The Federal Assembly |
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The Federal Assembly consists of two Chambers: the National Council and the Council of States. The two Councils are on an equal level.
As opposed to the majority of parliaments abroad, the Swiss Federal Assembly is not made up of professional parliamentary deputies. The members of both chambers (Councils) exercise their mandates as an accessory activity, whence the designation « militia » parliament. |
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The National Council |
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The National Council consists of 200 members who represent the Swiss people. Each Canton constitutes an electoral constituency and elects at least one member, whatever the size of its population. Seats are allotted in proportion to the resident population of each constituency as set out below. On average, each member represents 36'000 inhabitants. |
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| Distribution of seats by parliamentary group |
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The Federal Assembly is, politically speaking, not made up of parties, but rather divided into groups or factions. The factions comprise the members of the same party or of similarly-platformed parties. A parliamentary faction is therefore not necessarily to be equated with a party. At least five deputies of a Council must band together in order for a faction to be formed. |
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| President of the National Council 2011 / 2012 |
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Hansjörg Walter
UDC / TG |
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The Council of States |
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The Council of States has 46 members who represent the Swiss Cantons. The Cantons of Obwald, Nidwald, Basel-City, Basel-Country, Appenzell Outer Rhodes and Appenzell Inner Rhodes shall elect one Senator each, the other Cantons shall elect two Senators. Zurich, which has over 1 million inhabitants, elects two representatives as does Uri, which has roughly 36'000 inhabitants. |
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| Distribution of seats by parliamentary group |
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| President of the Council of States 2011 / 2012 |
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Hans Altherr
The Liberals / AR |
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The United Federal Assembly |
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Both the National Council and the Council of States meet as the United Federal Assembly, convened by the speaker of the National Council for the following: carrying out of elections; arbitration of conflicts of competence between upper federal authorities; voting on pardons. The United Federal Assembly also convenes on special occasions and for statements delivered by the Federal Council. |
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The Committees |
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Each Chamber has ten legislative committees and two control committees. The Committes of the National Council are composed of 25 members each, those of the Coucil of States have 13 members. |
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The sessions |
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A “parliamentary session” is defined as the period over which parliament meets to debate. The National Council and the Council of States meet regularly for ordinary sessions. Four ordinary sessions, each lasting three weeks, take place every year. An additional “special” session may be held if the volume of business cannot be dealt with in the ordinary sessions. Each Council may decide independently whether it needs to hold a special session. In addition, one-quarter of the members of either Council or the Federal Council may request that a special parliamentary session be convened. |
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Parliamentary Services |
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They are at the disposal of both Chambers and their related offices. They plan and organize the parliamentary sessions and commitee meetings; carry out the business of the secretariats and prepare reports, minutes and translations; procure and archive documents; advise members of the councils on specialised matters and questions of procedure.
The Parliamentary Services are directed by the Secretary-General of the Federal Assembly, Christoph Lanz. |
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