Common questions Flashcards
What’s the biggest canton by area?
Grisons
How many cantons in Switzerland?
26
The biggest entirely Swiss lake is
Lac de Neuchatel / Neuenburgersee
The lake lies mainly in the canton of Neuchâtel, but is also shared by the cantons of Vaud, Fribourg, and Bern. It comprises one of the lakes in the Three Lakes Region (French: Pays des Trois-Lacs, German: Drei-Seen-Land), along with lakes Biel/Bienne and Morat/Murten.
Which canton is officially bilingual? (has 2 official languages)
Fribourg - French spoken by two thirds of the citizens and German by about one third
Bern and Valais too
La prairie du Grütli is on which lake?
Rütli/Grütli is a mountain meadow on Lake Lucerne, canton of Uri. It is the site of the Rütlischwur in traditional Swiss historiography, the oath marking the foundation of the original Swiss Confederacy, is a national monument of Switzerland, since 1860, the Schweizerische Gemeinnützige Gesellschaft (SGG) has organized a celebration at the site on Swiss National Day (1 August), since 1994 recognized as a public holiday.
What other names is Lac Lucerne known by?
Lake Lucerne (German: Vierwaldstättersee, literally “Lake of the four forested settlements” (in English usually translated as forest cantons), French: lac des Quatre-Cantons, Italian: lago dei Quattro Cantoni) is a lake in central Switzerland and the fourth largest in the country.
How big is the population of Switzerland?
8.6m
Where is the palazzo federale / Federal Palace of Switzerland?
Bern - it houses the Swiss Federal Assembly (legislature) and the Federal Council (executive)
Romanche is spoken in which cantons?
Grisons/Graubunden/Grigioni - it’s the only canton where romansh is an official language, and the only canton with 3 official languages - german, romansh and italian
What countries border Switzerland?
Italy, France, Germany, Austria and the Principality of Liechtenstein
Lac Leman is shared with what other country?
(Lake Geneva!) in Italian it’s Lago Lemano, shared with France
What’s the biggest city in Switzerland?
Zurich
What is the highest mountain in Switzerland?
Dufourspitze The Dufourspitze (4,634 m) in the Monte Rosa massif is Switzerland's highest peak.
Where is the Matterhorn/Cervino?
In the alps, between Switzerland and Italy, in the monte rosa area. 4,478m. Overlooks Zermatt in Canton Valais
The northern most Canton is…
Schaffhausen
- second-largest waterfall in Europe – the Rhine Falls, 23m is - northernmost canton
- population is approximately 79’000
What is the federal capital of Switzerland?
Bern
Who is the current president of the federation?
Ignazio Cassis elected Jan 2022
Guy Parmelin, elected December 2020, part of the Swiss People’s Party (Unione Democratica di Centro, UDC) - right wing
Previously Simonetta Sommaruga, Ueli Maurer, Alain Berset
Elected by the Federal Assembly for one year, chairs the meetings of the Federal Council, has special representational duties.
How many members of the federal council (consiglio federale) are there?
- Each Councillor heads one of the seven federal executive departments.
- The position of President of the Swiss Confederation rotates among the seven Councillors on a yearly basis, with one year’s Vice President of Switzerland becoming the next year’s President of Switzerland
How long is the president of the federal council elected for?
1 year. Elected by the Federal Council but there is an unwritten rule that the member of the Federal Council who has not been federal president the longest becomes President.
What are the 3 branches of government in Switzerland?
Legislative - two chambers of the Federal Assembly, the National Council and the Council of States.
Executive - Federal Council (elected by FA)
Judicial - Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland (elected by FA)
How does the referendum system work?
Switzerland has a tradition of direct democracy.
- For any change in the constitution, a referendum is mandatory
- For any change in a law, a referendum can be requested (optional referendum).
- the people may present a constitutional popular initiative to introduce amendments to the federal constitution.
- The people also assume a role similar to the constitutional court, which does not exist, and thus act as the guardian of the rule of law.
What chamber of parliament represents the people?
- The National Council/Consiglio Nazionale is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland
- 200 seats
- Adult citizens elect the council’s members, who are called National Councillors, for four year terms.
- members are apportioned to the Swiss cantons in proportion to their population.
- meets in the Federal Palace of Switzerland in Bern
The palazzo federale is the seat of…
Parliament (Federal Assembly) - both the Consiglio Nazionale and the Consiglio dei Stati
Where are the rights of the Swiss people written?
Costituzione federale della Confederazione Svizzera
- establishes the Swiss Confederation as a federal republic of 26 cantons (states).
- catalogues of individual and popular rights (including the right to call for popular referenda on federal laws and constitutional amendments
- responsibilities of the cantons and the Confederation and
- establishes the federal authorities of government.
- adopted by a referendum on 18 April 1999
- replaced the prior federal constitution of 1874, which it was intended to bring up to date without changing its substance.
Who elects members of the Tribunale Federale (Federal Supreme Court)?
Members of the Assemblea Federale
- elect 38 justices
- current president is Ulrich Meyer
- sits in Federal Courthouse in Lausanne in the canton of Vaud
What is the role of the legislative branch?
To make laws
For a law to pass, it must be passed by both houses
What is the role of the executive power?
- To apply the laws and to govern
- The meetings of the Federal Council and the result of the votes taken are not open to the public, and the records remain sealed for 50 years
Who elects the Federal Council?
The Consiglio Nazionale and the Consiglio dei stati
Name some political parties and their politics
SVP/UDC - unione democratico di centro - right wing populist - Marco Chiesa
SP/PS - Partito Socialista Svizzero - centre left - left wing - Christian Levrat
FDP - Liberals - centre right
Alleanza del Centro (formerly CVP/PDC/PPD) - centre-centre right
Who is the mayor of Lugano?
- Until 2021 it had been Marco Borradori who died from cardiac arrest while out jogging
- Now Michele Foletti, consulente aziendale indipendente
What is the founding document of the Swiss confederation?
Federal Charter of 1291 (Patto federale)
- Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden
They were rebelling against the governors of the Counts of Habsburg. The sought a recovery of old rights of autonomy. Intended to secure peace after death of King Rudolf who had granted these 3 comunes relative autonomy - they thought it could be taken away so they formed an alliance
- exhibited in Schwyz museum
What date is considered the birth of Switzerland?
1291 -
What happened in the Grütli meadow?
- Site of the legendary oath taken by 3 founding members of the confederacy from Unterwalden, Schwyz and Uri
- “Rütlischwur”
- a meadow above Lake Uri near Seelisberg.
Who was William Tell?
Guglielmo Tell.
Legendary folk hero of Switzerland
a symbol of resistance against aristocratic rule
expert marksman with the crossbow who assassinated Albrecht Gessler
Tschudi: He and his son were condemned to death for not bowing to Gessler (local Austrian ruler), could save himself by doing the apple shot, did so but Gessler discovered he’d hid another bolt incase he killed his son for Gessler, carried him to be imprisoned, Tell escaped due to a storm on Lake Lucerne that was going to sink the boat, then ambushed gessler and killed him
What inspired the Swiss flag?
1840, official flag of Swiss confederation, it’s square (Vatican is the other), inspired by old flag of Schwyz
What war precipitated the formation of modern Switzerland?
Guerra del Sonderbund
November 1847
Lucerne, Fribourg, Valais, Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden and Zug (cattolici, conservative) vs everyone else. They wanted to protect their interests from centralization of power.
Guillaume Henri Dufour led the opposing federal army and defeated them with v few casualties
When does the first Federal Constitution date from?
Costituzione federale della Confederazione Svizzera
After the Sonderbund War, Switzerland was transformed into a federal state; constitution came into effect on 12 September 1848
What is the motto of the Confederation?
Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno
What is celebrated on 1st August?
Swiss national day
Commemorates the pact in Rutli meadow of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwald in 1291
What is the Landsgemeinde?
- cantonal assembly
- public, non-secret ballot voting system operating by majority rule
- still used in Appenzell Innerhoden and Glarus
- eligible citizens of the canton or district meet on a certain day in the open air to decide on specific issues
- voting is accomplished by those in favor of a motion raising their hands
- in Appennzell Innerhoden you can still rock up with a firearm instead of a voting card
Who founded the Red Cross?
Henri Dunant
After seeing the aftermath of the battle of soldering
1863 together with 4 others including the general Guillaume Henri Dufour
They introduced the red armband with white cross to mean medical personnel
When did women get the vote in Switzerland?
For federal elections, after a referendum in February 1971
For cantonal issues, Appenzell was the last canton to give women the vote in 1991
What became the 26th Swiss canton?
Jura. The northern bit split from Bern in 1979 (and the southern French speaking parts are now known as Bernese Jura).
The town of Moutier will also go to Jura in 2026 after 2 votes.
When did Switzerland join the UN?
- 10 September 2002
- after a referendum supporting full membership won in a close vote six months earlier
- Swiss voters had rejected membership by a 3-to-1 margin in 1986.
- The 2002 vote made Switzerland the first country to join based on a popular vote.
What is the Bundesräte?
consiglio federale
How many people are in the Gemeinderat, who’s the Gemeindepräsident?
the city of lugano is 62k
9th largest town
sindaco is michele foletti
Who is in your local government and what parties they belong to?
Why do you want to vote in Switzerland?
How often do you go back to your birth country?
What is the official language most spoken in Switzerland?
Tedesco
What is the barriere de roesti
Difference in mentality between German and French speaking Swiss
What does CH stand for?
The Helvetii, a Celtic tribe who battled Julius Caesar, gave their name to the Swiss territory. The Latin name for the country, Helvetia, still appears on Swiss stamps. The letters CH appearing on Swiss cars and in internet addresses stand for the Latin words Confoederatio Helvetica, meaning Swiss Confederation.
Helvetia is the female personification of Switzerland and is shown on money
Where can you find the statue of William Tell?
Altdorf
What is the Bärengraben?
The Bärengraben, or Bear Pit, is a tourist attraction in the Swiss capital city of Bern. It is a bear pit, or enclosure housing bears, situated at the eastern edge of the old city of Bern. Bears were kept there from 1513. Now there’s a new more spacious Barenpark but there are stil 3 bears kept there.
What is the Guardia Svizzera?
- small 135 corps of Swiss officers (must be catholic and unmarried)
- protects the pope
- now have 3D printed plastic helmets! instead of the metal ones!
Where is the biggest carnival in Switzerland held?
Basel Dame Fasnacht, 3 days in March walk through the street starting at 4am with drums and traditional tunes lanterns from different groups satirical songs
What is a national sport of Switzerland?
Schwingen - wrestling
In what sports are Switzerland competitive?
Alpine skiing Curling Football (FC Basel) Tennis (Roger Federer) Sailing (alinghi)
Cosa fa la cancelleria federale?
- organizza le elezioni e le votazione federali insieme ai cantoni. Referendum and initiive committees submit their signatures to the cancelleria
- ensures that laws and texts are translated into official languages
- organises weekly meetings of the federal council with the relevant presidential departments
- keeps on top of international developments to help the Federal council make policy decisions
Chi e’ il cancelliere della Confederazione?
Walter Thurnherr
ha studiato fisica teorica al Politecnico di Zurigo
Who will be the next presidente della confederazione?
Il ticinese Ignazio Cassis
term of 1 year
di cosa si tratta le votazione federali il 13 febbraio
- divieto di sperimentare sugli animali e di importare prodotti
- publicity’ tabacco giovani
what are the national holidays in switzerland?
they differ from canton to canton, there are only four (well 5 including easter sunday): January 1st (New Year’s Day), Ascension Day (May 13th in 2021), August 1st (National Day), December 25th (Christmas Day).
what’s the status of same sex marriage in switzerland?
parliament passed a bill but it was challenged with a referendum as there was a petition with 50k signatures
64% voted for it on sep 24
comes into force on july 1st
How old do you have to be to propose yourself for election? What about to vote?
Generally - 18. But varies from Canton to canton. So Canton Glarona you can vote at 16, but be elected at 18.
Foreigners can’t be elected but discussions about this at the canton level continue.
How can you vote from abroad?
Federal - you register with the embassy/consulate abroad and they send you it by post
Cantonale - only about half the cantons allow Swiss people abroad to vote
If you’re a foreigner living in Switzerland you may have the opportunity to vote at comune/canton level, but it differs from canton to canton
1 canton (chaffosa) has the obligation to vote with a fine if you don’t
Give a rough outline of the pacts in Swiss history
1291 patto di alleanza tra uri/schwyz/untervaldo
1800s - multiple pacts starting with one imposed by Napoleon that gradually brought in more cantons
1848 1st federal constitution
1874 referendums
1999 brought up to date by referendum, international law
Give a rough outline of the alliances that Switzerland adheres to
i bilaterali:
1973 free trade agreement european economic area
1992 referendum against eu membership
2000 accordi tra communita europea e svizzera
2002 onu
2005 schengen & asiio
2008 schengen starts
affari esteri
Ignazio Cassis (PLR i liberali)
interno
Alain Berset (VP) PS Partito Socialista
Giustizia/Police
Karin Keller Sutter PLR liberali
Difese/protezione civile/sport
Viola Amherd - die Mitte
Finanza
Ueli Maurer SVP
Economia ricerca educazione
Guy Parmesan SVP
Ambiente Trasporto
Simonetta Sommaruga PS
Cancelliere
Walter Thurnherr
Describe the path a law takes
Initiative comes from CF, parliament or a canton and they make a project
The project gets examined by the CF and its offices
Then they put it out for consultation for cantons, commune, sindicati, gruppi, chiese
Make a draft, and the CF examines it
Then parlament gets it and must delilberate (both houses agreeing) and vote
Optional referendum (50k or 8 cantons, 100 days, simple majority)
Neutrality - where does this idea come from
1515 - roots in the battle di marignano or the peace treaty signed with france
then the pace di westfalia - other countries not allowed to pass through swiss territory
1815 - congress di vienna - officially recognized as neutral. Hasn’t participated in a war since.
1920 - confirmed after 1st world war in tratto di versaille
2002 - onu
aiuta a guarantire la cohesione interna tra tanti culture, lingue e religioni diversi
crypto ag
when was the last election? what happened?
when’s the next one?
October 2019
the two green parties made significant gains
October 2023
which canton has different political right age
glarona 16 to vote or to be elected
i believe it’s been proposed for zurich
what percentage of people can vote in switzerland
about 2/3
25% foreigners
13% young people
what’s the voting like in appenzello interno?
landsgemeinde
elects consiglieri agli stati in an open air meeting
what insurances are compulsory in switzerland
AI assicurazione per l’invalidita - obligatory for all
malattia - obligatory if you live in switzerland
contro gli infortuni, per dipendenti -prelevato dal stipendio
responsibilita di civile privata - not obligatory, but may be in some cantons if you have a dog
disoccupazioni (not separate, you just get this if you meet the criteria)
Le drapeau suisse s’inspire du drapeau d’un canton. Lequel ?
Schwytz
Quelle guerre civile entre cantons conservateurs et cantons progressistes a favorisé la création de la Suisse moderne ?
la guerre du Sonderbund
civil war between 7 catholic cantons and centralization of power
they were defeated and so began federalism
1848 swiss federal constitution
origins of the red cross
at sondebund
Dufour ordered his troops to care for the injured, anticipating the formation of the Red Cross in which he participated a few years later.
How often does the Swiss parliament meet each year?
Both chambers of the Federal Parliament are called “councils” (Räte). The National Council and the Council of States do not meet daily, but meet regularly for sessions. Usually, there are four sessions in a year, each lasting three weeks, with between two and five sittings per week.
Principal exports and trading partners
services - banking, insurance, licensing
goods (overhalf to EU, 20% to Germany) - chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, watches, precision instruments
commodities trading - 20% precious metals/gemstones
how big is the surface area of switzerland
41,000 km2
quale la forma istituzionale della svizzera
confederazione di stati / stato federale
affida al governo solo le funzioni che i cantoni difficilmente riuscirebbero a esercitare da soli
- international relations, difesa militare,
compositizione del uso del terreno
30% bosco
40% agricola
25% fiumi ecc
8% strutture
grandi regioni e superficie
jura 10%
altipiano 30%
alpi 60%
political parties and their federal council representatives
in order of size SVP - destra guy parmelin - economia & educazione ueli maurer - finanza 53/200
i liberali / 29/200
karin sutter - polizia, giustizia
ignazio cassis - relazioni internazionali
die mitte / alleanza del centro (28/200)
viola amherd - difesa
PS 39/200
alain berset - interno
simonetta sommarugo - ambiente, trasporto, communicazione
i verdi 28/200 (same size as ps in consiglio nazionale ma senza rappresentazione sul consiglio federale)
cosa facevi a lugano
principalmente eravamo li cosi Fabio possa andare in ufficio quindi un sacco di cene con amici e colleghi
(gallo d’oro, grotto della salute, arte’)
io adoro lugano per fare window shopping
alberto vive sopra il catedrale
nuovo museo li dell’ arte italiana in svizzera
give me a panorama of recent referendums
coronavirus measures - super high turnout, also for conditions for nurses 4th highest
matrimonio per tutti
paternity - came out of a popular initiative which parlamento opposed (even though the consiglio federale was for it) - they proposed their own counter proposal of 2 weeks. the committee withdrew their more extensive initiavie, so the law was passed, but this too was opposed via a optional referendum, and in the end passed.
february’s votes: advertising in tobacco (pop), banning animal experimentation / import of those products, abolizione of a tassa d’emissione, subsidies for media
contro mandatory vaccinazioni
what is in the swiss constituzione
responsibilities of cantons
individual and collective rights - referendums
federal authorities of government
what are the duties of a swiss citizen
- to report and pay taxes
- military service
- reporting where you live and change in family status, births
- school
- insurances - contro malattie, disoccupazione, vecchiai & superstiti
- rispettare gli alti, le autorita’ elette ed essere fedele al paese
origins of the swiss flag
- it’s a square
- 4 arms are a 6th longer than they are wide
- white on a red background
- origins in the battle of laupen in bern
1840 - origins
1848 - put into constituzione
