Switzerland

National CouncilCouncil of States

Council of States

Political system Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
Bicameral
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IPU membership Current membership status
Yes
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Historical data on women

Data on women’s right to vote and to stand for election, the date at which the first woman entered parliament, and female Heads of State or Government

Women's suffrage

Women’s right to vote
Women’s right to vote Year in which women obtained the right to vote
1971
National or local Suffrage: National or Local
National
Restricted or unrestricted suffrage Suffrage: Restricted or Universal
Universal
Notes Suffrage: Additional Notes on right of suffrage
Due to the cantonal and federal system of granting suffrage, the political participation of women was not fully integrated on a national level until 1990. Appenzell was the last canton to recognize women's suffrage.
Women’s right to stand for election
Women's right to stand for election Year in which women obtained the right to stand for election
1971
National or local Stand for Election: National or Local
National
Restricted or unrestricted suffrage Stand for Election : Restricted or Universal
Universal
Notes Stand for Election: Additional Notes on right to stand for election
Due to the cantonal and federal system of granting suffrage, the political participation of women was not fully integrated on a national level until 1990. Appenzell was the last canton to recognize women's suffrage.
First woman in parliament
First woman in parliament Year in which first woman entered parliament
1971
Notes
First woman speaker
Year of first woman speaker Date at which, for the first time in the country's parliamentary history, a woman became Presiding Officer of Parliament or of one of its Houses.
1977