Federation Maps and Fact Sheets

Switzerland
Swiss Confederation dates back to 1291
Current Federal Constitution adopted in 1848
Official Website of the Federal Authorities of Swiss Confederation 

Constituent units

• 26 cantons: Appenzell Inner-Rhodes; Appenzell Outer-Rhodes; Argovia; Basle-Country; Basle-Town; Berne; Fribourg; Geneva; Glarus; Grisons; Jura; Lucerne; Neuchâtel; Nidwalden; Obwalden; Saint-Gall; Schaffhausen; Schwyz; Solothurn; Thurgovia; Ticino; Uri; Valais; Vaud; Zug; Zurich.
  • Map of the cantons and links to the government web sites of the cantons

Constitutional distribution of powers

• The Swiss Constitution (PDF only), in particular:
  • Tasks of the Confederation (Article 42)
  • Tasks of the Cantons (Article 43)
  • Cooperation Confederation/Cantons (Articles 44-49)
  • Powers
    • Relations with Foreign Countries (Articles 54-56)
    • Security, National and Civil Defence ( Articles 57-61)
    • Education, Research, Culture (Articles 62-72)
    • Environment and Zoning (Articles 73-80)
    • Public Works and Transportation (Articles 81-88)
    • Energy and Communication (Articles 89-93)
    • Economy (Articles 94-107)
    • Housing, Work, Social Security, Health (Articles 108-120)
    • Residence and Domicile of Foreigners (Articles 121)
    • Civil, Criminal Law, Weights & Measures (Articles 122-125)
  • Federal Authorities Powers
    • Foreign Relations and International Treaties (Article 166)
    • Relations between the Confederation and the Cantons (Article 172)
    • Further Tasks and Powers (Article 173)
  
  (Source: The Federal Authorities of the Swiss Confederation)

Legislative institutions

• Federal: Bicameral Federal Assembly composed of the Council of States and the National Council. The Council of States represents the Swiss Cantons. It is composed of 46 elected members. Election procedure is determined by cantonal law.
  • The Federal Assembly: Council of States and National Council
  
  
• Cantons: Unicameral Parliaments
  • Official Web sites of Cantonal parliaments

Official languages

The Constitution of 1999 stipulates that German, French and Italian are the official languages and that Romansch is an official language for communications between the Federal Authorities and citizens of Romansh language. The Constitution also states that Cantons can adopt their official language(s).

• Article 70 of The Swiss Constitution (PDF only)

Other links of interest

• The Four National Languages
• Switzerland: a brief guide
• Federations magazine (Forum of Federations), notably;
  • Comment: Swiss reform and the long tradition of federalism, Vol. 2, No. 5 / November 2002 (PDF)