Three referendums were held in
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 ...
during 1898.
[ Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) ''Elections in Europe: A data handbook'', p1905 ] The first was held on 20 February on a federal law that would nationalise the railways, and was approved by a majority of voters,
[ leading to the establishment of ]Swiss Federal Railways
Swiss Federal Railways (german: link=no, Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, ''SBB''; french: link=no, Chemins de fer fédéraux suisses, ''CFF''; it, Ferrovie federali svizzere, ''FFS'') is the national railway company of Switzerland. It is usuall ...
in 1902. The second and third referendums were held on 13 November on revising article 64 and adding article 64bis to the constitution, both of which were approved by a majority of voters and cantons.[
]
Background
The referendums on the constitutional amendments were mandatory referendum
A mandatory referendum, also known as an obligatory referendum, is a referendum that is legally required to be held under specific circumstances. This is in contrast to an optional referendum, which comes from either by public or legislative r ...
s,[ which required a double majority; a majority of the popular vote and majority of the cantons.][Nohlen & Stöver, p1891] The decision of each canton was based on the vote in that canton.[ Full cantons counted as one vote, whilst half cantons counted as half.][ The railways referendum was an ]optional referendum
The optional referendum is a referendum which comes from a request by governmental authorities or the public. The best known types of optional referendums is the popular initiative
In political science, an initiative (also known as a popul ...
,[ which required only a majority of the public vote.][
]
Results
Railway nationalisation
Amendment to article 64 of the constitution
Addition of article 64bis to the constitution
References
{{Portal bar, Politics, Switzerland
1898 referendums
1898 in Switzerland
Referendums in Switzerland