Federal Assembly

Subject to the rights of the People and the Cantons, the Federal Assembly is the supreme authority of the Confederation.

The Federal Assembly comprises two chambers, the National Council and the Council of States; both chambers shall be of equal standing.

The National Council is composed of 200 representatives of the People.

The representatives are elected directly by the People according to a system of proportional representation. A general election is held every four years.

Each Canton constitutes an electoral constituency.

The seats are allocated to the Cantons according to their relative populations. Each Canton has at least one seat.

The Council of States is composed of 46 representatives of the Cantons.

The Cantons of Obwalden, Nidwalden, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden each elect one representative; the other Cantons each elect two representatives.

The Cantons determine the rules for the election of their representatives to the Council of States.

The Councils convene in session regularly. The convening of sessions is governed by law.

The Federal Council or one quarter of the members of either Council may request that the Councils be convened for an extraordinary session.

Each Council elects a President from its members for a term of one year, together with a first Vice-President and a second Vice-President. Re-election for the following year is not permitted.

Each Council forms committees from its members.

The law may provide for joint committees.

The law may delegate specific powers, which may not be legislative in their nature, to committees.

In order to fulfil their duties, the committees have the right to information and to inspect documents and the power to conduct investigations. The extent of such rights and powers is governed by the law.

The members the Federal Assembly may form parliamentary groups.

The Federal Assembly has parliamentary services at its disposal. It may call on the services of offices of the Federal Administration. The details are regulated by law.

Section 2 Procedure

The proceedings of the National Council and Council of States take place separately.

Decisions of the Federal Assembly require the agreement of both Chambers.

Provision shall be made by the law to ensure that in the event of disagreement between the Councils decisions are made on:

a. the validity or partial invalidity of a popular initiative;

b. the implementation of a popular initiative in the form of a general proposal that has been adopted by the People;

c. the implementation of a Federal Decree initiating a total revision of the Federal Constitution that has been approved by the People;

d. the budget or any amendment to it.

The National Council and Council of States hold joint proceedings as the United Federal Assembly under the presidency of the President of the National Council in order to:

a. conduct elections;

b. decide on conflicts of jurisdiction between the highest federal authorities;

c. decide on applications for pardons.

The United Federal Assembly also convenes for special events and to hear declarations made by the Federal Council.

Meetings of the Councils are held in public. The law may provide for exceptions.

The Councils are quorate if a majority of their members is present.

Decisions are taken in both Chambers and in the United Federal Assembly by the majority of those who vote.

However, the consent of an absolute majority of the members of each of the two Councils is required for:

a. a declaration that a federal act is urgent;

b. provisions on subsidies, guarantee credits or spending ceilings that involve new non-recurrent expenditure of more than 20 million francs or new recurrent expenditure of more than 2 million francs;

c. an increase in overall expenditure in the case of extraordinary financial requirements in terms of Article 126 paragraph 3.

The Federal Assembly may, by ordinance, adjust subsidies made in terms of paragraph 3 letter b in line with inflation.

Any Council member, parliamentary group, parliamentary committee or Canton has the right to submit an initiative to the Federal Assembly.

Council members and the Federal Council have the right to submit motions on business that is under discussion.

No member of the Federal Assembly may vote on the instructions of another person.

Members must disclose their links to interest groups.

The members of the Federal Assembly and the Federal Council as well as the Federal Chancellor may not be held liable for statements that they make in the Assembly or in its organs.

The law may provide for further forms of immunity and extend its scope to include other persons.

Section 3 Powers

The Federal Assembly shall enact provisions that establish binding legal rules in the form of federal acts or ordinances.

Other enactments are promulgated in the form of a federal decree; a federal decree that is not subject to a referendum is known as a “simple federal decree”.

All significant provisions that establish binding legal rules must be enacted in the form of a federal act. These include in particular fundamental provisions on:

a. the exercise of political rights;

b. the restriction of constitutional rights;

c. the rights and obligations of persons;

d. those liable to pay tax as well as the subject matter and assessment of taxes and duties;

e. the duties and services of the Confederation;

f. the obligations of the Cantons in relation to the implementation and enforcement of federal law;

g. the organisation and procedure of the federal authorities.

Legislative powers may be delegated by federal act unless this is prohibited by the Federal Constitution.

Federal acts whose coming into force cannot be delayed (emergency federal acts) may be declared urgent by an absolute majority of the members of each of the two Councils and be brought into force immediately. Such acts must be of limited duration.

If a referendum is requested on an emergency federal act, the act must be repealed one year after being passed by the Federal Assembly if it has not in the meantime been approved by the People.

An emergency federal act that does not have the Constitution as its basis must be repealed one year after being passed by the Federal Assembly if it has not in the meantime been approved by the People and the Cantons. Any such act must be of limited duration.

An emergency federal act that is not approved in a popular vote may not be renewed.

The Federal Assembly shall participate in shaping foreign policy and supervise the maintenance of foreign relations.

It shall approve international treaties, with the exception of those that are concluded by the Federal Council under a statutory provision or an international treaty.

The Federal Assembly determines the expenditure of the Confederation, adopt the budget and approve the federal accounts.

The Federal Assembly elects the members of the Federal Council, the Federal Chancellor, the judges of the Federal Supreme Court and, in times of war, the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces ("the General").

The law may authorise the Federal Assembly to make or confirm other appointments.

The Federal Assembly exercises oversight over the Federal Council and the Federal Administration, the federal courts and other bodies entrusted with the tasks of the Confederation.

Official secrecy does not apply in dealings with the special delegations of supervisory committees that are established under the law.

The Federal Assembly shall ensure that federal measures are evaluated with regard to their effectiveness.

The Federal Assembly may assign functions to the Federal Council. The details are regulated by law, and in particular the means by which the Federal Assembly may intervene in matters that fall within the remit of the Federal Council.

The Federal Assembly shall ensure the maintenance of good relations between the Confederation and the Cantons.

It shall guarantee the cantonal constitutions.

It shall decide whether to approve intercantonal agreements and treaties between Cantons and foreign countries where the Federal Council or a Canton raises an objection to any such treaty.

The Federal Assembly has the following additional duties and powers:

a. Taking measures to safeguard external security and the independence and neutrality of Switzerland.

b. Taking measures to safeguard internal security.

c. If extraordinary circumstances require, issuing ordinances or simple federal decrees in order to fulfil its duties under letters (a) and (b).

d. Regulating active service and mobilising the armed forces or sections thereof for this purpose.

e. Taking measures to enforce federal law.

f. Ruling on the validity of popular initiatives that meet the formal requirements.

g. Participating in the general planning of state activities.

h. Deciding on individual acts where a federal act expressly so provides.

i. Deciding on conflicts of jurisdiction between the highest federal authorities.

k. Issuing pardons and deciding on amnesties.

The Federal Assembly also deals with matters that fall within the remit of the Confederation and are not the responsibility of any other authority.

Other duties and powers may be delegated by law to the Federal Assembly.