Political Institutions of Switzerland
The Cognitograph offers a unique overview of Switzerland's political institutions and their direct democratic instruments. It is for everybody interested in politics and can be used in education.
The following topics are covered:
- Legal system with Constitution, laws and regulations and respective legislative processes
- Functioning of the instruments of direct democracy (popular initiative, mandatory and optional referendum)
- Organization and functioning of the national parliament with its two chambers (National Council and Council of States)
- Organization and functioning of the executive branch of the federal government (Federal Council)
- Role of the Federal Court in the legislative process
- Overview of the federal structure of the Swiss political system
- Overview of the 26 cantons (territories, cantonal capitals, communes, members of the National Council and Council of States, cantonal governments and parliaments, populations)
- Overview of the composition of the population, the citizens entitled to vote and voter turnout
Author
Jan Ehrler, master degree in political science and economics
For many years project manager at the IDHEAP (Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration) in the field of policy evaluation.
Order
CHF 9.50 per unit, shipping CHF 2 (2 Cognitographs and more are shipped for free)
Order with shipping to Germany and Switzerland (Postcard, Credit Card, Paypal and on invoice in Switzerland)
Please contact us directly by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you want to order in other countries, larger quantities or for schools and bookshops.
We also offer the presentation in poster format. Please contact us by This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to clarify the details.
General information and references
General information:
- Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation
- Lexicon of Parliamentary Terms
- Information platform of the Swiss authorities
Sources of specific topics:
- Federal law (Constitution, laws and regulations) and legislative process:
Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation - Rule of law:
Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation - Design and functioning of direct-democratic instruments (popular initiative, mandatory and optional referendum):
Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation - Organization and competencies of the Federal Assembly:
Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation - Organization and competencies of the Federal Council:
- Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation
- Information brochure «The Swiss Confederation – a brief guide» - Federal departments:
Website of the Federal Council - Organization and competencies of the Federal Court:
- Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation
- Information brochure about the Federal Court (German): "Die Wege zum Bundesgericht - Kurzer Überblick über die Organisation der Rechtspflege in der Schweiz" - Number of members of the National Council for every canton:
Website of the Federal Assembly - Number of members of the Council of States for every canton:
Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation - Name and number of the members of the cantonal governments and parliaments:
Website of the cantonal governments through ch.ch - Population statistics 2018:
Federal Statistical Office, Bevölkerungsdaten im Zeitvergleich, 1950-2018, Excel-Tabelle je-d-01.01.01 - Population statistics for cantons, 2018
Federal Statistical Office, Bilanz der ständigen Wohnbevölkerung nach Kanton, 2018, Excel-Tabelle su-d-01.02.04.04 - Number of communes in the cantons:
Federal Statistical Office, Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis des Bundesamts für Statistik, 2018 - Voter turnout 2019:
Eidgenössische Wahlen 2019, opendata.swiss - Average participation in referenda:
Handbuch der Schweizer Politik, 3. überarbeitete Auflage, 5.2 Volksabstimmungen - Federal system of Switzerland:
- Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation
- Handbuch der Schweizer Politik, 3. überarbeitete Auflage, 2.1 Föderalismus und 4 Kantone und Gemeinden