Switzerland
Council of States
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Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
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Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
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Bicameral
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IPU membership
Current membership status
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Yes
Oversight
Oversight tools
- Parliament/Chamber has the power to summon members of the government
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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
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No information available
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Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments
Key government appointments include, for example, ambassadors or the head of the central bank.
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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
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2
- Parliament/chamber has the power to approve key government appointments
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Yes
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Number of written questions asked, per year
Depending on a parliament’s system – both written and oral questions may be registered.
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77(2022)
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Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
Depending on a parliament’s system – both written and oral questions may be registered
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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.
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Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of written questions answered by the number of questions that were asked.
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80.5%(2022)
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Parliament/chamber has power to carry out inquiries
The power of a parliament to carry out inquiries and the way in which they are done varies across parliaments. The aims and objectives of parliamentary inquiries cover a large spectrum: from a general examination of an issue of public interest to an investigative inquiry into a specific topic, the results of which may have penal implications.
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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
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Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
The total number of inquiries/investigations can include those carried out by any committee (permanent or ad-hoc) or specialized body within parliament. In the case an inquiry/investigation spans more than one year it is ounted once in the year it was initiated. The power of a parliament to carry out inquiries and the way in which they are done varies across parliaments.
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8(2023)
Head of State and/or Government
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Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government
Some parliaments elect the Head of Government or approve the nomination for the Head of Government. Others do not play a role.
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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
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Not applicable
- Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State
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Not applicable
Impeachment and confidence motions
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Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
In some countries, the adoption of a motion of no confidence in the Government automatically leads to the dissolution of Parliament in certain countries. In other cases, a new government can be formed.
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Not applicable
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Chambers that can be dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that can be dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
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Not applicable
Impeachment procedure
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There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution
There is a procedure to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution: Not applicable (there is no procedure); The whole Government; The Head of Government; The Head of State; Individual members of the Executive; Other (please specify)
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Not applicable (there is no procedure)
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Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment
In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
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Not applicable
No confidence processes
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There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution
There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution: Not applicable (there is no procedure); The whole Government; The Head of Government; Individual members of the Executive; Other (please specify)
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Not applicable (there is no procedure)
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Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence
In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
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Not applicable