Switzerland is a federal state with three political levels: government, cantons (20 full and 6 half-cantons), communes (approximately 2,900). The cantons and the communes have wide-ranging autonomy and are able to take many political decisions.
Every canton has its own constitution, laws, parliament and courts. For example, cantons control education and the police, while communes are responsible for welfare services. This decentralised division of power and the attempt to solve issues at the lowest possible level form the basis of the Confederation and keeps the state as close as possible to the people.
The modern Swiss Confederation was established in 1848 when a loose association of autonomous cantons was united within one state. They had fought one another in a civil war and their peaceful co-existence was only made possible by the establishment of state structure which found a balance between the interests of the state as a whole and the interests of the individual cantons.
The Swiss system encourages solidarity rather than competition between the cantons. Although a certain degree of competition exists - in taxation, for example - stronger areas give funds to weaker ones to minimise the differences.
SWITZERLAND, A DIRECT DEMOCRACY: Switzerland is a federal republic with a semi-direct democracy, in which the final authority resides with the people. Direct democracy - the right of citizens to be directly involved in political decision-making - is a core element of the Swiss political system.
It is a federal republic with a system of direct democracy in which the people are sovereign. Citizens aged 18 and above have the right to vote. They are regularly asked to take part in popular votes on a variety of questions concerning internal and external issues, like abandoning nuclear energy, unemployment benefits, NEAT (new railways through the Alps) or membership of the United Nations, etc. On average, popular votes take place four times a year.
The popular initiative, the optional referendum and the mandatory referendum from three instruments of Swiss direct democracy. The optional referendum gives citizens the right to demand that any bill approved by the parliament be put to a nation-wide vote. In order to be valid 50,000 signatures must be collected in 100 days. If the number of valid signatures is sufficient, the new law must be approved by a popular vote.
The mandatory referendum implicates that all constitutional amendments or supplements proposed by parliament must be approved (or rejected) in a national vote. Voters are also required to approve Swiss membership of certain international organisations, such as United Nations and European Union.
THE PARLIAMENT, A FOUR-LEAF CLOVER: Legislative power in Switzerland is exercised by Parliament (Federal Assembly). The Swiss Parliament is divided into two chambers with equal power: the National Council and the Council of States. The two chambers only hold joint sessions to elect a new cabinet minister or a federal judge. Members carry out their parliamentary duties in addition to working at their normal jobs.
Four large parties dominate the Swiss political scene since 1959: the Swiss People's Party, the Social Democrats, the Free Democrats and the Christian Democrats. Only a small number of MPs belong to other parties.
ONE GOVERNMENT, SEVEN FEDERAL COUNCILORS: Executive power is in the hands of the seven-member government, or Federal Council. The Federal Assembly elects a new member of the Federal Council when a councillor retires or dies. After parliamentary elections (ie every four years), the councillors submit themselves individually for re-election.
The government is a collective body which fulfils the role of the head of state. Federal councillors take turns to hold the annually rotating federal presidency. The post confers no special powers or privileges, and the president continues to administer his or her own department. The four strongest parties are represented in the Council. Councillors are not members of parliament.