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Capital: Bern SWITZERLAND Population: 6· Sm. (1986) GNP per capita: US$14,030 (1985) Schweiz-Suisse-Svizzera HISTORY. On I Aug. 1291 the men of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden entered into a defensive league. In 1353 the league included 8 members and in 1513, 13. Various territories were acquired either by single cantons or by several in common, and in 1648 the league became formally independent of the Holy Roman Empire, but no addition was made to the number of cantons till 1798. In that year, under the influence of France, the unified Helvetic Republic was formed. This failed to satisfy the Swiss, and in 1803 Napoleon Bonaparte, in the Act of Mediation, gave a new Constitution, and out of the lands formerly allied or subject increased the number of cantons to 19. In 1815 the perpetual neutrality of Switzerland and the inviolability of her territory were guaranteed by Austria, France, Great Britain, Portugal, Prussia, Russia, Spain and Sweden, and the Federal Pact, which included 3 new cantons, was accepted by the Congress of Vienna. In 1848 a new Constitu­ tion was passed. The 22 cantons set up a Federal Government (consisting of a Federal Parliament and a Federal Council) and a Federal Tribunal. This Constitu­ tion, in tum, was on 29 May 1874 superseded by the present Constitution. In a national referendum held in Sept. 1978,69.9% voted in favour of the establish­ ment of a new canton, Jura, which was established on I Jan. 1979. AREA AND POPULATION. Switzerland is bounded west and north-west by France, north by the Federal Republic of Germany, east by Austria and south by Italy. Area and population, according to the census held on 1 Dec. 1980 and estimate 3 I Dec. 1986. Pop. per Area Census Estimate sq. km, Canton (sq. km) 1 Dec. 1980 31 Dec. 1986 1980 Ziirich (Zurich)(1351) 1,729 1,122,839 1,131,600 650 Bern (Berne) (1553) 6,049 912,022 925,600 151 Luzern (Lucerne) (1332) 1,492 296,159 306,100 198 Uri (l29l) 1,076 33,883 33,500 31 Schwyz (1291) 908 97,354 103,400 107 Obwalden (Obwald) (1291) 491 25,865 27,600 53 Nidwalden (Nidwald) (1291) 276 28,617 31,000 104 Glarus (Glaris) (1352) 685 36,718 36,600 54 Zug(Zoug)(1352) 239 75,930 81,600 318 Fribourg (Freiburg) (1481) 1,670 185,246 194,600 111 So loth urn (Soleure) (1481) 791 218,102 219,500 276 Basel-Stadt (Bale-V.) (150 I) 37 203,915 194,300 5,485 Basel-Land (Bale-C.) (150 I) 428 219,822 225,800 513 Schaflhausen (Schaflhouse) (1501) 298 69,413 69,800 233 Appenzell A.-Rh. (Rh.-Ext.)(1513) 243 47,611 49,300 196 Appenzelll.-Rh. (Rh.-Int.) (1513) 172 12,844 13,100 75 St Gallen (St Gall) (1803) 2,014 391,995 403,900 195 Graubiinden (Grisons) (1803) 7,106 164,641 166,500 23 Aargau (Argovie) (1803) 1,405 453,442 472,700 323 Thurgau (Thurgovie)( 1803) 1,013 183,795 192 ,400 181 Ticino (Tessin)(1803) 2,811 265,899 277,200 95 Vaud (Waadt) (1803) 3,218 528,747 550,300 164 Valais (Wallis)(1815) 5,226 218,707 232,600 42 Neuchatel (Neuenburg) (1815) 797 158,368 156,200 199 Geneve (Gent) (1815) 282 349,040 363,500 1,237 Jura (\ 979) 837 64,986 64,700 78 Total 41,293' 6,365,960 6,523,400 154 I 15,943 sq. miles. 1157 J. Paxton (Ed.), The Statesman’s Year-Book © Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited 1988 1158 SWITZERLAND The German language is spoken by the majority of inhabitants in 19 of the 26 cantons above (French names given in brackets), the French in 6 (Ftibourg, Vaud, Valais, Neuchiitel, Jura and Geneve, for which the German names are given in brackets), the Italian in I (Ticino). In 1980,65% spoke German, 18·4')'i) French, 9.g% Italian, 0·8% Romansch and 6% other languages; counting only Swiss nationals, the percentages were 73·5, 20.1, 4·5, 0·9 and 1. On 8 July 1937 Romansch was made the fourth national language; it is spoken mostly in Graubun­ den. At the end of 1985 the 5 largest cities were Zurich (351,500); Basel (174,600); Geneva (159,900); Berne (138,600); Lausanne (125,000). At the end of 1985 the population figures of the 'agglomerations' or conurbations were as follows: Zurich, 840,000; Basel, 363,600; Geneva, 382,000; Bern, 301,100; Lausanne, 260,200; other towns (and their conurbations) were Winterthur, 84,400 (107,400); St Gallen, 73,200 (125,400); Luzern, 60,600 (160,000); Biel, 52,000 (83,000). The number of foreigners resident in Switzerland in Jan. 1985 was 960,700. Of these, 186,600 were in Zurich canton, 109, I 00 in Vaud and 122,900 in Geneva. Vital statistics for calendar years: Live binhs TOlal IIIegilimale Marriages Divorces Slill birlhs Dealhs 1984 74.700 4,300 38,600 11,200 350 58 ,600 1985 74,700 4,200 38,800 11,400 340 59,600 1986 76,300 4,300 40,200 11,400 330 60,100 In 1983 there were 91,300 emigrants and 88,000 immigrants; in 1984, 85,000 and 97,000; in 1985,85,000 and 99,000. CLIMATE. The climate is largely dictated by relief and altitude and includes continental and mountain types. Summers are generally warm, with quite con­ siderable rainfall; winters are fme, with clear, cold air. Bern. Jan. 32°F (O°C), July, 65"F (18·5°C). Annual rainfall 39·4" (986 mm). CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT. Switzerland is a republic. The highest authority is vested in the electorate, i.e., all Swiss citizens of over 20. This electorate-besides electing its representatives to the Parliament-has the voting power on amendments to, or on the revision of, the Constitution. It also takes decisions on laws and international treaties if requested by 50,000 voters or 8 can­ tons (facultative referendum), and it has the right of initiating constitutional amendments, the support required for such demands being 100,000 voters (popu­ lar initiative). The Federal Government is supreme in matters of peace, war and treaties; it regulates the army, the railway, telecommunication systems, the coining of money, the issue and repayment of bank-notes and the weights and measures of the repub­ lic. It also legislates on matters of copyright, bankruptcy, patents, sanitary policy in dangerous epidemics, and it may create and subsidize, besides the Polytechnic School at Zurich and at Lausanne, 2 federal universities and other educational institutions. There has also been entrusted to it the authority to decide concerning public works for the whole or great part of Switzerland, such as those relating to rivers, forests and the construction of national highways and railways. By referendum of 13 Nov. 1898 it is also the authority in the entire spheres of common law. In 1957 the Federation was empowered to legislate on atomic energy matters and in 1961 on the construction of pipelines of petroleum and gas. Naliona/flag: Red with a white couped cross. National anthem: Trittst im Morgenrot daher (words by Leonard Widmcr, 1808-68; tune by Alberik Zwyssig, 1808-54); adopted by the Federal Council in 1962. The legislati ve authority is vested in a parliament of 2 chambers, a Sleil/derat, or Counci I of States, and a Nalionalral. or National Council. The S'l{illderal is composed of 46 members. chosen and paid by the 23 cantons of SWITZERLAND 1159 the Confederation, 2 for each canton. The mode of their election and the term of membership depend entirely on the canton. Three of the cantons are politically divided-Basel into Stadt and Land, Appenzell into Ausser-Rhoden and Inner­ Rhoden, and Unterwalden into Obwalden and Nidwalden. Each of these 'half­ cantons' sends! member to the State Council. The Nationalrat-after the referendum taken on 4 Nov. 1962--consists of200 National Councillors, directly elected for 4 years, in proportion to the population of the cantons, with the proviso that each canton or half-canton is represented by at least I member. The members are paid from federal funds at the rate of 150 francs for each day during the session and a nominal sum of 10,000 francs per annum. In 1983 the 200 members were distributed among the cantons I as follows: Zurich (Zurich) 35 Appenzell-Outer- and Inner-Rhoden 3 Bern (Berne) 29 St Gallen (St Gall) 12 Luzern (Lucerne) 9 Graubunden (Grisons) 5 Uri I Aargau (Argovie) 14 Schwyz 3 Thurgau (Thurgovie) 6 lInterwaiden-lipper and Lower 2 Ticino (Tessin) 8 Glarus (Glaris) Vaud (Waadt) 17 Zug (Zoug) 2 Valais (Wallis) 7 Fribourg (Freiburg) 6 Neu~hiitel (Neuenburg) 5 Solothurn (Soleure) 7 Geneve (Gent) II Basel (Biile)-town and country 13 Jura 2 Schaffhausen (SchafThouse) 2 1 The name of the canton is given in German, French or Italian, according to the language most spoken in it, and alternative names are given in brackets. Composition of the National Council in 1983: Social Democrats, 47; Radicals, 54; Christian-Democratic People's Party, 42; Swiss People's Party, 23; Liberals, 8; Independents, 8; National CampaignlVigilance, 5; Evangelical Party, 3; Progres­ sive Organizations, 3; Environmentalists, 3; Others, 4. Council of States (1983): Christian Democrats, 18; Radicals, 14; Social Demo­ crats, 6; Swiss People's Party,S. A general election takes place by ballot every 4 years. Every citizen ofthe repub­ lic who has entered on his 20th year is entitled to a vote, and any voter, not a clergy­ man, may be elected a deputy.
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  • Swiss Political System Introduction

    Swiss Political System Introduction

    SWIss POLITICAL SYSTEM INTRODUCTION Switzerland is a small country in Western roots date back to 1291, whereas the Europe with 7.8 million inhabitants. With modern nation state was founded in 1848. its 41,285 square kilometres, Switzerland Switzerland’s population is 1.5 % of Europe; accounts for only 0.15 % of the world’s total however, the country is economically com- surface area. It borders Germany in the paratively strong. north, Austria and Liechtenstein in the east, Italy in the south and France in the west. The population is diverse by language as well as by religious affiliation. Its historical FEDERAL SYSTEM Switzerland is a federation; the territory is divided into 26 cantons. The cantons themselves are the aggregate of 2,600 municipalities (cities and villages). ELECTIONS AND The political system is strongly influenced by DIRECT DEMOCRACY direct participation of the people. In addition to the participation in elections, referenda and ini- tiatives are the key elements of Switzerland’s well-established tradition of direct democracy. CONSENSUS The consensus type democracy is a third char- DEMOCRACY acteristic of Swiss political system. The institu- tions are designed to represent cultural diver- sity and to include all major political parties in a grand-coalition government. This leads to a non- concentration of power in any one hand but the diffusion of power among many actors. COMPARATIVE After the elaboration of these three important PERSPECTIVES elements of the Swiss political system, a com- parative perspective shall exemplify the main differences of the system vis-à-vis other western democracies CONTENTS PUBliCATION DaTA 2 FEDERAL SYSTEM Switzerland is a federal state with three ■■ The decentralised division of powers is political levels: the federal govern- also mirrored in the fiscal federal structure ment, the 26 cantons and around 2,600 giving the cantonal and municipal level own municipalities.