Legislative Branch
Switzerland has a bicameral parliament called the Federal Assembly, made up of:
- the Council of States (46 seats - members serve four-year terms) and
- the National Council (members are elected by popular vote on a basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
The previous elections (before those held in 2007, below) to the National Council were held in 2003, see elections of 2003 for more details. The four parties that hold seats in the Federal Council dominate both chambers of the Assembly; they currently hold a supermajority of 171 seats (out of 200) on the National Council, plus every seat in the Council of States except for 3.
Most hearings in the parliament are open to everyone, including foreigners.
Read more about this topic: Politics Of Switzerland
Famous quotes containing the words legislative and/or branch:
“The legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, ... thus building a wall of separation between Church and State.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
“What can the dove of Jesus give
You now but wisdom, exile? Stand and live,
The dove has brought an olive branch to eat.”
—Robert Lowell (1917–1977)