Politics of Switzerland
Political System of Switzerland | |
|---|---|
| Polity type | Semi-direct democratic federal republic |
| Constitution | Constitution of Switzerland |
| Legislative branch | |
| Name | Federal Assembly |
| Type | Bicameral |
| Meeting place | Federal Palace, Bern |
| Upper house | |
| Name | Council of States |
| Presiding officer | Andrea Caroni, President of the Council of States |
| Appointer | Popular vote |
| Lower house | |
| Name | National Council |
| Presiding officer | Maja Riniker, President of the National Council |
| Appointer | Popular vote |
| Executive branch | |
| Head of state | |
| Title | President of the Confederation |
| Currently | Karin Keller-Sutter |
| Appointer | Federal Assembly |
| Cabinet | |
| Name | Federal Council |
| Leader | President |
| Deputy leader | Vice President |
| Appointer | Federal Assembly |
| Headquarters | Federal Palace |
| Ministries | 7 |
| Judicial branch | |
| Name | Judiciary of Switzerland |
| Federal Supreme Court | |
| Seat | Federal Courthouse, Lausanne |
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The government of Switzerland is a federal state with direct democracy.
- The legislative branch is the Federal Assembly. The Federal Assembly has two parts: the National Council, which represents the public, while the Council of States represents the cantons.
- The executive branch is the Federal Council, which has seven members who are elected by the Federal Assembly.
- The judicial branch is headed by the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland, whose judges are elected by the Federal Assembly.
For any change in the constitution, a referendum is mandatory (mandatory referendum); for any change in a law, a referendum can be requested (optional referendum). In addition, the people may present a constitutional popular initiative to introduce amendments to the federal constitution.
The people also assume a role similar to the constitutional court, which does not exist, and thus sovereignty resides with the people, who exercise supreme political power and act as the guardian of the rule of law. According to the V-Dem Democracy indices, Switzerland was in 2023 the most participatory democratic country in the world and Freedom House has Switzerland as one of the freest countries in the world, scoring 39/40 points on political rights, and 57/60 on civil liberties for a total of 96/100 in 2024.
The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Switzerland a "full democracy" in 2022. According to the V-Dem Democracy indices, Switzerland was in 2023 the 4th most electorally democratic country in the world.
Cantonal and municipal politics vary in the different cantons, which may have different systems.