THE SWISS CONFEDERATION A BRIEF GUIDE 2018 Get the app! CH info Cover The glacier blue water of the Fedacla river meets the turquoise of Lake Silvaplana. The river continually washes fresh debris into the Fex delta: banks of gravel and mud form and then submerge. The photo was taken by a drone from a height of 90 metres. EDITORIAL Dear Reader Of all the texts, reports and dispatches that are published by the federal authorities – and there are an awful lot of them – ‘The Swiss Confederation – A Brief Guide’ – is prob- ably the most frequently requested. Two hundred thousand copies of the 2018 edition have been printed, even though the guide has also been available on the ‘CH info’ app since 2016. The overview it gives of our political system, govern- “Direct democracy means much ment, the administrative authorities, our parliament and more than occasionally consulting the courts is not ‘just’ teaching material for schools. The interest shown in the guide is also an expression of the close the public.” relationship between society and politics. In a sense, each voting citizen in Switzerland is a politician, and politically active, just to different degrees. Every three months we are called to the ballot box to make political de- cisions; we follow the debates or take part in them. Some- one launches an initiative, someone else a referendum, and others write letters to newspapers, tweet or speak up at their communal assembly. Direct democracy means much more than occasionally consulting the public. It is an embracive, relatively confus- ing, sometimes time-consuming, delicately balanced, per- manently rotating and constantly changing mechanism, whose purpose is to include in the decision-making process all those who must live with the consequences of the deci- sion. It is of immense value, but only functions when every- one who wants to be a part of it has an idea of how it func- tions. This guide contributes to that understanding. The fact that so many people order and, hopefully, read it is indeed a good sign. Federal Chancellor Walter Thurnherr 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTERVIEW AND FACTS FOUNDATIONS SWITZERLAND DIRECT DEMOCRACY 6 14 An interview with President Separation of powers 16 Alain Berset 6 Elections and votes 18 Population 8 Parties from left to right 20 Federal finances 9 Political parties in brief 22 The history of Switzerland 10 Federalism 12 THE SWISS CONFEDERATION Master program THE SWISS CONFEDERATION – A BRIEF GUIDE is also – A BRIEF GUIDE available as an app Teaching material in English, German and French: www.hep-verlag.ch/der-bund-kurz-erklaert iOS / Android CH info 4 THE LEGISLATURE THE EXECUTIVE THE JUDICIARY PARLIAMENT THE GOVERNMENT THE COURTS 24 40 76 National Council and The Federal Council 42 The judiciary 78 Council of States 26 Federal Administration 44 The Federal Supreme Court How Parliament is organised 28 and the federal courts Federal Department of first instance 80 The large and small chambers 30 of Foreign Affairs FDFA 46 Parliamentary mechanisms 32 Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA 50 Semi-professional parliament 33 Federal Department The Parliamentary Services 34 of Justice and Police FDJP 54 My viewpoint 35 Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection How new laws come about 36 and Sport DDPS 58 The Parliament Building 38 Federal Department of Finance FDF 62 Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER 66 Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC 70 Federal Chancellery FCh 74 5 SWITZERLAND Meeting with President Alain Berset THE PRESIDENT AND THE FILM DIRECTOR Swiss film director Ursula Meier was somewhat sur- meeting took place at the Federal Office of Culture in prised when Alain Berset suggested she take on the role Bern, where a lively discussion about the state of our of interviewer. Nevertheless, she was curious and keen society, culture and film quickly developed. to take part in the question-and-answer session. The SWITZERLAND SWITZERLAND There have always been close links between art and public has to be in a position to understand and interpret politics. Politicians like to use art to raise their profile. information as well as possible. We are used to seeing in- But it’s rare for politicians to let themselves be put on formation presented well and in a variety of forms. The the spot by an artist. What prompted you to pick an art- challenge is to maintain a critical approach. A good educa- ist as your interviewer? tion is vital, particularly in terms of digital media. Today, Over the years I’ve become increasingly aware of the huge citizens have to be able to understand a wide variety of part that culture – in the broadest sense of the word – plays messages whether they appear on social networks or in in our country. We have a complex linguistic, regional and background articles. social mix, and it’s often culture that unites us and creates national cohesion. That’s why I wanted to talk about Swit- The late German artist Joseph Beuys once described art zerland and the world with a Swiss artist. as food that people need in order to live. What are you doing to ensure that art isn’t just seen as a cultural Our society is increasingly dominated by images. Why ‘pleasure’, an added extra for the privileged classes, but is greater emphasis not placed on image analysis in the as a way of shaping our identity and relations with the classroom? world? It’s not just schools that have this educational task, but so- In my work I try to show that art is necessary to our lives. ciety as a whole. In a direct democracy such as ours, the I do my best to improve active and passive involvement in 6 The Swiss Confederation – a brief guide 2018 | Switzerland cultural life – by acknowledging the ance is improved, and naturally if can sometimes be a bit staged. When valuable role played by creative art- equal pay is encouraged. The forth- I was 16 I was in a small student film, ists and all those involved in the cul- coming popular initiative on pater- and I have to admit I wasn’t particu- tural scene, and by showing appreci- nity leave will generate further de- larly talented. ation for all the work done by clubs bate, which shows that the topic is of and associations. interest to the public. I see art as the most innovative ele- ment of culture, but culture provides When my film Home was screened Ursula Meier is an internation- access to art. It is an incentive to in the US – the story of a family liv- ally renowned film maker. The explore further. When debates arise ing by the side of a motorway cut film Home, starring Isabelle about the dichotomy between culture off from the rest of the world – film Huppert, was selected for the and art, the intention is usually to jus- critics there asked me if the film Cannes film festival and re- tify cutbacks on the funding culture was a metaphor for Europe’s place ceived numerous awards. In relies on in order to flourish. I try to in the world. And when the film was 2012 L’enfant d’en haut, star- ensure that an artistic elite isn’t played screened in Europe I was asked if it ring Léa Seydoux and Kacey off against a broader public which was a metaphor for Switzerland’s Mottet Klein, won a Silver Bear identifies with traditional popular place in Europe. at the Berlin International Film culture. The dichotomy is totally out- That’s not how I interpreted your film Festival. Just like Home in dated. at all. For me the isolation depicted in 2010, the film won three Swiss Home is a metaphor for the period of film awards, including Best uncertainty that we have been expe- Film, and it was Switzerland’s riencing for a number of years now. SWITZERLAND entry for that year’s Oscars. Switzerland’s isolation is a myth. In Ursula Meier will finish work reality Switzerland is one of the most “The challenge on her new film, Journal de ma open countries in the world. It’s often tête, starring Fanny Ardant and been involved in the great social is to maintain Kacey Mottet Klein, early this movements down the ages, like the year. a critical Reformation, for example. It is a world leader in multilateralism, espe- approach to cially given the importance of Inter- national Geneva, and with the Gott- images and hard tunnel it provides a key transport route through Europe. information.” Contemporary art often makes po- litical statements on subjects such as power, money, relationships, im- I was born in 1971, the year the ages, language, the body, reality vote was held on women’s voting and others. Why does politics not rights at federal level. According to show greater interest in these inno- a World Economic Forum report on vative works, which examine other gender equality, Switzerland has forms of coexistence? fallen from 11th to 21st place, On the contrary, I think that there is while the Nordic countries remain a great deal of contact between art uncontested leaders at the top of and politics, although it’s not an in- the rankings. How do you explain stitutionalised relationship. Connec- that? tions often come about unconsciously. Women’s involvement in political There are also times when the two and economic life remains a major sides don’t understand one another, issue. We have taken a host of meas- when tensions exist, which can lead ures to bring about change, but ad- to interesting debates about politics mittedly some other countries are and society.