Federal Assembly (Switzerland) facts for kids

The Federal Assembly (German: Bundesversammlung, French: Assemblée fédérale, Italian: Assemblea federale, Romansh: Assamblea federala) is Switzerland's national parliament. It is where laws are made for the whole country. This important group meets in Bern, inside the beautiful Federal Palace.

The Federal Assembly has two parts, like many parliaments around the world. This is called being bicameral. It includes the 200-seat National Council and the 46-seat Council of States. Both parts of the parliament have the same amount of power. Members from both houses represent the different cantons, which are like states in Switzerland.

What is the Federal Assembly?

The Federal Assembly is the most important law-making body in Switzerland. It is where elected representatives from all over the country come together. Their main job is to discuss and vote on new laws. They also oversee the government and make big decisions for Switzerland.

How the Assembly Works

The Federal Assembly is made up of two separate groups, or "chambers." These are the National Council and the Council of States. Even though they are separate, they work together to pass laws. For a law to be approved, both chambers must agree on it.

The National Council

The National Council is the larger of the two chambers. It has 200 members. These members are chosen by the people of Switzerland in elections. The number of representatives each canton gets depends on how many people live there. This means cantons with more people have more representatives in the National Council.

The Council of States

The Council of States is the smaller chamber, with 46 members. Each of Switzerland's 20 full cantons sends two representatives. The six half-cantons each send one representative. This means that smaller cantons have the same number of representatives as larger ones in this chamber. This ensures that all cantons have an equal voice, no matter their size.

Powers of the Federal Assembly

The Federal Assembly has many important jobs. It makes laws, approves the national budget, and elects the members of the Swiss government. It also chooses the judges for the highest courts. The Assembly can also decide on important treaties with other countries.

Electing the Government

One of the unique powers of the Federal Assembly is electing the members of the Federal Council. The Federal Council is Switzerland's government, like a cabinet. The Assembly also elects the President of the Swiss Confederation each year. The President is one of the Federal Council members.

Overseeing the Government

The Federal Assembly also keeps an eye on the government. It makes sure that the laws are being followed and that public money is used wisely. This helps to keep the government accountable to the people.

Where the Assembly Meets

The Federal Assembly meets in the Federal Palace in Bern. Bern is the capital city of Switzerland. The Federal Palace is a grand building where many important government activities take place. It is a symbol of Swiss democracy.

See also

In Spanish: Asamblea Federal de Suiza para niños