This is a list of members of the Swiss Federal Council, in chronological order and for any given year since inauguration of the Federal Council, from 1848 to present. Its seven members constitute the

federal government A federation (also known as a federal state) is a political entity characterized by a union of partially self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a central federal government (federalism). In a federation, the self-governin ...

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 ...

and collectively serve as the country's

head of state A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and l ...

. Each of the seven Federal Councillors heads a department of the Swiss federal administration. The members of the Federal Council are elected for a term of four years by both chambers of the federal parliament sitting together as the United Federal Assembly. Each Federal Councillor is elected individually by secret ballot by an absolute majority of votes.This is the prevailing reading of the relevant constitutional provision: Once elected for a four-year-term, Federal Councillors can neither be voted out of office by a

motion of no confidence A motion of no confidence, also variously called a vote of no confidence, no-confidence motion, motion of confidence, or vote of confidence, is a statement or vote about whether a person in a position of responsibility like in government or mana ...

nor can they be

impeached Impeachment is the process by which a legislative body or other legally constituted tribunal initiates charges against a public official for misconduct. It may be understood as a unique process involving both political and legal elements. In ...

. Reelection is possible for an indefinite number of terms. Parliament has decided not to reelect a sitting Federal Councillor only four times and only twice (in 2003 and 2007) since 1872. In practice, therefore, Federal Councillors serve until they decide to resign and retire to private life, usually after three to five terms of office.

Chronological, global

Timeline

Notes

References

* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Members Of The Swiss Federal Council By Date Switzerland, Federal Council Members of the Swiss Federal Council by date de:Liste der Mitglieder des Schweizerischen Bundesrates es:Anexo:Consejeros Federales de Suiza eo:Listo de la federaciaj konsilantoj de Svislando fr:Liste des conseillers fédéraux de Suisse id:Daftar anggota Dewan Federal Swiss it:Indice dei Consiglieri federali svizzeri la:Index Consiliariorum Foederalium nl:Lijst van leden van de Bondsraad pt:Lista de membros do Conselho Federal suíço