Chapter One

General Provisions

Articles 1 – 6

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Article 1The Swiss Confederation

(1)

The People and the Cantons of Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden and Nidwalden, Glarus, Zug, Fribourg, Solothurn, Basel Stadt and Basel Landschaft, Schaffhausen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden, St. Gallen, Graubünden, Aargau, Thurgau, Ticino, Vaud, Valais, Neuchâtel, Geneva, and Jura form the Swiss Confederation.

Article 2Aims

(1)

The Swiss Confederation shall protect the liberty and rights of the people and safeguard the independence and security of the country.

(2)

It shall promote the common welfare, sustainable development, internal cohesion and cultural diversity of the country.

(3)

It shall ensure the greatest possible equality of opportunity among its citizens.

(4)

It is committed to the long term preservation of natural resources and to a just and peaceful international order.

Article 3Cantons

(1)

The Cantons are sovereign except to the extent that their sovereignty is limited by the Federal Constitution. They exercise all rights that are not vested in the Confederation.

Article 4National languages

(1)

The National Languages are German, French, Italian, and Romansh.

Article 5Rule of law

(1)

All activities of the state are based on and limited by law.

(2)

State activities must be conducted in the public interest and be proportionate to the ends sought.

(3)

State institutions and private persons shall act in good faith.

(4)

The Confederation and the Cantons shall respect international law.

Article 5aSubsidiarity

(1)

The principle of subsidiarity must be observed in the allocation and performance of state tasks.

Article 6Individual and collective responsibility

(1)

All individuals shall take responsibility for themselves and shall, according to their abilities, contribute to achieving the tasks of the state and society.

Source: The Federal Authorities of the Swiss Confederation — fedlex.admin.ch. Reproduced for education; not an official government publication or legal advice.