| Switzerland |
 This article is part of the series: |
Constitution Federal judiciary Foreign policy Subdivisions |
Other countries · Atlas Politics Portal |
The Federal Constitution of 18 April 1999 (German: Bundesverfassung der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft; French: Constitution fédérale de la Confédération suisse; Italian: Constituzione federale della Confederazione Svizzera; Romansh: Constituziun federala da la Confederaziun svizra) is the third and current federal constitution of Switzerland. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation Politics of Switzerland takes place in the framework of a multi-party federal parliamentary democratic Republic, whereby the Human rights are comprehensively guaranteed in Switzerland, one of Europe's oldest democracies. The Swiss Federal Council (Schweizerischer Bundesrat Conseil fédéral suisse Consiglio federale svizzero Cussegl federal This is a list of members of the Swiss Federal Council (Schweizerischer Bundesrat Conseil fédéral suisse Consiglio federale svizzero Cussegl federal svizzer Moritz Leuenberger (born 21 September 1946 is a Swiss Politician, Lawyer, member of the Swiss Federal Council since 1995 and President Pascal Couchepin (born April 5, 1942) is a Swiss Politician, member of the Swiss Federal Council since 1998 and President of The President of the Confederation (Bundespräsident Président de la Confédération Presidente della Confederazione President da la Confederaziun is the presiding member Samuel Schmid (born January 8, 1947) has been a member of the Swiss Federal Council since 2000. Micheline Calmy-Rey (born July 8, 1945) is a Swiss politician member of the Swiss Federal Council since 2002 Hans-Rudolf Merz (born 10 November 1942 is a Swiss politician of the Free Democratic Party (FDP/PRD and Member of the Swiss Federal Council (since 2003 The President of the Confederation (Bundespräsident Président de la Confédération Presidente della Confederazione President da la Confederaziun is the presiding member Doris Leuthard (born 10 April 1963) is a Swiss politician and lawyer Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf (born 16 March 1956) is a Swiss lawyer politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council since 2008 The Federal Chancellor (Bundeskanzler(in Chancelier(-ière fédéral(e Cancelliere(-a della Confederazione Chancelier(a federal(a is the head of the Federal Chancellery Corina Casanova (born 4 January 1956) is the Federal Chancellor of Switzerland. The federal administration of Switzerland (Bundesverwaltung Administration fédérale Amministrazione federale is the ensemble of agencies that constitute together with the The Federal Assembly (in German, Bundesversammlung; in French, Assemblée fédérale; in Italian, Assemblea federale The Council of States of Switzerland (Ständerat Conseil des Etats Consiglio degli Stati Cussegl dals Stadis is the smaller chamber of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland This is a list of members of the Swiss Council of States of the 48th legislature (2007-2011 The National Council of Switzerland (Nationalrat Conseil National Consiglio Nazionale Cussegl Naziunal is the larger Chamber of the parliament with 200 seats This is a list of the 200 members of the Swiss National Council for the 2007 - 2011 legislative term current as of 25 November 2007 Political parties in Switzerland lists political parties in Switzerland. Elections in Switzerland gives information on Election and election results in Switzerland. Voting in Switzerland is the process by which Swiss citizens make decisions about Governance and elect Officials Voting takes place over the week-end with Legislative elections in the Swiss Confederation were held on 19 October 2003. Elections to the Swiss Federal Assembly, the federal parliament of Switzerland, were held on Sunday October 21, 2007. The Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland (Bundesgericht Tribunal fédéral Tribunale federale Tribunal federal is the Supreme court of Switzerland. The Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland ( FCC; Bundesstrafgericht Tribunal pénal fédéral Tribunale penale federale Tribunal federal penala is the court The Federal Administrative Court of Switzerland ( FAC; Bundesverwaltungsgericht Tribunal administratif fédéral Tribunale amministrativo federale Tribunal Switzerland took part in negotiating the European Economic Area agreement with the European Union. The foreign relations of Switzerland are the primary responsibility of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the states of the Federal state of Switzerland. Municipalities (sometimes called communities or communes, after the French/Italian names are the smallest government division in Switzerland and are called Information on politics by country is available for every Country, including both De jure and De facto independent The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. Romansh (also spelled Romansch, Rumants(ch or Romanche) is one of the four official languages of Switzerland, along with German, A constitution is a system for government often Codified as a written document that establishes the rules and principles of an autonomous political entity Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation It establishes the Swiss Confederation as a federal republic of 26 cantons (states), contains a catalogue of individual and popular rights (including the right to call for popular referendums on federal laws and constitutional amendments), delineates the responsibilities of the cantons and the Confederation and establishes the federal authorities of government. A federal republic is a Federation of States with a republican form of government The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the states of the Federal state of Switzerland. Individual rights refer to the Rights of Individuals in contrast with Group rights.
The Constitution was adopted by popular vote on 18 April 1999. It replaced the prior federal constitution of 1878, which it was intended to bring up to date without changing it in substance.
Contents |
History
- See also: History of Switzerland
The groundwork for today's Swiss Constitution was laid with the promulgation of the Constitution of 12 September 1848, which was deeply influenced by the US Constitution and the ideas of the French Revolution. Events 1213 - Albigensian Crusade: Simon de Montfort 5th Earl of Leicester, defeats Peter II of Aragon at the Year 1848 ( MDCCCXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme Law of the United States. The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an This constitution provided for the cantons' sovereignty, as long as this did not impinge on the Federal Constitution. This constitution was created in response to a 27-day civil war in Switzerland, the Sonderbundskrieg. A civil war is a War between a State and domestic political actors that are in control of some part of the territory claimed by the state Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation The Sonderbund Swiss civil war of November 1847 ensued after the Sonderbund (meaning "separate alliance" in German) was created in 1845
The Constitution of 1848 was partly revised in 1866, and wholly revised in 1874. Year 1866 ( MDCCCLXVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1874 ( MDCCCLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common This latter constitutional change introduced the referendum at the federal level. A referendum (plural referendums or referenda) ballot question, or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita Beginning in 1891, the constitution contained the "right of initiative", under which a certain number of voters could make a request to amend a constitutional article, or even to introduce a new article into the constitution. Year 1891 ( MDCCCXCI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common In Political science, the initiative (also known as popular or citizen's initiative) provides a means by which a Petition signed by a certain Thus, partial revisions of the constitution could be made any time.
The Federal Constitution was wholly revised for the second time in the 1990s, and the new version was approved by popular and cantonal vote on 18 April 1999. The 1990s collectively refers to the years between and including 1990 and 1999 Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) It replaces the constitution of 29 May 1874, and it contains nine fundamental rights which up until then had only been discussed and debated in the Federal Court. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the Year 1874 ( MDCCCLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common It came into force on 1 January 2000. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar.
Owing to constitutional initiatives and counterproposals, the Swiss Constitution is subject to continual changes.
Constitutional provisions
| Swiss Confederation |
This article is part of the series: |
| Text of the Constitution |
|---|
| Preamble and Title 1 General Provisions |
| Title 2 Fundamental Rights, Civil Rights and Social Goals |
| Title 3 Confederation, Cantons, and Municipalities |
| Title 4 People and Cantons |
| Title 5 Federal Authorities |
| Title 6 Revision of the Federal Constitution and Temporal Provisions |
Other countries · Law Portal |
Preamble and Title 1
The preamble and the first title of the Constitution determine the general outlines of Switzerland as a democratic federal republic of 26 cantons governed by the rule of law. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation The Preamble and the first title of the Swiss Federal Constitution of 18 April 1999 determine the general outlines of Switzerland as a democratic Title 2 of the Swiss Federal Constitution of 18 April 1999 entitled "Fundamental Rights Civil Rights and Social Goals", contains a comprehensive and directly The following is a list of existing or former national Constitutions by country and by Codification. The Preamble and the first title of the Swiss Federal Constitution of 18 April 1999 determine the general outlines of Switzerland as a democratic A preamble is an introductory statement in a document that explains the document's purpose and underlying philosophy Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation Democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is held completely by the people under a free electoral system A federal republic is a Federation of States with a republican form of government The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the states of the Federal state of Switzerland. The rule of law, in its most basic form is the principle that no one is above the law
The preamble opens with a solemn invocation of God in continuance of Swiss constitutional tradition. It is a mandate to the State authorities by the Swiss people and cantons, as the Confederation's constituent powers, to adhere to the values listed in the preamble, which include "liberty and democracy, independence and peace in solidarity and openness towards the world". Liberty, the freedom to act or believe without being stopped by unnecessary force Democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is held completely by the people under a free electoral system Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising Peace, in the modern usage is a concept defined by the ideal state of relationship as absence of hostility at the international level that of a War. Openness is a Philosophy that is being used as the basis of how various groups and organizations operate
The general provisions contained in Title 1 (articles 1–6) define the characteristic traits of the Swiss state on all of its three levels of authority: federal, cantonal and municipal. Municipalities (sometimes called communities or communes, after the French/Italian names are the smallest government division in Switzerland and are called They contain an enumeration of the constituent Cantons, affirm Cantonal sovereignty within the bounds of the Constitution and list the national languages – German, French, Italian and Romansh. Sovereignty is the exclusive Right to control a Government, a country, a people or oneself The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. Romansh or Romansch may refer to Romansh language Romansh people They also commit the State to the principles of obedience to law, proportionality, good faith and respect for international law, before closing with a reference to individual responsibility. Proportionality is a principle in law which although related covers two distinct concepts International law is the term commonly used for referring to the system of implicit and explicit agreements that bind together nation-states in adherence to recognized values and standards
Title 2: Fundamental Rights, Civil Rights and Social Goals
- See also: Human rights in Switzerland
Title 2 contains the Constitution's bill of rights. Title 2 of the Swiss Federal Constitution of 18 April 1999 entitled "Fundamental Rights Civil Rights and Social Goals", contains a comprehensive and directly Human rights are comprehensively guaranteed in Switzerland, one of Europe's oldest democracies. A Bill of Rights is a list or summary of rights that are considered important and essential by a group of people The 1899 constitution contained only a limited number of fundamental rights, and some of them grew less significant as the 20th century wore on, such as the right to a decent burial guaranteed in article 53 of the old constitution. A fundamental right is a Right that has its origin in a country's Constitution or that is necessarily implied from the terms of that constitution Burial, also called interment and inhumation, is the act of placing a person or object into the ground In consequence, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court's extensive case law developed an array of implicit or "unwritten" fundamental rights, drawing upon the case law of the European Court of Human Rights and applying the fundamental rights guaranteed in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which Switzerland ratified in 1974. The Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland (Bundesgericht Tribunal fédéral Tribunale federale Tribunal federal is the Supreme court of Switzerland. The European Court of Human Rights ( ECtHR) (Cour européenne des droits de l’homme in Strasbourg was established under the European Convention on Human Rights The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (also called the "European Convention on Human Rights" and "ECHR" was adopted under the
In the course of the 1999 constitutional revision, the Federal Assembly decided to codify that case law in the form of a comprehensive bill of rights, which is substantially congruent with the rights guaranteed in the ECHR, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Federal Assembly (in German, Bundesversammlung; in French, Assemblée fédérale; in Italian, Assemblea federale The Universal Declaration of Human Rights ( UDHR) is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly ( 10 December 1948 at Palais The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a United Nations Treaty based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, created in
Title 2 also covers the essential rules on the acquisition of Swiss citizenship and of the exercise of political rights. Furthermore, it contains a number of not directly enforceable "social goals" which the state shall strive to ensure, including the availability of social security, health care and housing. Social security primarily refers to a Social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions including poverty old Health care is the prevention treatment and management of illness and the preservation of mental health through the services offered by the medical, Nursing
External links
- Authoritative German, French and Italian texts of the Swiss Federal Constitution.
- Federal Constitution webpage provided by the Federal Authorities of the Swiss Confederation; includes versions of the Constitution in German, French, Italian, and Rhaeto-Romanic (Romansh) as well as non-authoritative translations of the Constitution in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Japanese and Nepalese.
References
- Bernhard Ehrenzeller, Philipp Mastronardi, Rainer J. Schweizer, Klaus A. Vallender (eds. ) (2002). Die schweizerische Bundesverfassung, Kommentar. ISBN 3-905455-70-6. (German). Cited as Ehrenzeller.
- Federal Constitution in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland. The Historical Dictionary of Switzerland is an Encyclopedia on the History of Switzerland that aims to take into account the results of modern historical research
Footnotes
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic