The Council of States (german: Ständerat, french: Conseil des États, it, Consiglio degli Stati, rm, Cussegl dals Stadis) is the
upper house
An upper house is one of two Debate chamber, chambers of a bicameralism, bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house.''Bicameralism'' (1997) by George Tsebelis The house formally designated as the upper house is usually smalle ...
of the
Federal Assembly of
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
, with the
National Council being the
lower house. It comprises 46 members.
Twenty of the country's
cantons
A canton is a type of administrative division of a country. In general, cantons are relatively small in terms of area and population when compared with other administrative divisions such as counties, departments, or provinces. Internationally, t ...
are represented by two Councillors each. Six cantons, traditionally called "
half canton
The 26 cantons of Switzerland (german: Kanton; french: canton ; it, cantone; Sursilvan and Surmiran: ; Vallader and Puter: ; Sutsilvan: ; Rumantsch Grischun: ) are the member states of the Swiss Confederation. The nucleus of the Swiss C ...
s", are represented by one Councillor each for historical reasons. These are
Obwalden,
Nidwalden,
Basel-Stadt,
Basel-Landschaft
Basel-Landschaft or Basel-Country informally known as Baselland or Baselbiet (; german: Kanton Basel-Landschaft ; rm, Chantun Basilea-Champagna; french: Canton de Bâle-Campagne; it, Canton Basilea Campagna), is one of the 26 cantons forming ...
,
Appenzell Ausserrhoden and
Appenzell Innerrhoden.
The Councillors serve for four years, and are not bound in their vote to instructions from the cantonal authorities.
Electoral system
Under the
Swiss Federal Constitution, the mode of election to the Council of States is left to the cantons, the provision being that it must be a democratic method. All cantons now provide for the councilors to be chosen by popular election, although historically it was typically the cantons' legislatures that elected representatives to Bern.
Despite this freedom the Constitution provides the cantons, with the exception of the cantons of and (which use
proportional representation
Proportional representation (PR) refers to a type of electoral system under which subgroups of an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body. The concept applies mainly to geographical (e.g. states, regions) and political divis ...
to elect their councilors), councilors are elected through an up to
two-round system
The two-round system (TRS), also known as runoff voting, second ballot, or ballotage, is a voting method used to elect a single candidate, where voters cast a single vote for their preferred candidate. It generally ensures a majoritarian resu ...
of voting. In the first round of voting, candidates must obtain an
absolute majority of the vote in order to be elected. If no candidate receives an absolute majority in the first round of voting then a second round is held in which a
simple plurality is sufficient to be elected. The top two finishing candidates in the second round are elected.
However, eligibility to vote varies according to the applicable cantonal law. One notable variation is that qualified foreigners may vote in
Neuchâtel and
Jura, and the minimum voting age is 16 in
Glarus
, neighboring_municipalities= Glarus Nord, Glarus Süd, Muotathal (SZ), Innerthal (SZ)
, twintowns= Wiesbaden-Biebrich (Germany)
}
Glarus (; gsw, Glaris; french: Glaris; it, Glarona; rm, Glaruna) is the capital of the canton of Glarus ...
.
In all the cantons except the councillors are elected concurrently with the members of the National Council. In the representative is elected by the popular assembly () during the April before the national vote.
Working languages
In debates, councilors can choose any of the federal languages, usually the one they are most proficient in: German, French, Italian, or Romansh. German (
High German
The High German dialects (german: hochdeutsche Mundarten), or simply High German (); not to be confused with Standard High German which is commonly also called ''High German'', comprise the varieties of German spoken south of the Benrath and ...
) and French are the most frequently used. While the National Council offers
simultaneous interpretation Simultaneous interpretation (SI) is when an interpreter translates the message from the source language to the target language in real-time. Unlike in consecutive interpreting, this way the natural flow of the speaker is not disturbed and allows f ...
for German and French (since 1960) and Italian (since about 2000), the Council of States offers none. Councilors are expected to understand at least two languages, German and French.
Voting
Issues before the council pass with a majority of the votes cast. The president of the council typically does not vote, unless there is a tie. In three cases, votes require a majority in both councils in order to pass: emergency legislation, votes on subsidies, guarantees, or any expenditure of more than 20 million CHF on a non-recurring basis, or 2 million CHF on a recurring basis. In any case, where a majority of the council is required, the president of the council will vote.
Until 2014, votes in the chamber were conducted with members raising their hands to be counted. After Politnetz, a Swiss political information platform, recorded a 2012 vote regarding an import ban on reptile skins, it found that the official vote count differed from what was shown in the video.
In what was called "Stöckligate", Politnetz, shows that several votes on the matter all resulted in miscounts.
(The name Stöckligate refers to a colloquial name for the Council of States. A stöckli is a second home built on a farm for the elder farmer after the property has been deeded to the heirs. The name is applied to the chamber as it is viewed as having older members than the National Council.). As a result of the affair, council member
This Jenny introduced a bill to require electronic voting.
[
Since 1 March 2014, votes in the Council of states are conducted electronically with a tally shown on electronic display boards. The rule changes also allowed for disclosure of how members voted. The recorded votes are made public for votes on overall bills, final votes, or votes that require a qualified majority. Names and votes will be published if 10 members make the request.
]
Membership
Council members earn a base salary of 26,000 CHF per year plus a 440 CHF per diem for attending sessions of the council or the committees. Members also receive 33,000 CHF per year for staff and material expenses. Members also receive food, travel and hotel allowances and a pension contribution. The Swiss government estimates that a member typically receives 130,000 to 150,000 CHF per year.
Seats by party
, -
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:left;" colspan=2, Parties
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:left;" , Ideology
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;", 2003
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;", 2007
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;", 2011
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;", 2015
!style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;", 2019
, -
, width=5px style="background-color: " ,
, style="text-align:left;" , Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC)
, style="text-align:left;" , Christian democracy
Christian democracy (sometimes named Centrist democracy) is a political ideology that emerged in 19th-century Europe under the influence of Catholic social teaching and neo-Calvinism.
It was conceived as a combination of modern democratic ...
, style="text-align:right;" , 15
, style="text-align:right;" , 15
, style="text-align:right;" , 13
, style="text-align:right;" , 13
, style="text-align:right;" , 13
, -
, style="background-color: " ,
, style="text-align:left;" , FDP.The Liberals
french: PLR.Les Libéraux-Radicaux it, PLR.I Liberali Radicali rm, PLD.Ils Liberals
, logo =
, caption = Logo of the party in French, German, and Italian
, leader1_title = President
, leader1_name = Thierry Burkart ...
(FDP/PRD)
, style="text-align:left;" , Classical liberalism
Classical liberalism is a political tradition and a branch of liberalism that advocates free market and laissez-faire economics; civil liberties under the rule of law with especial emphasis on individual autonomy, limited government, econo ...
, style="text-align:right;" , 14
, style="text-align:right;" , 12
, style="text-align:right;" , 11
, style="text-align:right;" , 13
, style="text-align:right;" , 12
, -
, style="background-color: " ,
, style="text-align:left;" , Social Democratic Party
The name Social Democratic Party or Social Democrats has been used by many political parties in various countries around the world. Such parties are most commonly aligned to social democracy as their political ideology.
Active parties
Fo ...
(SPS/PSS)
, style="text-align:left;" , Social democracy
Social democracy is a political, social, and economic philosophy within socialism that supports political and economic democracy. As a policy regime, it is described by academics as advocating economic and social interventions to promote s ...
, style="text-align:right;" , 9
, style="text-align:right;" , 9
, style="text-align:right;" , 11
, style="text-align:right;" , 12
, style="text-align:right;" , 9
, -
, style="background-color: " ,
, style="text-align:left;" , Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC)
, style="text-align:left;" , National conservatism
, style="text-align:right;" , 8
, style="text-align:right;" , 7
, style="text-align:right;" , 5
, style="text-align:right;" , 5
, style="text-align:right;" , 6
, -
, style="background-color: " ,
, style="text-align:left;" , Green Party
A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as social justice, environmentalism and nonviolence.
Greens believe that these issues are inherently related to one another as a foundation f ...
(GPS/PES)
, style="text-align:left;" , Green politics
Green politics, or ecopolitics, is a political ideology that aims to foster an ecologically sustainable society often, but not always, rooted in environmentalism, nonviolence, social justice and grassroots democracy. Wall 2010. p. 12-13. It b ...
, style="text-align:right;" ,
, style="text-align:right;" , 2
, style="text-align:right;" , 2
, style="text-align:right;" , 1
, style="text-align:right;" , 5
, -
, style="background-color: " ,
, style="text-align:left;" , Green Liberal Party (GLP/PVL)
, style="text-align:left;" , Green liberalism
Green liberalism, or liberal environmentalism, is liberalism that includes green politics in its ideology. Green liberals are usually liberal on social issues and "green" on economic issues. The term "green liberalism" was coined by political phi ...
, style="text-align:right;" ,
, style="text-align:right;" , 1
, style="text-align:right;" , 2
, style="text-align:right;" ,
, style="text-align:right;" ,
, -
, style="background-color: " ,
, style="text-align:left;" , Conservative Democratic Party (BDP/PBD)
, style="text-align:left;" , Conservatism
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilizati ...
/ Economic liberalism
Economic liberalism is a political and economic ideology that supports a market economy based on individualism and private property in the means of production. Adam Smith is considered one of the primary initial writers on economic liberali ...
, style="text-align:right;" ,
, style="text-align:right;" ,
, style="text-align:right;" , 1
, style="text-align:right;" , 1
, style="text-align:right;" ,
, -
, style="background-color: " ,
, style="text-align:left;" , Independent
Independent or Independents may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups
* Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s
* Independ ...
, style="text-align:left;" , Independent
Independent or Independents may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups
* Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s
* Independ ...
, style="text-align:right;" ,
, style="text-align:right;" ,
, style="text-align:right;" , 1
, style="text-align:right;" , 1
, style="text-align:right;" , 1
, -
, style="text-align:left;background-color:#E9E9E9" colspan=3, Total
, width="30" style="text-align:right;background-color:#E9E9E9", 46
, width="30" style="text-align:right;background-color:#E9E9E9", 46
, width="30" style="text-align:right;background-color:#E9E9E9", 46
, width="30" style="text-align:right;background-color:#E9E9E9", 46
, width="30" style="text-align:right;background-color:#E9E9E9", 46
Population per seat
The Council of States represents the federal
Federal or foederal (archaic) may refer to:
Politics
General
*Federal monarchy, a federation of monarchies
*Federation, or ''Federal state'' (federal system), a type of government characterized by both a central (federal) government and states or ...
nature of Switzerland: seats are distributed by state ( canton), not by population. Most cantons send 2 representatives, while the historic half-cantons; Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landshaft, each send one.[ Consequently, the number of people represented by a single seat in the Council of State varies by a factor of 45.8, from 16,000 for the half-canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden to 733,050 for each of the two seats for the canton of Zurich.
Notes: ¹ Population data from 2015 (Population data 2015]
accessed 28 July 2016). ² Relative representation compared to Zürich.
Notes and references
Notes
See also
* List of members of the Swiss Council of States (2019–2023)
* List of presidents of the Swiss Council of States
This is a list of presidents of the Swiss Council of States, the upper house of the Federal Assembly.
List
{, border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" style="border-collapse: collapse" class=sortable
, --- style="background:#efefef"
! Year
! ...
* Cantonal Council
This is a list of cantonal legislatures of Switzerland. Each canton has a democratically elected cantonal legislature, as well as elected members to the Federal Assembly. The cantonal legislatures are elected for four years, except in Fribour ...
References
Bibliography
*
External links
Official website
€”
The Swiss Parliament
€”
€”
{{Authority control
.
01
Switzerland)