Switzerland

1
Switzerland

• By Ryan Siegel

2
Early Development

• Bonaparte helped bring around birth of
  Switzerland in early 1800s
• Act of Mediation, helped set up federalism
• After fall of Napoleon, Swiss were asked to draft
  their own Constitution.
• Switzerland recognized as a nation on March 20,
  1815
• The Cantons were to essentially be strong
  sovereign states

3
Civil War

• From 1830-1833, 10 cantons underwent significant
  change towards a more democratic system of
  government.
• In 1834 tensions mounted between Liberal Cantons
  and Catholic Cantons
• The Catholic Cantons broke off into what would be
  dubbed the Sonderbund
• In 1847, when the Sonderbund refused to dissolve,
  Civil war broke out

4
New Constitution

• After the civil war it became obvious to the
  Swiss that a stronger central government needed
  to be created in order to keep peace and
  neutrality
• 1848 entailed the creation of a new Constitution
  (minor adjustments were made in 1874 which lead
  to the right of referendum, in 1891 right of
  initiative, and in 1999 to basically update the
  constitution)
• Helped Unite Switzerland
• Dispelled some economic problems

5
Neutrality

• Swiss neutrality has contributed to improvements
  in the well-being of the nation
• Use of Swiss soldiers as mercenaries outlawed
• It is illegal for Swiss soldiers to enlist with a
  foreign nation
• Swiss still modernize army however
• Neutrality has led to organizations such as the
  Red Cross to be stationed in Geneva
• Geneva convention held in Switzerland
• By the 1970s over 150 international organizations
  were located in Switzerland

6
Government Structure

• Federal Republic
• 23 Cantons
• Executive Branch, Legislative branch, Judicial
  Branch
• Highly democratic

7
Executive Branch

• 7 members
• Act as one person
• Elected by Legislature
• 1 member elected president

André Bugnon
8
Legislative Branch

• Called the Federal Assembly
• Composed of two houses
• Council of States
• National Council

9
Political Parties

• Many political parties, but four mostly control
  political power
• Christian Democrat Peoples Party, Radical
  Democrats, Social Democrat, and Swiss Peoples
  Party
• Similar to United States two party representation
• Power distributed through the parties by the
  parties

10
Cantonal and Local Government

• 20 cantons, 6 half cantons
• Landsgemeinde
• Open-air meetings

11
Powers of Central Government

• Matters of war, peace, treaties, army regulations
• Allocation of resources
• Public works
• Public communications
• Swiss National Bank
• Printing of Money
• Regulating weights and measures
• Hold a monopoly over the sale of gunpowder and
  alcohol

12
Powers of Cantons

• Control over education
• Health
• Sanitation
• Control police force
• Direct courts lower than federal court

13
Municipalities

• 2,740 in Switzerland
• Deal in services assigned by Cantons
• The mayor and the town meetings that occur form
  the main body of local government

14
Judicial Branch

• Although called Judicial Branch power is limited
  when compared to U.S. Judicial Branch
• Federal Court is highest court, stationed in
  Lausanne
• No Judicial Review, instead referendums are used
• Serves more as court of appeals and other special
  trials

15
Referendums and Initiatives

• Referendums allow people to put into question
  laws passed by legislature
• Initiatives gives people right to vote on issues
  set forth by the people

16
Womens Suffrage

• Womens rights were slow moving in Switzerland as
  exemplified by the lack of womens suffrage
• by 1960s and early 1970s progress started to be
  made
• 1990 all women could vote in any elections

17
Similarities to U.S.

• Elected body of officials
• Two house legislature
• Executive Branch
• Spread of Power
• Democratic
• Powers of national legislature

18
Differences

• Open-air meetings
• Weaker Judicial Branch
• Multiple members compose Executive branch
• Referendums and Initiatives
• Different Branches do no exercise checks and
  balances as extensively as United States

19
Bibliography

• http//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28
  /Ingres2C_Napoleon_on_his_Imperial_throne.jpg
• http//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72
  /Sonderbund.png
• http//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37
  /Curia_Confoederationis_Heleticae_-_Swiss_parliame
  nt_and_government.jpg
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ImageBlankMap-Switze
  rland.png
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ImageSchweizer_Gemei
  nden.gif
• http//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8
  /Bundesverwaltungsgericht_Bern.jpg
• http//www.electionguide.org/images/flags/switzerl
  and.gif
• http//importance.corante.com/archives/Flag_of_the
  _United_States.png