THE SWISS CONFEDERATION A BRIEF GUIDE 2012 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 Federal Offices (overview) 44, 45 Federal Supreme Court 15, 77, 78, 79 Half-cantons 28 Initiative 17, 33 Interpellation 33 Cover picture: Judiciary 15, 76–80 Every year in mid-March thousands of people are magically drawn to the bright- Legislature 15, 32 ly lit façades of many of Bern’s museums and galleries. During Bern’s ‘museum Magic Formula 43 night’ the Federal Palace is also open to the public out of hours, drawing crowds Mandatory referendum 16, 17 of all ages. Motion 33 Content National Council 25, 26, 27, 30, 31 Information services of the Federal Chancellery, the Departments, Optional referendum 16, 17 Parliamentary Services and Federal Courts Parliament 22–36 Jeanmaire & Michel AG Parliamentary groups 34, 36 Concept, design, composition Parliamentary services 37 Jeanmaire & Michel AG, www.agentur.ch Parties 18–21, 30, 31, 43 Photography Petition 17 Rolf Weiss, Bern Postulate 33 Parliamentary portraits: Monika Flückiger, Bern Federal Council photo: Corinne Glanzmann, Dagmersellen; Proportional representation 16, 25 Background picture: ‘Spring’ (2011) from the four seasons cycle by Referendum 16, 17 Franz Gertsch, Franz Gertsch Museum, Burgdorf Right to elect 16 Editorial deadline Right to vote 16 31 December 2011 Separation of powers 15 Sessions 32, 33 This publication is also available in German, French, Italian and Romansh. Send Simple majority 25 a self-addressed label to the following address to receive your free copy: SFBL, Distribution of Publications, 3003 Bern or www.bundespublikationen.admin.ch Sovereign 15 Splitting the vote 16 Art. No. 104.617.e Swiss Abroad 29 34th edition, 2012 The Swiss Confederation a brief guide Dear Reader n 23 October 2011 the Swiss elected a new parlia- ment, and on 14 December 2011 elections were held for all the seats on the Federal Council. Un- O This is possible thanks to Switzerland’s unique political like in previous elections, the political forces of the cen- system, a system based on achieving both continuity and tre made considerable gains, not because the traditional stability. Continuity means stability. State institutions parties attracted more votes, but thanks to the increased are set up in such a way that parliamentary elections and popularity of new parties. When electing the Federal changes in the legislature do not have a radical impact. Council, the Federal Assembly went for continuity and The system of direct democracy, in which regular votes confirmed the existing federal councillors in their seats. and referendums are held every three months, guaran- In Switzerland, continuity means that, a new parliament tees that the voters are closely involved in the political is elected every four years, after which elections to the process. This will be particularly noticeable in 2012, Federal Council are also held. Continuity means that when there will be about a dozen issues on which the we have a calendar in which the date of elections and Swiss electorate will be invited to vote. votes is set many years in advance. Continuity means I find the Swiss political system incredibly exciting. that the Federal Council and parliament decide on the We are continually faced with new challenges to over- new legislative programme following an election. This come. But in order to find politics exciting you have to marks the beginning of the new four-year legislative pe- have some idea of how the political system operates. riod, in which there are always considerable challenges This brochure provides you with a good basis for un- to be faced. derstanding the system in Switzerland. It explains our The financial crisis and high levels of debt in some system of government, gives a short historical overview countries are slowing down the world economy and and presents the three powers (judiciary, legislature and therefore affecting our national economy as well. Rather executive). It also shows which political parties and per- than acting in the short-term in these difficult times, we sons represent the people’s interests and how the gov- should set ourselves long-term goals and pursue them ernment and federal administration are organised. with a consistent approach. One of the first tasks of gov- I hope that this brochure will answer your questions ernment and parliament is therefore to discuss and ap- about our system of government. If we are well informed prove the new legislative programme on the basis of the and understand what is happening in this country and Outlook 2025 report, which was drawn up in conjunc- throughout the world, taking part in animated discus- tion with external experts. One of the great strengths of sions about issues that affect our society is simply more the Swiss political system is that we identify at an early enjoyable. stage the medium and long-term challenges facing our country and introduce timely measures in the interests of the nation. Federal Chancellor Corina Casanova Contents THE LEGISLATURE: NATIONAL COUNCIL AND COUNCIL OF STATES OR The Swiss parliament Interview with President Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf 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 7.8m inhabitants 26 MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF STATES OR Representing the 26 cantons 28 Luginbühl Werner Stöckli Markus Hans Baumann Stadler Niederberger Isidor Felix Gutzwiller Verena Diener Konrad Graber Paul Georges Theiler Hans Hess Joachim Peter Föhn Alex Kuprecht Eder ZH Peter SG Pankraz Bieri AG Freitag AG Roberto AI This 32 123 Jenny Zanetti 31 ZH 143 Kathy Walter 9 ZG Müller pilhP 25 Pirmin Ruth Riklin BE Bischof 111 lüM Filippo Urs Humbel rel Schwaller Daniel Leutenegger 58 ZH Christa 81 Fässler UR GermHanannes Markwalder vakant Gerhard 71 GR Gabi 33 Pfister SO LU SZ Huber Thomas Barbara AG SO 138 151 TI Anita Minder Schmid- 125 95 Fetz Corina BL Fulvio Federer 72 Martin Kurt 61 SO Eichenberger- 106 Pelli Keller-Sutter VS 93 Alois Candinas Fluri Ida Walther Claude Glanzmann- Stefan Gmür Daniela LU 24 ZH Janiak Karin Schneeberger 66 Markus Hunkeler LU Müller- 94 Altermatt Otto Hutter Rechsteiner Ineichen LU VS 176 Urs 67 Ivo ZH 26 Bischofberger Paul Viola Schläfli ZH ZH Albert ZH Amherd BS Ruedi 63 GR Vitali Noser Egerszegi-Obrist 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 171 BL 99 Moser Gasser Doris Isabelle Darbellay 60 Weibel VD VD Bruderer Wyss Markus Fiala 169 87 Moret Pascale Lehmann Marianne FR SO Streiff-Feller Olivier Jacques 34 Feller Bourgeois 85 107 SG Maja BE 80 ZG 150 Dominique FR Elisabeth Bruno de Buman Ingold Ignazio Schneider- BE VD 193 Cassis TI JU Pezzatti Schneiter 76 AG Hugues GE Karl 57 174 Hiltpolt SG 184 NE 117 Vogler Jürg Isabelle 141 Alain Lucrezia 86 56 Meier- Christine Grossen Chevalley Beat BE Ribaux 182 TG TI Kathrin 52 Schatz Bulliard- Flach 59 Jean-René TI 200 Germanier Marbach ZH Bertschy Lorenz Christian Jean-Paul 122 168 Gschwind Hess Wasserfallen BE Filippo Margrit 142 AG Fathi VD Lombardi Kessler Bernhard Derder ZH 149 153 LU Guhl Christian Marco 152 20 VD VS SG BE Lohr Romano Fabio Thomas 127 194 Regazzi Maier 50 GR 73 Christian Fabio 29 Hansjörg Petra Lüscher 51 BE GE Abate Daniel Hans Hassler Gössi SZ ZH Grunder Ursula TG 69 121 Vischer Haller SG Roland 175 177 Yvonne Vannini 30 Jacques Yannick Fischer 31 ZH Neirynck GE Gilli Rosmarie ZH Buttet Lothar Quadranti 100 ImoberdRoernfé GE 28 Peter Ziörjen Malama Balthasar BS BL 147 NE 119 Glätti TI 5 Hildegard BE Thomas 78 Hans Jean-René Fässler- Böhni Martin GL 49 Fehr Osterwalder VD SG 197 154 Urs Luc Landolt Fournier 196 185 Lorenzo Gasche BE ZH Barthassat GE Ueli 155 TI 103 Francine Quadri Susanne LU Leuenberger 172 John-Calame Roberta 164 Leutenegger 54 VD 134 André Oberholzer Adèle Pantani Bugnon BE Franziska Luzi Teuscher Thorens 109 114 120 SH Stamm AG Thomas Barbara Goumaz Thomas VD Müller Maury Pasquier Gysi 195 Liliane Antonio Hurter FR BE 68 Hodgers 173 6 Priska BE Alfred 45 Birrer-Heimo Christian Heer SO ZH 167 Margret 166 Kiener van Singer Pierre- Guy Nellen AG François ZH Parmelin Robert VD BS 131 Veillon Cramer 82 47 Nadja Christian Hans VD Pieren Levrat Alexander BE 53 BE 27 132 Tschäppät Killer Hansjörg 92 Regula Knecht BE Bastien 4 38 BE Bea Rytz ZH Rudolf Heim Girod Hans Joder AG 97 GR Egloff 157 Silvia 55 Pierre Schenker Rusconi BE 46 JU Alec Corrado TI Pardini von 48 43 115 Ursula Matthias Graffenried Lukas 98 TI Wyss Aebischer Reimann Sebastian AG Frehner THE UNITED FEDERAL ASSEMBLY OR 165 128 Silva Jean-Pierre SG Grin SH Semadeni FR 199 BS 156 Pierre-Alain Marina 133 Maximilian Carobbio AG Fridez Reimann Guscetti VD 137 Cédric Wermuth VD 144 ZH Markus 83 LU Hausammann 108 Valérie 9 Hans-Jürg Piller 102 Fehr Thomas Carrard Natalie AG Rickli de Courten ZH 136 187 Yvan Yvonne Perrin Feri TG SZ VD ZH 162 Jean BL Christophe 13 124 Heinz Jacqueline Schwaab Brand Fehr VD 70 Louis Schelbert NE 12 Jacqueline Badran 74 Pirmin Schwander VS 158 75 SO Cesla 65 40 Andy Albert Tschümperlin Virginia Felix Rösti Amarelle AG Müri G