation People in Switzerland are getting older and older and to the Christian faith. 26 % state that they have no reli- have fewer children than before. Average life expectancy gious affiliation; this number has been on the rise for is one of the highest in the world: it is 82 years for men several years. The religious landscape is changing: the and 86 years for women. Women have 1.5 children on two main Christian denominations, Protestants and average. The proportion of people over 64 years of age in Catholics, are declining. In 1970, 96 % of the population the population has increased, while that of people under was affiliated to Christian denominations (49 % Protes- 20 years of age and 20 to 64 years of age has declined. tant, 47 % Catholic). Men Age Women 100 90 36 % Roman Catholic 80 26 % No religious afaffiliationfiliation 70 60 24 % Protestant Reformed 50 40 6 % Other Christian denominations 30 5 % Islamic denominations 20 10 3 % Other / Not specified 0 2019 1950 9 The History of Switzerland Switzerland developed over the centuries from a collection of different alliances to a confederation of states and finally to the federal state we know today. Its national borders and neutrality were established and recognised internationally in 1815. Its political system dates back to the Federal Constitution of 1848. Since then the powers of the federal government, political rights and political The History of Switzerland diversity have increased significantly. Switzerland 1847 – 1848 1848 1874, 1891 1914 – 1918 Sonderbund War Federal Constitution Expanded democracy First World War, Liberals against Democratic federal Initiative, referendum General strike conservatives state Socialist ideas The revised Federal Constitu- Diverging views on how the The Federal Constitution tion transferred more tasks to Poverty and unemployment Confederation would be provided most citizens (men) the federal government and during the First World War organised led to a civil war with various rights and free- broadened democratic rights and socialist ideas from the between liberal and Catholic doms, including the right to at federal level. The referen- Russian Revolution culminat- conservative cantons. It was a vote and be elected. The dum was introduced in 1874 ed in a general strike in 1918. war from which liberal forces bicameral system was intro- and the popular initiative in emerged victorious. duced at federal level with the 1891. (➝ p. 22) National Council and Council of States electing the Federal Council. Some powers were centralised. Switzerland developed into a unitary judicial and economic area. 10 The History of Switzerland 1291 1798 – 1802 1803 – 1814 1815 Old Confederation Helvetic Republic Mediation Federal Treaty Alliances Unitary state under Loose foreign control Neutrality and Switzerland foreign control alliance of states Shifting alliances between After civil wars broke out cities and outlying areas Following the French invasion between federalists and With the defeat of Napoleon, served to maintain internal in 1798, the Confederation supporters of the Helvetic the great European powers political order and external was transformed into the Republic, Napoleon ordered a recognised Swiss neutrality independence. In 1291 the Helvetic Republic: a unitary constitution based on the Act and set Switzerland’s borders original forest cantons of Uri, state ruled from Paris. of Mediation, which restored as they are today. The Federal Schwyz and Unterwalden some autonomy to the can- Treaty of 1815 brought to- entered into the first docu- tons and set most of the gether the various federal mented alliance. In the follow- cantonal borders. alliances into a single confed- ing centuries, the Confedera- eration of states. tion continued to grow through alliances and territorial conquests. 1919, 1929 1939 – 1945 1971 2000 Proportional Second World War Equal opportunities Third Federal representation Inclusion of the left Women’s franchise Constitution Towards consensus Continuity and democracy Against the backdrop of the In February 1971, 66% of the openness Second World War, the politi- electorate, then exclusively cal forces from left to right male, voted in favour of the In 1919, the National Council The totally revised Federal moved closer together. In women’s franchise at federal was elected on a proportional Constitution regulated the 1943 Parliament elected a level.