THE SWISS CONFEDERATION A BRIEF GUIDE 2013 Index Accumulation 16 Cantons 15, 24, 25, 28 Collegiality 43 Committees 34, 35 Communes 15 Concordance 43 Confederation 15 Council of States 25, 28, 29, 30, 31 Delegations 34 Departments (overview) 44, 45 Executive 15, 40 Federal Assembly 30, 31 Federal Chancellery 46, 47 Federal Council 15, 40–43 Cover picture: Federal Offices (overview) 44, 45 The red carpet will be rolled out for the traditional New Year’s reception for Federal Supreme Court 15, 77, 78, 79 the diplomatic corps in January, trade unionists and supporters of the left-wing parties will celebrate Labour Day under red flags on 1st of May, and a large Half-cantons 28 variety of groups will organise demonstrations to voice their concerns and Initiative 17, 33 demands in the public arena throughout the year. The Bundesplatz and the Interpellation 33 Federal Palace have been Switzerland’s political centre for more than a century. Judiciary 15, 76–80 Content Legislature 15, 32 Information services of the Federal Chancellery, the Departments, Magic Formula 43 Parliamentary Services and Federal Courts Mandatory referendum 16, 17 Jeanmaire & Michel AG Motion 33 Concept, design, composition National Council 25, 26, 27, 30, 31 Jeanmaire & Michel AG, www.agentur.ch Optional referendum 16, 17 Photography Parliament 22–36 Julia Brütsch, Zurich Parliamentary groups 34, 36 Parliamentary portraits: Monika Flückiger, Bern Parliamentary services 37 Federal Council photo: DDPS, Electronic Media Centre Parties 18–21, 30, 31, 43 Editorial deadline Petition 17 31 December 2012 Postulate 33 Circulation Proportional representation 16, 25 German 170 000 Referendum 16, 17 French 50 000 Right to elect 16 Italian 17 000 Romansh 2 000 Right to vote 16 English 16 000 Separation of powers 15 This publication is available free of charge from: Sessions 32, 33 SFBL, Distribution of Publications, 3003 Bern or Simple majority 25 www.bundespublikationen.admin.ch Sovereign 15 Splitting the vote 16 Art. No. 104.617.e Swiss Abroad 29 35th edition, 2013 The Swiss Confederation a brief guide Dear Reader n no other country is the government put to the test The Federal Council and parliament have agreed on a as often as in Switzerland. Voters decide on political four-year legislature plan for the current legislature peri- I issues at the ballot box three to four times a year when od, lasting from 2011 to 2015. The plan sets out specific they decide on proposals from the Federal Council and and, for the first time, measurable objectives for all policy parliament, as well as on initiatives and referendums. In areas. An important goal is for Switzerland to maintain its almost three-quarters of all votes, the people side with competitiveness, in economic terms, but also in education the Federal Council, thereby regularly confirming the and research. Since the beginning of the year these three Federal Council’s policies. This trust is essential, espe- areas have been brought together in one department, the cially in a political system such as ours where the people Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and have the final say. It provides us with a basis to tackle the Research EAER, formerly the Federal Department of Eco- major challenges of the future with confidence; whether nomic Affairs FDEA. Education, research and innovation it is Switzerland’s economy or its position as a financial are fundamental to our society and to economic perfor- centre, or the relationship with Switzerland’s main trad- mance. The new department reflects this reality. ing partner, the EU. The risks and opportunities related ‘The Swiss Confederation – a brief guide’ provides to migration also need to be addressed. Following the de- a wealth of information about our political system, our cision to phase out nuclear power, major challenges also government, parliament, the federal administration and await in terms of energy policy. The same holds true for the federal courts. It also describes the structure of the our large-scale infrastructure. These examples give an state and federalism. The texts in this brochure are the idea of the scope of these challenges. product of close cooperation between the Federal Chan- The Federal Council’s successful track record lies in cellery and experts from the Parliamentary Services, the the fact that the government always takes account of departments and the Federal Supreme Court. The photos Switzerland’s federalist structure, including around 2500 were taken by Julia Brütsch and portray some of the peo- communes, 26 cantons, four language regions, cities and ple who are at work on Switzerland’s behalf. mountainous regions. The Federal Council and parlia- ment make allowance for these factors. Before the Fed- I hope you enjoy reading this brochure! eral Council takes a decision, it listens to all interested parties in a consultation process and tries to take into ac- count as many legitimate interests as possible. Federal Chancellor Corina Casanova Contents THE LEGISLATURE: NATIONAL COUNCIL AND COUNCIL OF STATES OR The Swiss parliament Interview with President Ueli Maurer 4 Population, Finances 8 A BRIEF HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OR How long has there been a Switzerland? 10 THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT OR A UNIQUE POLITICAL SYSTEM OR The two ways into parliament 24 Swiss democracy MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OR Representing Switzerland’s 8m inhabitants 26 MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF STATES OR Representing the 26 cantons 28 Lugin r Werner St ille M b öc Hans r Bau Stadler N üh ar tzw i kl ne e Isi kus l u derberger mann i Felix ie G ber es r Verena D dor e Konrad Gra Paul r Georg Theil Hans hn Hess Joac Pete Fö ex az Al r Kuprecht g Ede h im ZH Peter Pank r SG Bieri AG Freita AG his Rober AI T 32 123 Jenny Zanett 139 ZH 143 Kathy Walter ller ZG Philipp t 25 o Müller Pirmin Ruth Riklin BE Bischof 111 Müller Filippo Urs i Humbel Schwa Daniel Leutenegger 58 ZH Christa 81 Fässler UR GermHannes Markwalder vakant Gerhard 71 ster GR Gabi a LU 33 Pfi SZ SO nn - Huber Thomas Barbara AG TI z SO 138 151 Anitaet Minder Schmid 125 95 F Corina BL Fulvio de Federer 72 Martin Kurt Pelli 61 SO Eichenberger- 106 au Kel VS 93 Alois Candinas Fluri Ida er Walther Daniela Cl ler-Sutter Stefan Gmür LU 24 ZH Janiak Glanzmann- - 66 Kari Hunkel Müller Schneeberger Markus LU Otto Hutter n 94 Altermatt Rechsteiner 6 Ineichen LU VS 17 la Urs 67 Ivo o ZH 26 Bischofberger Paul Vi Schläfli ZH ZH Albert ZH Amherd BS Ruedi 63 GR Vitali Noser Egerszegi-O BE 21 Leo 19 170 VD Hans Müller Tiana 126 ZH Altherr Christine 178 22 Martin Olivier FR Angelina Josias F. 23 Christophe ZH Thomas Bäumle Français 17 BL 99 kus Moser Gasser Doris Isa 1 br Darbellay 60 Weibel VD VD Bruderer Wyss ist Mar Fiala 169 87 Moretbelle Pascale Lehmann Marianne FR SO Olivier Jacques n - Streiff-Feller Bourgeois 07 34 Felle G 85 1 Maja r 80 ZG S Dominique BE 15 e Buma FR Elisabeth B d Ingold runo Ignazio0 Schneider BE VD 193 Cassis T JU Pezzatti I Schneiter 76 AG Hugues G Karl 57 174 Hiltpo E - SG 184 NE 117 er- Vogler Jürg Isabelle 141 Alain Lucrezia 86 56 lt G Mei Christinelliard Grossen Chevalley Beat BE Ribau 182 T TI bach Kathrin 52 Schatz Bu -Paul Flach 59 Jean-R TI 200 n ZH x Ge Mar Jea 122 Bertschy Lorenz Christian Hess 168 Wass BE rma Gschwind Margriter 142 AG Fat VD e LombardiFilippo nier né Kessl Bernhard Derdehi erfallen 3 ZH 149 15 io LU Guhl Christian D Marco 152 b 20 r V VS SG BE Lohr Romano Fa Thomas 127 194 Regazzi Maier 50 GR 73 Christian Fabio Han Lüs 29 51 Pet GE Abate Hans BE Hassler G SZ ZH Daniel sjörg össi ra cher es Grunder Ursula 5 u TG 69 121 Vischer Hal SG Roland ler 17 acq 177 scher Yvonne Vannini 30 J Yannick Fi 31 ZH GE Gilli Rosma ZH Neirynck Buttet 100 Imoberdorf er Lothar Quadranti René d GE 28 Peter Ziörjen Malama Balthasar rie BS BL 147 NE 119 Glätti TI 5 Hildegard BE Thomas 78 Hans Jean-René Fässler- Böhni VD Martin GL 49 Fe Osterwal e r 197 154 Ur SG gger e uc Landolt hr Fournier e L 196 185 Lor Gasches ZH ann Barthassat GE enzo TI BE 03 s olz Ueli ten h Francine 155 1 u r r Quadri Su LU Leuenberger 172 e 4 John-Calame Roberta 164 Le 5 VD 134 André Ob Adèle Pantani Bugnon BE Franziska Luzi Teusche Thorens 109 114 120 Stamm AG T Barbara SH V Goumaz Thomas D M h Gysi a 195 omas Maury PasquierLiliane k ü Antonio Hurter ller FR 8 BE 6 Hodgers 173 6 rgret Pris BE Alfred 5 Birrer-Heimo 4 len Christian Heer l SO ZH 167 Ma 166 Kienere van Singer Pierr Guy N AG Franço ZH P Robert VD arm BS 131 Ve e häppät Cramer 82 47 i - N Christian Hans llon elin VD Pieren Levrat Alexander BE 53 gula BE 27 is 132 a Tsc Killer Hansjörg dja 92 Re K BE Bastien 4 38 BE Bea Rytz ZH ne Rudolf ia Heim Girod Hans Joder c AG ht 97 GR Egloff 1 Silv 55 Pierre Schenker Rusconi 57 BE hias t 46 JU Alec Corrado ni TI at Pardini von 48 43 115 Ursula M Graffenried Lukas 98 Wyss Aebischer lain T R S I AG Freh -A e e ilva bio 128 i bastian 165 emade na S m Je b S Gr SH S FR rre 99 ann G ner THE UNITED FEDERAL ASSEMBLY OR 1 a B i c idez n n-Pie 156 G Pie r S Mari 1 Maximilian Caro A F muth Reimann 33 Guscetti ie d V r r er 137 D ér D Cédri rre ra W V lle r 144 e al ZH i Ma 83 LU H 108 V 9 Hans-Jürg P 10 Fehr he T Ca Natalie au AG Rickli de Co i b r homas onn kus 2 36 ZH s e 1 187 a Y Yv Perrin Fer mmann waa van T SZ VD urten s ZH G 162 i n Jean BL Christop 13 124 a H Jacqueline Sch Br Fehr VD 70 einz cquelin Lou Schelbert a adr NE 12 nd Ja arelle B 74 Pirmin O Sch m a VS 158 75 S Cesla 65 4 Andy Albe Tschümperlin Virginia Felix Rö A AG M rr 0 GR 60 a üri w s 1 Ada ti M VS ander 191 C Amaudruz rn rt o éline