GSS Geneva Secondary SchoolEnglish education for 11-18 year olds in outstanding purpose-built premises. Small class sizes leading to IGCSE (max 16) and A Levels (max 10). Restricted tuition fees with payment plans available. Close to the motorway and good public transport links. Find out more... Cabinet HD3 · Resources for Mind and BodyExperienced and multi-cultural group of professional therapists offering a range of services in central Geneva including psychotherapy, rolfing, stress and anger management and life coaching. We work with individuals, couples, children and groups. Find out more... Edelweiss International School (EIS)EIS is a perfectly bilingual Christian primary and secondary school which enables children to learn to read and write in French and English from an early age. Small classes of no more than 12 students ensure high standards and a personalised education. Find out more... | Geneva Local Reference INFOrmation
 | Living in Switzerland - The System |
Information from the EU on taxes, the cost of living, the health and education systems, the cultural and private lives and... shopping in Switzerland. Information relevant to any foreigner moving to or thinking of living in Geneva, Vaud or Neuchatel.
|
|
| The political, administrative and legal system
|
|
Switzerland is a federal and democratic state with three institutional levels:
the Confederation, the cantons and the municipalities. The Confederation has
three powers or branches: the Executive Branch (the Federal Council, composed of
seven members elected for a four-year term); the Legislative Branch (the Federal
Assembly, comprising two chambers each possessing the same rights: the Council
of States with 46 deputies representing the cantons, and the National Council
with 200 deputies representing the people, elected for a four-year term); and
the Judicial Branch (the Federal Supreme Court). There are 26 cantons, which
have the status of federal states. The municipalities constitute the lowest
level of political organisation in Switzerland.
The Federal Constitution confers sovereignty – i.e. supreme political power
– on the people, who elect the Parliament. This in turn elects the Government
(the Federal Council), which appoints the members of the Federal Supreme Court.
The four main political parties (all represented in the government) are: the
Swiss People’s Party or Democratic Union of the Centre (SVP/UDC), the Radical
Free Democratic Party (FDP/PRD), the Socialist Party (SP/PS) and the Christian
Democratic People’s Party (CVP/PDC).
Judicial power in Switzerland is exercised principally on two levels, Federal
(the Federal Supreme Court) and cantonal (the cantonal courts). Owing to
Switzerland’s federal structure, the judicial authorities are organised
differently in each canton, and procedures in individual legal spheres also
differ according to the relevant canton. See the Related Topics and links
opposite for more information and for the addresses of all Swiss courts.
Text last edited on: 04/2008
Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2008
Reproduction is authorised.
| |
|
Picture perfect  Château de Morges Castle and port in Morges Essential INFOrmation Living In the Geneva region
Moving to the Geneva region Life in the Geneva region |
Share
Print
+
The Weather: