Encyclopedia > Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland
The Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland (Tribunal fédéral in French, Schweizerisches Bundesgericht in German, Tribunale federale in Italian) is the supreme court of Switzerland.
According to the Constitution of Switzerland, the court has jurisdiction over violations of:
autonomy of municipalities, and other guarantees granted by the Cantons to public corporate bodies; and
federal and cantonal provisions and political rights.
Because of an emphasis on direct democracy through referendum, the Constitution precludes the court from reviewing acts of the Federal Parliament, unless such review is specifically provided for by statute.
External link
Official website, in French, German, or Italian (http://www.bger.ch/)
Switzerland has no unified civil procedure law and no uniform court system, and the designation of the courts, rules of procedure and conditions for appeals vary considerably.
Switzerland has established a system of legal aid that is governed (in accordance with Article 42 of the Hague Convention) by cantonal law, although a minimal standard and guidelines are set by the case law of the FederalCourt.
Pursuant to this case law, an applicant is entitled to legal aid if he or she is indigent (unable to pay a living for him/herself and his/her family in addition to the legal fees) and if the chances of winning the case are greater than the chances of losing it.
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