Switzerland

Council of States

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Oversight

Oversight tools

Parliament/Chamber has the power to summon members of the government
Yes

Sources: By virtue of Arts 150, 159 and 160 of the Parliament Act, the members of the Federal Council participate in the deliberations of the committees and the houses when the subject being discussed is part of their remit or if they have been invited to attend in order to provide information.

Parliament/chamber has the power to summon senior government officials
No information available
Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments
Yes

Sources: Art. 2, para.2, of the Financial Audit Act; Art. 26, para. 1, of the Federal Data Protection Act

Approximate number of government appointments subject to parliamentary approval
2
Parliament/chamber has the power to approve key government appointments
Yes
Number of written questions asked, per year
77
(2022)
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
62
(2022)

Notes: There are no written questions in the Swiss Parliament. Parliamentarians have the opportunity to address the government through various interventions including motions, postulates, interpellation, and questions. Figures reflect the total of all of these interventions.

Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year
80.5%
(2022)
Parliament/chamber has power to carry out inquiries
Click for historical data

Notes:

Inquiries initiated by the "Control Committees": https://www.parlament.ch/fr/organe/commissions/commissions- surveillance/commissions-gestion-cdg/rapports; Inquiries initiated by the "Control Delegation": https://www.parlament.ch/fr/organe/delegations/delegation-des-commissions-de-gestion; Inquiries initiated by the "Finance Committees": https://www.parlament.ch/fr/organe/commissions/commissions-surveillance/commissions-cdf; Inquiries initiated by the "Finance Delegation": https://www.parlament.ch/fr/organe/delegations/delegation-des- finances/rapports

Sources: Federal Constitution, art. 169

Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
8
(2023)

Head of State and/or Government

Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government
Other

Notes: Switzerland does not have a Head of Government. The Federal Council member serving as President of the Confederation is not considered the Swiss Head of State. Rather, the entire Federal Council is considered a collective Head of State. The Federal Assembly (the two houses of parliament) elects one of the members of the Federal Council for one year as president of the Confederation. A new President is usually elected every year, on the basis of seniority of the members of the Federal Council. The President of the Confederation is a primus inter pares (first among equals); s/he directs the meetings of the Federal Council and performs certain representational functions.

Sources: Federal Constitution of Switzerland, Section 1, Chapter 3, art. 174-177

The Head of Government is also the Head of State
Not applicable
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State
Not applicable

Impeachment and confidence motions

Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
Not applicable
Chambers that can be dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
Not applicable

Impeachment procedure

There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution
Not applicable (there is no procedure)
Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment
Not applicable

No confidence processes

There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution
Not applicable (there is no procedure)
Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence
Not applicable

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