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The Swiss Confederation - a brief guide 2009
This richly illustrated brochure is published each year and gives you a broad yet clear picture of Switzerland’s political institutions and executive authorities while also highlighting the structure and role played by the State.
Content and downloads:
Introduction, interview and history
- Contents
- Interview with President Hans-Rudolf Merz
- Population, Finances
- How long has there been a Switzerland?
A unique political system or SWISS DEMOCRACY
- 2636 plus 26 equals 1
- One People, many rights
- The four strongest political parties...
- ...as well as the eight other political parties in parliament
The legislature: National Council and Council of States or THE SWISS PARLIAMENT
- The two ways into parliament
- Representing Switzerland's 7.5m inhabitants
- Representing the 26 cantons
- Number of voting papers distributed: 246
- What "our people in Bern" are doing
- Tackling items of business
- Where great minds vote alike
- The service centre for the Federal Assembly
- Regaining control of Invalidity Insurance
The executive: Federal Council and departements or THE SWISS GOVERNMENT
- The Federal Council
- Where the 36 000-strong federal staff work
- The Federal Chancellery
- The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
- The Federal Department of Home Affairs
- The Federal Department of Justice and Police
- The Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports
- The Federal Department of Finance
- The Federal Department of Economic Affairs
- The Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications
The Federal Courts or THE JUDICIARY
- The third Power
- The Federal Courts of first instance
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