SEMINAR (Presentation)

Topic
POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF SWITZERLAND

Presented by
Vilas Nikhade

Submitted to
Prof. kishor Naitam
 INTRODUCTION
Overview of the Swiss political system
 Switzerland is a federal state consisting of 26 cantons

 Swiss democracy is characterized by direct democracy, consensus-building, and

federalism

Importance of Swiss democracy

 Switzerland is consistently ranked as one of the world's most democratic countries

 Swiss democracy has contributed to Switzerland's economic and social success

 Unique features of the Swiss political system

 Federalism: power is shared between federal, cantonal, and communal levels of

government

 Direct democracy: citizens have a direct say in political decision-making

 Consensus-building: political parties work together to find solutions

 The Swiss Confederation
Formation of the Swiss Confederation in 1291
Three cantons formed an alliance for mutual defense
The alliance expanded over time to include 26 cantons

 Evolution of Switzerland into a federal state

In 1848, Switzerland adopted a new constitution that created a federal state
The constitution established a federal government with limited powers and gave most power to the
cantons
 The Swiss Constitution of 1848 and its importance
The Swiss Constitution established the basic principles of Swiss democracy, including federalism and
direct democracy
The Constitution has been amended over time to reflect changing political and social conditions
The structure of the Swiss Confederation
The Swiss Confederation is divided into three levels of government: federal, cantonal, and communal
The federal government is responsible for defense, foreign policy, and social security

The cantonal and communal governments are responsible for local issues such as education and
healthcare
 Federalism in
Switzerland
 Definition of federalism and how it is applied in Switzerland
Federalism is a system of government where power is shared between a central
government and regional governments
In Switzerland, federalism means that the federal government shares power with the
cantonal and communal governments
Division of powers between federal, cantonal, and communal levels of government
The federal government has limited powers, including defense, foreign policy, and social
security
The cantonal and communal governments have more power and are responsible for
local issues such as education and healthcare
Examples of how federalism works in practice, such as healthcare and education
The cantonal and communal governments are responsible for providing healthcare and
education
The federal government sets minimum standards and provides funding
 The Swiss Federal Government
 Composition and functions of the Swiss Federal Government
• The Swiss Federal Government consists of seven members, known as the Federal
Council
• The Federal Council is responsible for executing federal laws and policies
• Executive, legislative, and judicial branches
• The Federal Council is the executive branch of government
• The Swiss Parliament is the legislative branch of government
• The Federal Supreme Court is the judicial branch of government
• Examples of how each branch operates, such as referendums and judicial appointments
• Referendums allow citizens to vote on proposed laws and constitutional amendments
• The Federal Council is appointed by the Parliament and serves for four years
• The Federal Supreme Court is responsible for interpreting federal law and resolving
disputes between cantons
 Direct Democracy in
Switzerland
 Definition of direct democracy and how it is applied in Switzerland
Direct democracy is a system of government where citizens have a direct say in
political decision-making
In Switzerland, direct democracy means that citizens can propose legislation and
constitutional amendments and can vote on them directly
 Importance of direct democracy in Swiss politics
Direct democracy is a cornerstone of Swiss democracy and allows citizens to have a
direct say in political decision-making
Direct democracy encourages political engagement and participation
Examples of direct democracy in action, such as popular initiatives and referendums
Popular initiatives allow citizens to propose legislation or constitutional amendments
Referendums allow citizens to vote on proposed laws and constitutional amendments
Consensus-Building in Swiss Politics
Consensus-building is a process of decision-making where all stakeholders work
together to find a mutually acceptable solution
In Swiss politics, consensus-building means that political parties work together
to find solutions that benefit everyone
 Importance of consensus-building in Swiss politics
Consensus-building has contributed to Switzerland's political stability and
economic success
Consensus-building allows different political parties to work together and find
solutions that benefit everyone
Examples of consensus-building in action, such as negotiations over social
security reform and climate change policies
In 2021, political parties negotiated a compromise over a proposed social security
reform that satisfied both left-wing and right-wing parties
Swiss political parties have also worked together to develop policies to address
climate change
 Conclusion

Recap of key points about the Swiss political system

• Switzerland is a federal state characterized by direct democracy,
consensus-building, and federalism
• The Swiss political system has contributed to Switzerland's
political stability and economic success
• The importance of the Swiss political system for other countries
• Other countries can learn from Switzerland's approach to direct
democracy, federalism, and consensus-building
• Switzerland's political system has been a model for other
countries looking to develop more democratic and inclusive
political systems