A. Ladner - Swiss Political System

Switzerland and the Swiss Political System
Prof. Dr. Andreas Ladner SASS 2011, July 11, 2011
Content
1. Switzerland
2. History 3. Federalism, cantons and municipalities 4. Government and Parliament 5. Direct Democracy
| IDHEAP Andreas.Ladner@idheap.unil.ch |
| 25/08/2011 |
Switzerland
Population: 7.8 mio. Languages: German, French and Italian
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What do people know about Switzerland?
Cheese, chocolate, watches and Nespresso?
Banks, insurances and pills?
Innovative policy solutions, political institutions and a special form of democracy?
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Switzerland
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Content
1. Switzerland
2. History
3. Federalism, cantons and municipalities 4. Government and Parliament 5. Direct Democracy
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The beginning of Switzerland
1291 Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden according to tradition on 1 August on the Rtli meadow renew their alliance to defend their property and rights against foreign attacks.
Additional urban and rural areas join or are conquered by this Confederation in the course of the following decades and centuries.
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French Revolution and Helvetic Republic

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: the tenets of the French Revolution of 1789 spread to Switzerland, leading to disturbances in several areas. A French army under Napoleon Bonaparte conquers Switzerland in 1798. The old Confederation collapses and makes way for the Helvetic Republic, with a single centralist constitution dictated by the French. In 1803 the former subject territories emerge as new cantons with equal rights.
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The foundation of the modern national state (1848)

Tensions between the liberal Protestant and the Catholic cantons lead to the civil war in 1847 (the Sonderbundskrieg). After a brief military campaign with federal troops, the Catholics, who had founded a separatist federation, surrender. 1848 The modern Swiss federal state is founded in 1848. Its constitution centralises and harmonises numerous areas which were previously the responsibility of the cantons, such as military service, customs, and postal services and coinage. This leads to the creation of a cohesive territory ripe for economic development.
| IDHEAP Andreas.Ladner@idheap.unil.ch | | 25/08/2011 |
A paradigmatic case of political integration
Small state No royalist past Strategically important location in Europe Bottom-up nation building Core principles of the political system: power sharing!
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The three pillars of the Swiss political systems and the idea of power sharing
Politics
Federalism Consensus Democracy Direct Democracy
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Society
Content
1. Switzerland 2. History
3. Federalism, cantons and municipalities

4. Government and Parliament 5. Direct Democracy
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Territorial structure 26 cantons 2550 municipalities
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Municipalities
Communes are the smallest political units in Switzerland. Their number is in decline as smaller communes are tending to merge together in order to carry out their tasks more efficiently. Roughly one fifth of the communes have their own parliament, especially the communes that are towns or cities. Four fifths of the communes, however, still make direct democratic decisions at the communal assembly, where all inhabitants who are entitled to vote may participate. In addition to the tasks that are allocated to them by the Confederation and their canton, such as managing the registry of residents or organising civil defence, the communes also have their own responsibilities, including those relating to schools, social services, energy supplies, road construction, local planning, taxes, etc. The communes regulate these matters to a large extent independently. The communes level of autonomy is determined by the individual cantons, and can therefore vary considerably from place to place.
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Size of municipalities
Percentage of municipalities
25 20 15 10 5 0 10000-19999 20000-49999 50000-99999 bis 249 1000-1999 2000-4999 5000-9999 100000 and more 250-499 500-999
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Cantons
They are the states that originally united in 1848 to form the Confederation, each relinquishing part of their sovereignty to the Confederation. Canton Jura is an exception. It is the only cant that was created in the 20th century. On 1 January 1979, it separated from Canton Bern to become a canton in its own right. Under the Federal Constitution, all cantons have equal rights and in comparison with the situation in other countries, they have a high degree of independence. Health care, education and culture are among the policy areas where they enjoy a large degree of latitude. Each canton has its own constitution, and its own parliament, government and courts. Direct democracy in the form of a Peoples Assembly still exists only in Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus. In all the other cantons, the people vote at the ballot box only.
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Population by canton (2000)

ZH BE VD AG SG GE LU TI VS BL SO FR TG
Quelle: www.badac.ch
1'211'647 943'696 620'294 544'306 449'399 408'820 347'209 310'215 276'170 260'036 244'015 236'339 227'306
BS GR NE SZ ZG SH JU AR GL NW UR OW AI
187'667 186'744 165'731 130'232 99'388 73'305 68'794 53'515 38'546 38'000 35'246 32'414 15'021
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Actual reforms of Swiss federalism

Principle of subsidiarity Disentanglement of tasks Allocations given to the weaker cantons according to their resources Principle of fiscal equivalence Enforced cooperation between the lower levels Joint tasks: higher level -> what (strategy) and lower level > how (operation)
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Content
1. Switzerland 2. History
3. Federalism, cantons and municipalities 4. Government and Parliament

5. Direct Democracy
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Swiss parties
Alliance verte AVes (membre PES) Alliance de gauche AdG
Union Dmocratique du Centre UDC Parti radical-dmocratique PRD Parti dmocrate-chrtien PDC
Dmocrates Suisses DS Grnliberale Zrich GLP Lega dei Ticinesi Parti chrtien-social PCS
Parti vanglique suisse PEV
Parti socialiste PS Les verts PES
Parti libral PLS
Parti suisse du Travail PST Alternative Zoug
Union Dmocratique Fdrale UDF
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Four oldder ones and a rather new party

Social Democrats: Social security, solidarity, openness, environment Radicals: knowledge, openness, fairness, growth Christian Democrats: attractive business location, family, social security Swiss Peoples Party: Against European integration, against immigration, lower tax burden Greens: climate protection, reorganisation of the economy along more environmental lines, the strengthening of social institution and an active policy of peace
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Political Differences among the MPs of the different Parties
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Parlament and Government
Swiss democracy: neither presidential (like for example the US) nor parliamentary (like for example England).
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The Council of States (46 seats)
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Council of States: principle of federalism
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Parties and seats in the Council of States (1975-2007)
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National Council (200 seats)
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National Council: Principle of Democracy
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Parties and seats in the National Council (19752007)

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1919 1922 1928 1935 1939 1943 1947 1951 1955 1959 1963 1967 1971 1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007
Radicals Swiss People's Party
Christian Democrats Greens
Social Democrats Others
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The Government
Multi-party government (power sharing) 7 Departments Equal rights and duties for all members President = primus inter pares Joint decisions on all departments A common official position to be defended by all members
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The Parties in Government

Periode: Radicals Christian Democrats Swiss People's Party Social Democrats
1848 - 1890 1891 - 1918 1919 - 1928 1929 - 1942 1943 - 1952 1953 - 1958 1959 - 2003 2003 - 2007 2007 (
7 6 5 4 3 3 2 2 2
1 2 2 2 3 2 1 1
1 1 1 1 2 (-2)
1 2 2 2
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The Head of the Government changes every year (2003-2008)
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
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2005
2006
2009-2011
2009
2010 2011
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Content
1. Switzerland 2. History 3. Federalism, cantons and municipalities 4. Government and Parliament
5. Direct Democracy
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Type 1 Direct Democracy = Assembly Democracy
AI
GL
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Type 2 Direct Democracy: referendums and initiatives
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Switzerland is virtually the only country in the world where the people have such extensive decisionmaking powers. The longstanding democratic tradition, but also the comparatively small size of the population and the country, as well as a high literacy rate and sophisticated media services are crucial to the operation of this particular system of government.
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Referendums and initiatives

Amendments to the constitution -> mandatory referendum Amendments to legislation -> optional referendum
Requests to change the constitution -> initiative
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The referendum is similar to a veto and has the effect of delaying and safeguarding the political process by blocking amendments adopted by parliament or the government or delaying their effect the referendum is therefore often described as a brake applied by the People.
Functions and consequences of the referendum

Veto against the decisions of the political elite Fosters compromises Influences the development of the state:
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Functions and consequences of the initiative

Makes the political system more open, more responsive Any political group may influence the political agenda The political elite gets confronted with problems Safety valve
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Success and impact of initiatives

Of a total of 109 popular initiatives that were voted on the past 30-40 years, only eight saw a large turnout at the ballot box i.e. not even one out of ten. The vast majority of initiatives achieved less than 50% votes in favour and were rejected. Most of these initiatives are not , however, entirely ineffective. The concerns they address often give rise to broad debate and are eventually translated, at least partially, into new laws.
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Success and impact of referendums
Since 1971, referendum committees have been successful on 88 occasions. They have forced popular ballots on federal acts and decrees approved by parliament that they did not agree with, and have won the day 28 times at the ballot box, which amounts to an almost one in three level of success.
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Some important decisions regarding foreign affairs

December 6, 1992: Switzerland refuses to join the European Economic Area
Citizens yes: 49.7%; Cantons yes: 6 2/2 yes; turnout: 78.7%
March 3, 2002: Switzerland joins the United Nations (first vote on March 16, 1986, no)
Citizens yes: 54.6%; Cantons yes: 11 2/2 yes; turnout: 58.4%
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Some particular issues (national level):
http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/va/vab_2_2_4_1_gesamt.html
The link between Direct Democracy and Consensus Democracy!
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The first federal government: seven members one party
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Direct Democracy and multi-party government: The story of Joseph Zemp
Joseph Zemp, Entlebuch (LU) (1834 1908)

1887: Zemp was the first conservative elected president of the National Council. When he was elected member of the Federal Council in 1891, he received 129 of 183 votes
Steps towards consensus

17.12.1891: Joseph Zemp (CVP, Catholic-Conservatives) 11.12.1919: Jean-Marie Musy (CVP, Catholic-Conservatives) 13.12.1929: Rudolf Minger (SVP, Swiss Peoples Party) 15.12.1943: Ernst Nobs (SP, Social Democrats) 17.12.1959: Hans-Peter Tschudi (SP, Social Democrats) and Willy Sphler (SP, Social Democrats) 1959 - 2003: The magic formula (2 Liberals, 2 Christian Democrats, 2 Social Democrats, 1 Swiss Peoples Party) 2003 - : On the search for a new equilibrium (2 Radicals, 1 Christian Democrats, 2 Social Democrats, 2(1) Swiss Peoples Party)
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Power sharing has both a cultural and an institutional driver!
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After more than 160 years, there is still some construction work going on, but its quite a success story.
Thank you for your attention!


A. Ladner - Swiss Political System

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Switzerland and the Swiss Political System

Prof. Dr. Andreas Ladner SASS 2011, July 11, 2011

Population: 7.8 mio. Languages: German, French and Italian

What do people know about Switzerland?

Cheese, chocolate, watches and Nespresso?

Banks, insurances and pills?

Innovative policy solutions, political institutions and a special form of democracy?

The beginning of Switzerland

French Revolution and Helvetic Republic

The foundation of the modern national state (1848)

A paradigmatic case of political integration

3. Federalism, cantons and municipalities

Territorial structure 26 cantons 2550 municipalities

Population by canton (2000)

Actual reforms of Swiss federalism

3. Federalism, cantons and municipalities 4. Government and Parliament

Parti vanglique suisse PEV

Parti socialiste PS Les verts PES

Parti libral PLS

Parti suisse du Travail PST Alternative Zoug

Union Dmocratique Fdrale UDF

Four oldder ones and a rather new party

Political Differences among the MPs of the different Parties

Parlament and Government

The Council of States (46 seats)

Council of States: principle of federalism

Parties and seats in the Council of States (1975-2007)

National Council (200 seats)

National Council: Principle of Democracy

Parties and seats in the National Council (19752007)

Radicals Swiss People's Party

Christian Democrats Greens

Social Democrats Others

The Parties in Government

The Head of the Government changes every year (2003-2008)

Type 1 Direct Democracy = Assembly Democracy

Type 2 Direct Democracy: referendums and initiatives

Referendums and initiatives

Requests to change the constitution -> initiative

Functions and consequences of the referendum

Functions and consequences of the initiative

Success and impact of initiatives

Success and impact of referendums

Some important decisions regarding foreign affairs

Some particular issues (national level):

The link between Direct Democracy and Consensus Democracy!

The first federal government: seven members one party

Direct Democracy and multi-party government: The story of Joseph Zemp

Joseph Zemp, Entlebuch (LU) (1834 1908)

Steps towards consensus

Power sharing has both a cultural and an institutional driver!

Thank you for your attention!

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