Federal Assembly (Switzerland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Federal Assembly |
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| Type | |
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| Houses | Council of States National Council |
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President of the National Council
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Maja Riniker, FDP/PLR
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President of the Council of States
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Andrea Caroni, FDP/PLR
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| Structure | |
| Seats | 246 46 Council of States 200 National Council |
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National Council political groups
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Council of States political groups
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| Elections | |
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National Council last election
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22 October 2023 |
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Council of States last election
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October–November 2023 |
| Meeting place | |
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| Federal Palace of Switzerland, Bern | |
The Federal Assembly, also known as the Swiss Parliament, is like the main decision-making body for the whole country of Switzerland. It's made up of two different groups, called chambers, that work together. This is known as a bicameral system.
These two chambers are:
- The National Council, which has 200 members.
- The Council of States, which has 46 members.
They all meet in Bern, in a special building called the Federal Palace.
Both chambers have the same amount of power. Members from both groups represent the different areas of Switzerland, called cantons. In the National Council, the number of seats a canton gets depends on how many people live there. But in the Council of States, most cantons get two seats, no matter their size. Six smaller cantons, sometimes called 'half-cantons', get one seat each. People vote for members of both chambers every four years. The most recent election was in 2023.
The Federal Assembly is in charge of making laws for Switzerland. For a new law to be approved, both the National Council and the Council of States must agree on it. Sometimes, both chambers meet together as the United Federal Assembly. They do this for important tasks, like choosing the Federal Council (who are like the country's leaders), or picking judges for the federal courts.
Contents
How the Federal Assembly Started
Before 1848, Switzerland had a different kind of central meeting called the Federal Diet, or Tagsatzung. After a short conflict in 1847, this group was tasked with creating a new rulebook for the country, called the Swiss Federal Constitution.
Creating a Fair System
When they were deciding how to set up the new government, there were different ideas. Some larger areas wanted more say because they had more people. Smaller areas worried they wouldn't be heard. To make things fair for everyone, they decided on a system like the one in America, with two main groups.
This meant the parliament would have two chambers, both with equal power.
- The National Council would represent the people, with seats given based on how many people lived in each canton.
- The Council of States would represent the cantons themselves, with each canton getting the same number of representatives.
This new system was written into the 1848 Constitution. It said the Federal Assembly was the highest authority in Switzerland.
First Elections and Changes Over Time
The new Constitution was approved in 1848. Soon after, elections were held across the cantons to choose the first members of the new parliament. On November 16, 1848, the newly formed parliament elected the very first Federal Council.
Over the years, a few things changed:
- The number of seats in the National Council grew from 111 to 200 by 1962.
- The time members served, called their term of office, increased from three to four years in 1931.
- The way members were elected also changed to a system called proportional representation in 1918, which helps smaller parties get a fair chance.
- In 1979, the Council of States added two new seats when the Canton of Jura was created.
How the Federal Assembly is Organized
The Federal Assembly has two main parts:
- The National Council, which has 200 members.
- The Council of States, which has 46 members.
National Council and Council of States
In the National Council, the number of representatives a canton gets depends on how many people live there. This makes sure that areas with more people have more say. For the Council of States, it's a bit different. Most cantons get two representatives. However, six smaller cantons, sometimes called "half-cantons," each get one representative. This ensures that all cantons, big or small, have a voice.
When Both Chambers Meet Together
Sometimes, both the National Council and the Council of States come together for special meetings. When they do this, they are called the United Federal Assembly. They meet together for very important decisions, such as:
- Choosing the members of the Federal Council, who are the country's top leaders.
- Electing judges for the federal courts.
- Helping to solve disagreements between different parts of the government.
- Listening to important announcements.
The person who leads the National Council also leads these joint meetings.
Political Groups in the Assembly
Members of the Federal Assembly often join together into political groups, also called political groups. These groups are usually made up of members from the same political party or parties that share similar ideas.
Why Groups are Important
Forming a group helps smaller parties have a stronger voice and get certain rights within the parliament. For example, in the National Council, members need to be part of a formal group to be able to join important committees that work on specific topics.
To form a group, there must be at least five members from the same chamber. While the Council of States has informal groups, the National Council has more formal ones. These groups help organize the work of the parliament and make sure different viewpoints are heard.
See also
In Spanish: Asamblea Federal de Suiza para niños
