The Swiss Confederation 2021 a brief guide Get the app! CH info The R iver Aare mean ders it s way It is ov th erlooked by t roug he h Federa Be l Pal rn. ace, the hea rt of S w iss po lit ica l li fe . 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 The Legislature The Executive The Judiciary Switzerland Direct democracy Parliament The Government The Courts 6 16 28 46 72 Switzerland •The history of Switzerland 10 •Separation of powers 20 •The roles of Parliament 32 •The Federal Council 50 •The Federal Supreme Court 76 •Federalism 12 •Votes 22 •Organisation of Parliament 34 •The Federal Council’s tasks 52 •The Federal Criminal Court 78 •International agreements •Elections 24 •Particularities of Parliament 40 •Federal Administration 54 •The Swiss Federal Democracy and memberships 14 Administrative Court 79 •Political parties in the Federal •How new laws come about 42 •Federal Chancellery FCh 56 Council and in Parliament 26 •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 Complementary resources to accompany the brochure: and Research EAER 68 • CH info app for smartphones and tablets • Teaching material •Federal Department of the • Barrier-free PDF for the visually impaired Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications DETEC 70 4 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. 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 Switzerland 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 Switzerland is a small country with a population of 8.6 million people. Germany (14 %) and Portugal (12 %). languages. Many people state that they have two main It has 4 language regions and 26 cantons, which are largely inde- languages, i.e. they are bilingual. 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 62 % German the world. 23 % French Switzerland Switzerland 0.5 % Romansh Non-Swiss citizens 2 175 000 8 % Italian 26 cantons Christian majority High life expectancy SH 66 per cent of people living in Switzerland claim affiliation People in Switzerland are getting older and older and BS Thurgau 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 BL Aargau Zurich several years. The religious landscape is changing: the and 86 years for women. Women have 1.5 children on Jura AR SO AI 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 St Gallen Zug was affiliated to Christian denominations (49 % Protes- 20 years of age and 20 to 64 years of age has declined. Lucerne tant, 47 % Catholic). Schwyz Neuchâtel Glarus NW Bern Men Age Women OW Uri 100 Graubünden Fribourg 90 Vaud 36 % Roman Catholic 80 26 % No religious affiliation 70 Ticino 60 Geneva Valais 24 % Protestant Reformed 50 40 6 % Other Christian denominations 30 5 % Islamic denominations 20 10 AI Appenzell Innerrhoden NW Nidwalden AR Appenzell Ausserrhoden OW Obwalden 3 % Other / Not specified 0 BL Basel-Landschaft SH Schaffhausen www.statistik.ch BS Basel-Stadt SO Solothurn 2019 1950 8 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 The History of Switzerland diversity have increased significantly. 1291 1798 – 1802 1803 – 1814 1815 Old Confederation Helvetic Republic Mediation Federal Treaty Switzerland 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. 1847 – 1848 1848 1874, 1891 1914 – 1918 1919, 1929 1939 – 1945 1971 2000 Sonderbund War Federal Constitution Expanded democracy First World War, Proportional Second World War Equal opportunities Third Federal Liberals against Democratic federal Initiative, referendum General strike representation Inclusion of the left Women’s franchise Constitution conservatives state Socialist ideas Towards consensus Continuity and The revised Federal Constitu- democracy Against the backdrop of the In February 1971, 66% of the openness Diverging views on how the The Federal Constitution tion transferred more tasks to Poverty and unemployment Second World War, the politi- electorate, then exclusively the federal government and cal forces from left to right male, voted in favour of the Confederation would be provided most citizens (men) during the First World War In 1919, the National Council The totally revised Federal broadened democratic rights moved closer together. In women’s franchise at federal organised led to a civil war with various rights and free- and socialist ideas from the was elected on a proportional Constitution regulated the at federal level. The referen- 1943 Parliament elected a level. Most cantons and between liberal and Catholic doms, including the right to Russian Revolution culminat- basis and a second Catholic division of tasks between the dum was introduced in 1874 Social Democrat into govern- communes also gave women conservative cantons. It was a vote and be elected. The ed in a general strike in 1918. Conservative (CVP/Die Mitte Confederation and the can- and the popular initiative in ment, and in 1951 the left- the vote following this deci- war from which liberal forces bicameral system was intro- today) entered the Federal tons. In 2000, Swiss voters 1891. ( p. 22) wing party gained a second sion. emerged victorious. duced at federal level with the Council. A member of the approved the bilateral agree- seat on the Federal Council.