Switzerland

National Council Council of States

Council of States

Political system: Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: Yes

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

Updated at	Number of written questions asked, per year
2023-01	No information available
2022-01	77
2021-01	76
2020-01	103
2019-01	82
2018-01	65
2017-01	156
2016-01	150
2015-01	153
2014-01	177
2013-01	168

Updated at	Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
2023-01	No information available
2022-01	62
2021-01	81
2020-01	96
2019-01	86
2018-01	74
2017-01	156
2016-01	135
2015-01	172
2014-01	181
2013-01	159

Updated at	Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year
2023-01	No information available
2022-01	80.5%
2021-01	106.6%
2020-01	93.2%
2019-01	104.9%
2018-01	113.8%
2017-01	100.0%
2016-01	90.0%
2015-01	112.4%
2014-01	102.3%
2013-01	94.6%

Updated at	Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
2024-01	No information available
2023-01	8
2022-01	8
2021-01	7
2020-01	5
2019-01	9
2018-01	6

Switzerland

Council of States

Oversight

Oversight tools

Head of State and/or Government

Impeachment and confidence motions

Impeachment procedure

No confidence processes

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for Number of written questions asked, per year

Historical data for Number of written questions answered by the government, per year

Historical data for Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year

Historical data for Parliament/chamber has power to carry out inquiries

Historical data for Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year

Historical data for The Head of Government is also the Head of State

Historical data for Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State

Historical data for Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted

Historical data for Chambers that can be dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted