The Swiss Parliament
Contents
How Parliament functions 5
Roles 6
Committees, 7 Parliamentary instruments
From idea to federal act 8
Parliament is an open house 11
Parliament Building 12
Parliament How Parliament functions Building
The Parliament Building was designed A glance upwards to the glass dome Switzerland’s parliament has two cham- Members of Parliament are elected for by architect Hans Wilhelm Auer and also reveals a Swiss cross, surrounded by bers: the National Council, which rep- a four-year term. Due to the fact that inaugurated in 1902. It is not only the 22 cantonal coats of arms and the motto resents the people, and the Council of Parliament does not sit all year round, seat of the Parliament, but also a nation- ‘One for all, all for one’. Slightly below States, which represents the cantons. A most exercise another occupation. al monument bringing together Switzer- that is the coat of arms of the canton of particular feature of the Swiss parliament land’s different regions and population Jura, which was founded in 1978. The is that the two chambers debate items Since 1963, the National Council has been groups under one roof. arched stained-glass windows depict typ- of business on an equal footing and composed of 200 members. Seats are ical scenes from the main regional indus- have the same competences and roles allotted to the 26 cantons on the basis This is also illustrated by the layout of tries around 1900. (so there is no upper and lower house as of their resident population. At present, the central domed hall in the form of a is usually the case elsewhere). Parliament each member of the National Council Swiss cross. The imposing statue of the The mural in the National Council holds four sessions a year – in March, represents around 42,000 people. Since Three Confederates by James André chamber was painted by Charles Giron. It June, September and December – each 1919, members have been elected by a Vibert depicts the swearing of the oath shows the Rütli meadow by Lake Lucerne, lasting three weeks. system of proportional representation. of allegiance in 1291. The four soldiers traditionally believed to be the birthplace framing the statue represent the four of the Swiss Confederation. In the niche The 46 members of the Council of States national languages. on the left, a statue of William Tell sym- are directly elected. Obwalden, Nidwalden, bolises political freedom and action; the Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Appen zell On the other side of the hall are further statue of Gertrud Stauffacher in the niche Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden decorative features symbolising Swiss on the right symbolises wisdom. Above each have one representative, while all history including a plaster relief depicting the painting, and running around the other cantons have two. the origins of the Swiss people based hall, are the coats of arms of the 59 most on the legend of the forefathers’ arrival populous communes of the time. In the National Council, 42 per cent of as told in Schiller’s ‘William Tell’. Statues members are women; in the Council of of Niklaus von der Flüe, to the right, When Parliament sits in joint session States the figure is 26 per cent. The aver- and Arnold Winkelried, to the left of as the United Federal Assembly to elect age age of council members is 49 in the the mural, represent reconciliation and members of the Federal Council and fed- National Council and 54 in the Council self-sacrifice. eral judges, the members of the Council of States. The cost per head of population of States take their places on the seats of running Parliament is CHF 13 a year. along the curved rear wall of the chamber.
12 5 Roles
The main role of Parliament is to enact legislation. In addition, it ratifies interna- tional agreements, approves the federal budget and the state accounts, exercises oversight over the Federal Administration and elects the members of the Federal Council and the federal courts.
6 Committees Parliamentary instruments
A large share of the work of Parliament Members of Parliament, committees and is carried out in the nine specialist com- parliamentary groups have various in- mittees, which prepare items of business struments at their disposal in the form for debate in the National Council and of postulates, motions and parliamentary the Council of States. Each committee is initiatives. They may use these instru- responsible for a specific topic, such as ments to seek a change to the Constitu- legal affairs, transport, education, securi- tion or law, or to request a report on a ty and foreign policy. The finance com- specific matter. A request or interpella- mittee oversees the federal finances and tion can be submitted to obtain informa- the control committee supervises the tion from the Federal Council. activities of the Federal Council and the Administration.
Committees in the Council of States have 13 members; those in the National Council have 25. Their meetings are con- fidential so that views can be expressed freely. The composition of the commit- tees is determined by the size of the parliamentary groups, which are groups of members of a particular party or of parties with similar political leanings.
7 From idea to federal act
The impetus for a new piece of legisla- If the two Councils fail to reach agree- tion comes from the public, the Federal ment, the bill goes through a procedure Administration or Parliament. The Federal to resolve the differences. The commit- Council prepares a bill and submits it to tee of the first chamber debates the the cantons, political parties, associations points on which they disagree and sub- and other interested parties for consulta- mits a proposal to its Council. If there are tion. It revises the bill based on the results still unresolved differences, these are of the consultation and then submits it addressed first by the committee of the to Parliament in the form of a dispatch. second chamber and then by the Coun- cil. On rare occasions when no resolution The Presiding Colleges of the National has been reached after three sets of de- Council and the Council of States then liberation, a conciliation conference is set the parliamentary process in motion held between the committees from each by designating one of the two Councils chamber. as ‘first chamber’ to address the bill. The relevant specialist committee examines A bill only becomes law once it has been the bill and submits proposals to its Coun- passed by both Councils in the final vote. cil. If the Council decides to introduce If it is not approved by both Councils, it the bill, it debates the individual legal is abandoned. provisions and votes on the whole bill. Federal acts are subject to an optional The committee of the second chamber referendum; if 50,000 signatures oppos- then examines the bill and submits its ing the bill are collected within 100 days, proposals. If the second chamber decides it is put to a public vote. to introduce the bill, it too debates the individual legal provisions and votes on the whole bill.
8 From idea to federal act
The impetus for a new piece of legisla- If the two Councils fail to reach agree- tion comes from the public, the Federal ment, the bill goes through a procedure Administration or Parliament. The Federal to resolve the differences. The commit- Council prepares a bill and submits it to tee of the first chamber debates the the cantons, political parties, associations points on which they disagree and sub- and other interested parties for consulta- mits a proposal to its Council. If there are tion. It revises the bill based on the results still unresolved differences, these are of the consultation and then submits it addressed first by the committee of the to Parliament in the form of a dispatch. second chamber and then by the Coun- cil. On rare occasions when no resolution The Presiding Colleges of the National has been reached after three sets of de- Council and the Council of States then liberation, a conciliation conference is set the parliamentary process in motion held between the committees from each by designating one of the two Councils chamber. as ‘first chamber’ to address the bill. The relevant specialist committee examines A bill only becomes law once it has been the bill and submits proposals to its Coun- passed by both Councils in the final vote. cil. If the Council decides to introduce If it is not approved by both Councils, it the bill, it debates the individual legal is abandoned. provisions and votes on the whole bill. Federal acts are subject to an optional The committee of the second chamber referendum; if 50,000 signatures oppos- then examines the bill and submits its ing the bill are collected within 100 days, proposals. If the second chamber decides it is put to a public vote. to introduce the bill, it too debates the individual legal provisions and votes on the whole bill.
8 Committees Parliamentary instruments
A large share of the work of Parliament Members of Parliament, committees and is carried out in the nine specialist com- parliamentary groups have various in- mittees, which prepare items of business struments at their disposal in the form for debate in the National Council and of postulates, motions and parliamentary the Council of States. Each committee is initiatives. They may use these instru- responsible for a specific topic, such as ments to seek a change to the Constitu- legal affairs, transport, education, securi- tion or law, or to request a report on a ty and foreign policy. The finance com- specific matter. A request or interpella- mittee oversees the federal finances and tion can be submitted to obtain informa- the control committee supervises the tion from the Federal Council. activities of the Federal Council and the Administration.
Committees in the Council of States have 13 members; those in the National Council have 25. Their meetings are con- fidential so that views can be expressed freely. The composition of the commit- tees is determined by the size of the parliamentary groups, which are groups of members of a particular party or of parties with similar political leanings.
7 Roles Parliament is an open house
The main role of Parliament is to enact Switzerland has a system of direct demo- In the National Council, rapporteurs legislation. In addition, it ratifies interna- cracy. This means that the voting popula- report on the work of their committee tional agreements, approves the federal tion is the sovereign power and has the from the speaker’s rostrum. Depending budget and the state accounts, exercises last word at all levels of government and on the importance of the item of busi- oversight over the Federal Administration on all matters. For this system to work ness, persons submitting a motion, and elects the members of the Federal there needs to be openness and trans- group spokespersons and individual Council and the federal courts. parency. This is why parliamentary deba- speakers may then address the chamber. tes are open to the public and can be A member of the Federal Council is also streamed live or after the event from the present and may speak at any time. archives. Votes are held electronically in The statements are interpreted simulta- both Councils. neously into the three official languages: German, French and Italian. When a bill is debated in session, it has already passed through a lengthy process The members of the Council of States and undergone preliminary examination speak from their seats. There is no limit in committee and parliamentary groups. on speaking time, which allows for more comprehensive debate. There is no simultaneous interpretation in this chamber because it is assumed that those present have the necessary language skills. The federal councillor responsible for the item of business is also present.
6 11 Parliament How Parliament functions Building
The Parliament Building was designed A glance upwards to the glass dome Switzerland’s parliament has two cham- Members of Parliament are elected for by architect Hans Wilhelm Auer and also reveals a Swiss cross, surrounded by bers: the National Council, which rep- a four-year term. Due to the fact that inaugurated in 1902. It is not only the 22 cantonal coats of arms and the motto resents the people, and the Council of Parliament does not sit all year round, seat of the Parliament, but also a nation- ‘One for all, all for one’. Slightly below States, which represents the cantons. A most exercise another occupation. al monument bringing together Switzer- that is the coat of arms of the canton of particular feature of the Swiss parliament land’s different regions and population Jura, which was founded in 1978. The is that the two chambers debate items Since 1963, the National Council has been groups under one roof. arched stained-glass windows depict typ- of business on an equal footing and composed of 200 members. Seats are ical scenes from the main regional indus- have the same competences and roles allotted to the 26 cantons on the basis This is also illustrated by the layout of tries around 1900. (so there is no upper and lower house as of their resident population. At present, the central domed hall in the form of a is usually the case elsewhere). Parliament each member of the National Council Swiss cross. The imposing statue of the The mural in the National Council holds four sessions a year – in March, represents around 42,000 people. Since Three Confederates by James André chamber was painted by Charles Giron. It June, September and December – each 1919, members have been elected by a Vibert depicts the swearing of the oath shows the Rütli meadow by Lake Lucerne, lasting three weeks. system of proportional representation. of allegiance in 1291. The four soldiers traditionally believed to be the birthplace framing the statue represent the four of the Swiss Confederation. In the niche The 46 members of the Council of States national languages. on the left, a statue of William Tell sym- are directly elected. Obwalden, Nidwalden, bolises political freedom and action; the Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Appen zell On the other side of the hall are further statue of Gertrud Stauffacher in the niche Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden decorative features symbolising Swiss on the right symbolises wisdom. Above each have one representative, while all history including a plaster relief depicting the painting, and running around the other cantons have two. the origins of the Swiss people based hall, are the coats of arms of the 59 most on the legend of the forefathers’ arrival populous communes of the time. In the National Council, 42 per cent of as told in Schiller’s ‘William Tell’. Statues members are women; in the Council of of Niklaus von der Flüe, to the right, When Parliament sits in joint session States the figure is 26 per cent. The aver- and Arnold Winkelried, to the left of as the United Federal Assembly to elect age age of council members is 49 in the the mural, represent reconciliation and members of the Federal Council and fed- National Council and 54 in the Council self-sacrifice. eral judges, the members of the Council of States. The cost per head of population of States take their places on the seats of running Parliament is CHF 13 a year. along the curved rear wall of the chamber.
12 5 The fresco in the chamber of the Council of States was painted by Albert Welti and depicts a People’s Assembly from the 18th century. The nine dates in gold refer to key events in the history of the Swiss constitution, including the Federal Charter of the three founding cantons in 1291 and the adoption of the first Federal Constitution in 1848 to the two complete revisions in 1874 and 1999. Contents
How Parliament functions 5
Roles 6
Committees, 7 Parliamentary instruments
From idea to federal act 8
Parliament is an open house 11
Parliament Building 12
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