Mié, Sep 21st 2022
A rotating system of presidents, part-time politicians, and a direct democracy model which answers to voters – a beginner’s guide to Switzerland’s government.
The Swiss parliament building was designed by Swiss architect Hans Wilhelm Auer. He used 30 types of rock from 13 cantons in the construction and interior design.
Switzerland’s unique political system is built upon the frameworks of direct democracy and federalism. Power is decentralized – and the people have great influence within a system where no one person, party or government can ever monopolize control.
Given how fundamental citizen participation is, it may be surprising that until fairly recently half the population was excluded from voting. Women did not have the right to vote until 1971. Even then, several parts of the country withheld that right for two more decades. Finally in 1991, after Switzerland’s highest court intervened, all Swiss women were allowed to vote at every level of government.
The Federal Palace, or Bundeshaus, in Bern houses the Swiss Federal Assembly and the Federal Council.
Federalism – decentralized power
Decentralization is key to federalism, where power is shared between three levels of government. The higher levels of government defer to lower levels whenever possible. This means as much power as possible is placed in the hands of the lowest political entity – municipal governments or districts.
Districts
A Gemeinde or district may consist of a village, town, or city. Currently, there are more than 2,000 in Switzerland. The smallest district has a population of 32 people while the largest has more than 420,000. Every district has its own government, mayor, and elected representatives. Municipal governments have a great deal of autonomy with jurisdiction over schools, roads, local planning, and tax collection. The districts also have the power to grant or deny citizenship.
Cantons
The next level of government is comprised of 26 cantons, whose powers and responsibilities are considerable. Each canton has a government, constitution, parliament, and courts. Within their scope of responsibility is education, social services, law enforcement, cantonal taxes, and health care. Cantons have the freedom to make decisions on issues unique to their regions, so long as they don’t contravene the constitution or federal laws.
The Federal Government
At the highest level is the federal government which includes the Federal Council and Administration. The government is responsible for preparing and implementing nationwide legislation, foreign policy, defense, international trade, and federal taxes. Any authority that is not expressly granted to the government in the constitution falls under cantonal jurisdiction. Nevertheless, in extraordinary situations, the federal government can override the cantons. This was the case during the Covid 19 pandemic when the Federal Council implemented extraordinary measures, including a 6-week lockdown, nationwide.
Current Swiss President Ignazio Cassis began his term in January of this year.
The ‘magic formula’ of the Federal Council
The Swiss do not elect a head of state, so there is no president or prime minister. Instead, executive power is shared by the seven-member Federal Council. They are elected by parliament every four years. The political make-up or “magic formula” of the council is contingent on the political parties’ vote share. Out of the eleven parties, only the ones with the largest percentage of votes are allocated seats on the Federal Council. No party ever has more than two seats, and this ensures consensus and compromise. The formula isn’t fixed but changes in accordance with vote share and/or the reorganization of the political parties.
All seven members of the council share equal power and meet on a weekly basis to make joint decisions. In order to fulfill traditional duties and represent Switzerland abroad, the members actually take turns as federal president. Parliament elects the president who is considered ‘the first among equals.’ The term lasts for one year and there are some very limited special powers and representative duties for this position. Under extreme circumstances where the Federal Council is unable to convene, the president can act unilaterally.
(Credit: Parliament.ch)
What’s the role of the Swiss Parliament?
Parliament passes laws, makes budget decisions, elects the federal government, and provides oversight. It is made up of two chambers – the National Council and the Council of States. The 200 representatives in the National Council represent the people, while the 46 members in the Council of States represent the cantons.
Members of parliament serve a term of four years and they are elected by the people. The two councils share equal power, and any new legislation must be approved by both chambers. Switzerland has a number of political parties which promote a broad range of viewpoints from left to right. There are currently six different political parties represented in parliament, none of which has a majority. The absence of a permanent majority and permanent opposition requires the parties to find consensus to build majorities around specific issues.
The Swiss parliament is ‘semi-professional’, which means it is not considered a full-time job. Both chambers meet four times annually for three-week sessions with additional responsibilities to fulfill throughout the year. Many members of parliament continue to work part-time alongside their political duties. This connection to real life has its benefits in keeping politicians grounded and relatable. It isn’t unusual to see members of parliament commuting to work via public transport or run into them in public spaces.
Once both councils have approved legislation, the process is not complete. Constitutional amendments must be put to a nationwide vote. And the people have the option to challenge new laws within the first 100 days. In addition to the people’s vote, the cantons must sign off with a simple majority. This requirement undoubtedly influences parliamentary decisions and amplifies the need to adopt policies which have majority support.
The petition: When a movement reaches at least 100,000 verified signatures, the petition is eligible for a voter referendum.
Direct democracy – real power at the grassroots level
Swiss voters have a remarkable amount of decision-making power, arguably more than in any other country. Citizens over the age of 18 have veto power over legislation and can force a national vote on new initiatives.
There are three types of national votes:
Here are three voter-proposed initiatives that made it to the ballot box:
Interestingly, none of the above passed. The reason being that voters, fairly consistently, use their power responsibly and go against their own personal preferences if they believe it’s for the common good.
Once an amendment or law has been approved, the Federal Government is bound by the will of the people. And it is not a given that the people will vote in accordance with the government. In fact, sometimes the outcome of a national vote places the government in the unenviable position of having to implement legislation which it strongly opposed. However, there is some leeway for parliament and the government to make adjustments in order to fulfill international law or agreements.
The Swiss vote three to four times per year. Voters may be tasked with decisions at the municipal, cantonal, and national level. For example, they might vote on building a kindergarten in their town, banning smoking in restaurants in their canton, and funding the nation’s pension plan.
Although a system which allows direct challenges to parliament and the government may appear to cause instability, the opposite is true. What may very well account for this stability in the Swiss system is the lack of a concentration of power and this results in a more balanced approach backed by the majority. Additionally, the legislative process is complex and time-consuming. It can take years from when the process begins to implementation.
In the canton of Appenzell, citizens still vote by a show of hands in the town square.
Pros and cons of the political system
There are many advantages to this system, namely:
On the other hand, there are some disadvantages. Critics have raised the following issues:
A political system by the people, for the people
Neutrality, federalism and direct democracy are fundamental components of the Swiss identity.
When the people have decisive power, politicians are compelled to consider broad, balanced and inclusive legislation that takes different viewpoints into account – or they risk having their decisions overturned. Decentralized power enables citizens to organize their local and cantonal environments in a way that works for them. In a country with multiple languages, cultures and a broad spectrum of political views, the Swiss approach provides the necessary balance to maintain harmony and unity.
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