THE SWISS CONFEDERATION A BRIEF GUIDE 2017 Cover Saas Fee, Valais: view towards the bright lights of Milan – Italy’s main centre of com- merce – from the perpetually snow-covered peaks at over 3,000m. EDITORIAL Dear Reader “The way in which the There are three characteristics of a good administration: firstly, good politicians, who lead the administration, who Confederation operates is take decisions and who defend those decisions with con- unique – even when viction, both internally and externally. Secondly, clearly defined areas of responsibility; within the administration, compared with other countries.” but also between the government and Parliament, and be- tween the administration and those who oversee the ad- ministration. Thirdly, efficient and conscientious employ- ees, who know who to turn to if there are disagreements to resolve. None of these three characteristics is self-evident or simple to achieve; but when problems arise in the ad- ministration, the causes often lie in one or more of these areas. It is therefore all the more important to ensure that we safeguard our strengths: carefully selecting deci- sion-makers, making sure to uphold the separation of pow- ers, and taking care when hiring new employees. The way in which the Confederation ‘operates’, in other words the way in which proposals are prepared by the Fed- eral Council, debated, adopted in the chambers of Parlia- ment and put before voters, and if necessary revised, is unique – even when compared with other countries. The following pages provide a good overview of these pro- cesses. If, after reading this, you know what an optional referendum is and how many have been held since their introduction in 1874; and if you can also say which federal office the abbreviation FSVO stands for and where the Fed- eral Patent Court is based, then you have studied this bro- chure carefully! I hope you enjoy reading this informative publication. Federal Chancellor Walter Thurnherr 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTERVIEW AND FACTS FOUNDATIONS SWITZERLAND DIRECT DEMOCRACY 4 12 An interview with President Separation of powers 14 Doris Leuthard 4 Elections and votes 16 Population 6 Parties from left to right 18 Federal finances 7 Political parties in brief 20 The history of Switzerland 8 Federalism 10 The app for the brochure THE SWISS CONFEDERATION – A BRIEF GUIDE iOS / Android CH info 2 THE LEGISLATURE THE EXECUTIVE THE JUDICIARY PARLIAMENT THE GOVERNMENT THE COURTS 22 38 74 National Council and The Federal Council 40 The judiciary 76 Council of States 24 Federal Administration 42 The Federal Supreme Court How Parliament is organised 26 and the federal courts Federal Department of first instance 78 The large and small chambers 28 of Foreign Affairs FDFA 44 Parliamentary mechanisms 30 Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA 48 Semi-professional parliament 31 Federal Department The Parliamentary Services 32 of Justice and Police FDJP 52 The Official Bulletin 33 Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection How new laws come about 34 and Sport DDPS 56 The Parliament Building 36 Federal Department of Finance FDF 60 Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER 64 Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC 68 Federal Chancellery FCh 72 3 SWITZERLAND An interview with President Doris Leuthard ONE PRESIDENT – THREE APPREN- TICES – MANY QUESTIONS The three young interviewers are on apprenticeships Doris Leuthard, even if they weren’t entirely at ease at at SBB, SwissPost and Swisscom – enterprises owned first. However, the President gave them a warm wel- by the Confederation. But the Federal Palace is un- come and asked them about their jobs and life at school. known territory, and they have never met a member of With that the ice was broken, and the interview, which the Federal Council before. Michelle Wiedmer, Cindy covered a range of pressing topics, could begin. Kern and Hevzi Gasi were curious to meet President SWITZERLAND SWITZERLAND What do you think about global warming – and what taining biodiversity. Unfortunately we don’t always suc- are you doing about it? ceed. The clearing of the rainforests, which store CO2, is The climate is gradually changing. And gradual changes often irreversible. Switzerland tries to encourage the re- can often go unnoticed at first. But by observing nature sponsible use of forests according to international rules. over a longer period of time, we can see that temperatures The use of labels allows consumers to see whether or not are rising, our glaciers are melting and the ground is dry- wood has been produced sustainably. ing out. Switzerland wants to tackle the causes and is there- fore doing all it can to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The questions turn to digitalisation and its impact on trans- That’s why we will continue to tighten our laws and regu- port infrastructure and public services. lations – take vehicle fuel consumption for example. And let’s not forget that each and every one of us can play a part What do you think about self-driving, computer- in protecting the environment. controlled vehicles? I’m a supporter of new technologies. They will help us to Are some changes now irreversible or impossible to better manage the ever increasing levels of mobility in our stop? small country. That goes for both rail and road. As far as One of the consequences of climate change is that it can road traffic is concerned, we are still in the test phase, lead to the extinction of animal and plant species. The fed- which we are using to clarify safety and liability issues. eral government and the cantons are committed to main- That’s why I’m glad that SwissPost is gaining experience of 4 The Swiss Confederation – a brief guide 2017 | Switzerland these technologies by running trials – in contrast to others who are less fa- We also support structures that allow with self-driving buses. miliar with the new digital world. But young mothers and fathers to carry on they too are entitled to a good level of working. If you keep one foot in the Will Switzerland continue to ex- basic service. SwissPost, and indeed labour market, you are able to keep pand its infrastructure despite Swisscom and SBB, need to look after pace with technological change. At digitalisation? them too. Changes have to be intro- the same time, the federal govern- More brains and bytes are great, but duced with sensitivity. This is where ment’s skilled workers initiative aims we still need concrete. The population there should be a difference between to boost the appeal of occupations is growing – and is becoming increas- government-owned businesses and where there is a shortage of new re- ingly mobile, which is why we will be their private competitors. cruitment; like in construction and investing heavily in the coming years healthcare. to increase capacity on our roads and Job security and pensions: the appren- railways. At the same time we also tices are concerned about what the have to make better use of the infra- future holds for them. structure we already have by spread- ing traffic more evenly throughout What is the Federal Council doing SwissPost, Swisscom and SBB the day, for example. to ensure that we young people are together train around 4,500 ap- well provided for when we reach prentices. Three of those ap- old age? prentices had the opportunity More and more people are retiring, to interview President Doris but the number of people working is Leuthard: “If we don’t falling. That presents a great chal- SWITZERLAND lenge for the pension system. The Fed- Michelle Wiedmer (18, left) make reforms eral Council has adopted a reform of from Oberwangen (BE) is an IT old-age pension provision which re- apprentice at Swisscom in her now, then tains the present level of pensions and third year of training (towards safeguards the financing of the old- a vocational baccalaureate). future genera- age and survivors’ insurance fund for Cindy Kern (17) from Matten future generations. We want to raise (BE) is training to be a logistics tions will pay the retirement age for women to 65 specialist at SwissPost. She is in and introduce a greater degree of her second year of training. the price. That flexibility. In addition, we want to Hevzi Gasi (23) from Geneva is lower the conversion rate for occupa- a third year apprentice building would be tional pensions. If we don’t make the cleaner at SBB. necessary reforms now, then future unfair.” generations will pay the price. That would be unfair. What is the Federal Council doing Do you think it makes sense for to tackle unemployment? someone to have to take the train Fortunately unemployment figures in from Mürren to Lauterbrunnen to Switzerland are pretty low when com- collect a parcel from the post pared internationally. But the situa- office? tion can be difficult for people who While the Federal Council and Parlia- find themselves out of work when ment determine what public services they are over the age of 50. They can should be provided, SwissPost itself is struggle to find a job even though they free to decide how those services are have far more experience to offer than provided. What is important is that it young people. That’s why I encourage finds a balance between meeting the mixed teams. Results are often better needs of the public on the one hand when younger and older employees, and economic considerations on the men and women work together. But other. Naturally SwissPost is under the best way of keeping unemploy- pressure because many people now ment at bay is through lifelong learn- ing. If you continually keep your skills For information on the send emails, not letters – and they use presidency and the e-banking to pay their bills instead of up to date, you are likely to remain president’s activities go heading to the counter at the post of- attractive to employers.