Switzerland

National Council

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Parliamentary mandate

Start and end of mandate

Start of the parliamentary mandate for newly elected members
When the member is sworn in
Date of start of mandate for newly elected members
Not applicable
Start of the parliamentary mandate for appointed members
Not applicable
Date of start of mandate for appointed members
Not applicable
End of the parliamentary mandate
When the new chamber meets for the first time
Date of end of mandate
Not applicable

Speaker

Mode of designation of the Speaker
The Speaker is elected from among the members of parliament/chamber
Authority that designates the Speaker when the Speaker is designated from outside parliament.
Not applicable
Rank of the Speaker in the hierarchy of the State
Second

Notes: This rank reflects the order of precedence. The seven members of the Federal Council, understood as a single body, rank first.

Speaker becomes interim Head of State in the event of the latter’s death or incapacity
No
Speaker's mandate continues between legislatures
No

Speaker terms

The term of the Speaker is different from the term of the house
Yes
Speaker's term
1 Years
Fixed election date for the Speaker, if any
At the beginning of the winter session (November or December)

Immunity and code of conduct

Parliament’s authorization is required for the detention or prosecution of members
Yes

Notes: Authorization by the competent parliamentary committees is only necessary if the felony or misdemeanour is directly related to the member's official position or official activities, or if the criminal proceeding is to be initiated during an ongoing session. In the latter case, a precautionary arrest (max. 24 hours) is possible without prior authorization by the competent committee if there is a risk of absconding or if the member of the Council is caught in the act

Sources: Federal Act on the Federal Assembly, art. 17-20 https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2003/510/en

There is a Code of conduct for members
Yes

Salaries and allowances

Members are paid salaries by parliament
Yes
(2020)
Basic salary, per year
71,561 CHF
(2023)
Basic salary, per year in PPP
68,153
(2023)
Basic allowances
Click for historical data
Basic allowance in PPP
28,947
Names of the basic allowances

Annual contribution to personnel and material costs (Law on the means allocated to parliamentarians, LMAP, Art 3a): https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/1988/1162_1162_1162/fr#art_3_a

Attendance allowance
295 CHF
Attendance allowance in PPP
259
Periodicity of attendance allowance
Day
Members pay income tax on salaries
Yes
Members pay income tax on allowances
No
Members can have remunerated employment outside parliament
Yes
Members are required to declare income from other employment to parliament
No
Additional salaries and allowances provided for leadership positions
No information available

Facilities, services and allowances for constituency work

Personal staff to work directly for the parliamentarian
No
Office at parliament
No
Constituency office
No
Housing
No
Other cash or in-kind allowances for constituency work
No
Additional salaries and allowances for leadership positions
List of salaries and allowances for leadership positions
Salary Allowances
Speaker Yes
Committee Chair Yes

Notes:

Speaker: 112,323 CHF salary per year

Committee Chair: 440 CHF allowance per day

Rapporteur of committee: 220 CHF allowance per day

Salary of the Speaker
112,323 CHF
Salary of the Speaker in PPP
98,529
Parliament determines the amount of salaries
Yes
Name of the body (or bodies) in parliament which determines the amount

Salaries and allowances are established in laws and decrees that are issued by the parliament. The parts that are established in laws (rather than decrees) are subject to an optional popular vote (50,000 citizens can demand a popular vote).

Parliament determines the amount of allowances
Yes
Name of the body (or bodies) in parliament which determines the amount

Salaries and allowances are established in laws and decrees that are issued by the parliament. The parts that are established in laws (rather than decrees) are subject to an optional popular vote (50,000 citizens can demand a popular vote).

Name of the institution outside parliament which determines the amount
No information available
The parliamentary salary is determined in reference to another salary scale
No
Information on salaries and allowances on the parliamentary website
Year data was last reported

2020

Participation in the government

Members of the government must also be members of parliament
Cannot be a member of parliament
Members for whom data is available
200
(2023)

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No