Administrative divisions
26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; Kantone, singular - Kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich |
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Capital city > Geographic coordinates
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46 57 N, 7 26 E |
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Definition: Government > Capital city > Geographic coordinates |
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Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
Constitution
revision of Constitution of 1874 approved by the Federal Parliament 18 December 1998, adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, officially entered into force 1 January 2000 |
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Definition: Government > Constitution |
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Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
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Corruption
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9.1 |
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[7th of 160]
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Definition: Government > Corruption |
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Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address
use embassy street address |
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Definition: Government > Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address |
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Source: Transparency International |
Executive branch > Cabinet
Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the Federal Assembly usually from among its members for a four-year term |
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Definition: Government > Executive branch > Cabinet |
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Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
Executive branch > Chief of state
President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2008); Vice President Hans-Rudolf MERZ (since 1 January 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government representing the Federal Council; the Federal Council is the formal chief of state and head of government whose council members, rotating in one-year terms as federal president, represent the Council |
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Definition: Government > Executive branch > Chief of state |
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Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
Flag description
red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag |
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Definition: Government > Flag description |
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Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
Government type
formally a confederation but similar in structure to a federal republic |
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Definition: Government > Government type |
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Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
Independence
1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation) |
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Definition: Government > Independence |
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Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
Judicial branch
Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly) |
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Definition: Government > Judicial branch |
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Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
Legal system
civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations |
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Definition: Government > Legal system |
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Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
Legislative branch
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German), Conseil des Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats; membership consists of 2 representatives from each canton and 1 from each half canton; to serve four-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) |
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Definition: Government > Legislative branch |
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Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
National holiday
Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291) |
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Definition: Government > National holiday |
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Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
Political parties and leaders
Green Party (Gruene Partei der Schweiz or Gruene, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Ruth GENNER]; Christian Democratic People's Party (Christlichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, Partito Democratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, Partida Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Christophe DARBELLAY]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Fulvio PELLI]; Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti Socialist Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Hans-Juerg FEHR]; Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Ueli MAURER]; and other minor parties |
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Definition: Government > Political parties and leaders |
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Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
Status
federal democracy |
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Definition: Government > Status |
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Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal |
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Definition: Government > Suffrage |
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Source: electionworld.org |
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Time required to start a business > days
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20 days
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[132nd of 171]
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Definition: Government > Time required to start a business > days |
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Source: All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008 |
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Trademarks, residents
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7,665
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[19th of 98]
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Definition: Government > Trademarks, residents |
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Source: World Development Indicators database |
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Transnational Issues > Disputes > International
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none |
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Definition: Government > Transnational Issues > Disputes > International |
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Source: World Development Indicators database |
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