Government
and Politics in Switzerland-
Conditions
which shaped the present system-
Returning for a moment to the historical
events which lead to the formation of a
direct democracy style of government, it must be remembered that Switzerland was
directly in the middle of the social and economic turmoil which gripped Europe in the
19th century. The French Revolution first brought things into motion in Europe. It is
usually forgotten that there was an immediate effort to stamp out the
"dangerous"
ideals of republicanism and democracy by the neighboring states. In the ensuing
wars across Europe, France was of course, eventually defeated and the surrounding
monarchies did their best to stamp out any remaining resistance and change in the
old system of aristocratic rule.
In the course of the wars the French army entered Switzerland in 1798 and
after
a series of bloody battles with the conservative forces near Bern and Zurich,
established a strong central system of government. This new order was well received
by the Francophone community but was rejected in most regions.
The defeat and collapse of the Revolution after the Battle of Waterloo
signaled a
return to the old order in Switzerland and all the surrounding countries. European
borders were essentially redrawn at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Switzerland
was also on the agenda and areas in the north and south were added and rearranged.
Probably the most important development was that it was also agreed that
Switzerland would be granted a militarily neutral status but with a strong army. This
has influenced the political activities to the present day.
The period up to 1848 was a complicated battle for a
restoration of civil rights
against the restored aristrocratic families which again controlled the land, commerce
and government. The politics of the period was also complicated by the Roman
Catholic Church which used its influence to support or divide the different groups
depending on the situation. This mixing of religion and internal politics continued
even down to 1920. In any case, the situation came to a head in 1848 when the
central Catholic-Conservative cantons lost a brief war with the surrounding Liberal-
Protestant cantons. This lead to the Constitution of 1848 and renewed the ideals of
a central government.
It was recognized then however, that the unity of the cantons,
consisting of three
different languages and cultures and strongly influenced by the neighboring states,
could only be preserved by giving each a maximum of selfdetermination and
respecting the individuality of each.
It was only in 1878 that a definitive form of government could be established
which
suited the interests of all the forces in the land - the Constitution of 1878 -
which set
up the present system based on the idea of a direct democracy.
System of Government -
The civil rights and duties of the citizens are detailed in a Constitution
and the legislative construction closely resembles the US model.There are two houses
in the
Federal Assembly, a Presidential Office and a Supreme Court. The National Council
(House of Representatives) has 200 members elected in a proportional type election
every four years. It meets in session twice a year. The State Council (Senate) consists
of two elected members from each canton. As a result of the earlier political and
religious conflicts there are three split cantons ie., 20 full and 6 half cantons where
each full canton has two votes. Bills and laws are worked through the two houses and
commitees like in the US.
However, there are several big differences. The Supreme Court cannot overturn
laws
passed by the National Assembly and the Presidential Office is a commitee of seven
members elected by the full Assembly every four years. These seven department heads
are equivalent to the US Cabinet.
The President of the country is chosen by rotation each year from these
seven. The
Presidential office was intentionally weakened to avoid any possible political domin-
ance by a region or party. The election of the "cabinet" which runs the
country on the
day to day basis is a complicated process among the four nearly equal in size political
parties. Also, a proportional "magic number" of members from each region, and no
two members from the same canton, must be observed.
In practice, this means that once the members for the 2:2:2.1 proportion are
chosen
they serve for many years, 10-15 years is normal before they voluntarily retire. The
system has some inherent problems. Often the departments are rotated, so one year
a member needs to be an expert in economics, a few years later he is the head of the
justice system or military - not always the correct person at the correct position - no
matter how capable a person.
Also, the system moves very slowly. The same four political parties have
shared this
office since WW II, there is no possibility that a fresh wind of ideas can enter the
governing process, as happens every 4 or 6 years in the US, in France, the UK and
Germany, etc. Essentially, then there is then no opposition party in the country. The
opposition are the people themselves in this unique form of direct democracy.
 
Federal
Building in Bern
City of Bern
Initatives and
Referendums -
The real driving force for political
change is supplied by the citizens use of the
Initiatives and Referendums at the national and cantonal level.
If 100,000 citizens sign a petition on a particular subject it must be voted
on within
three years. It is debated by the Assembly and can be adopted directly there, other-
wise there must be a vote. If passed by a simple majority of the voters and cantons
it is placed in the Constitution. In the US there is also a process for changes to the
Constitution, but it is very difficult and rarely
successful.
Here however, votes are taken four times a year on complex and important issues.
From the subjects below it can be seen that such a system requires a well informed
and educated electorate. A few of the things voted on in the last years are:
- Adoption of a high speed railway system
- Rights for unborn children
- Revision of marriage and divorce laws
- Regulating genetic engineering
- Revision of social security
- UN membership
- Protection of the environment
- Halving the military budget
- Banning military exports
- Banning vivisection
- Balanced budget law
- Moritorium on nuclear power stations
- Introduction of the value added tax system
- Purchase of new F-18 fighter jets
- Laws against land speculation
- Bilateral agreements with the EU
- etc. etc.
It must be said that most initiatives are rejected. Usually
because of a fine sense of
what can be afforded at the moment. A good showing though is then often followed
up by a modified law on the subject which is eventually passed by the legislative (the
Presidential Council cannot veto a law). At the moment there are some 20 new
initiatives waiting for a vote. It should be mentioned that many of the Initatives are
opposed with the argument that the material has no place or would be dangerous to
have in the Constitution. This is used for example to fight the attempts to limit military
spending. It is true that over the years the Swiss Constitution has become a collection
of unrelated articles which in other countries would be in the civil codes where they
could be changed or deleted by a simple vote of Parliament.
There is also the Right of Referendum which is used even more
frequently. Here only
50,000 signatures (or 8 cantons) can force a vote on any laws or decrees passed by
the legislative. It can be appreciated that any law of importance can attract a critical
opinion of 50,000 people so there is much voting going on in the country. In fact, with
the rapid increase of subjects and complexity a certain voter fatigue is setting in -
participation is around 30% and even less on purely cantonal issues.
In our modern fast changing economic and social world it
appears that the confront-
ational type of politics is better suited for quick results. But upon reflection it is
clear
that the consensus type of government is the only hope for preserving the unity of
Switzerland.
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