The Federal Assembly

The Federal Assembly

Chiara Simoneschi-CortesiPDC, TI

President 2008 - 2009

02

The National Council


Distribution of seats by canton

The Federal Assembly 03


The National Council Distribution of seats by canton

04

ZH

BE

VD

AG

SG

GE FR

VS

BL

SO

TI

LU TG

BS

GR

5NE

SZ

ZG

SH

JU

AR

UR

OW

NW

AI

GL

34

26

18

15

12

11 7

7

7

7

8

10 6

5

5

4

3

2

2

1

1

1

1

1

1


Distribution of seats by parliamentary group

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06



07

Women in Parliament


Women in Parliament


08


Alain BersetSP, FR

President 2008 - 2009

09

The Council of States



10





11



12

Women in Parliament


Women in Parliament


13


Christoph Lanz

Secretary-General

14

Parliament


of the National Council

15

Council debates


Council debates of the National Council

The regulated floor time

20 Minutes

10 Minutes

10 Minutes

5 Minutes

Parliamentary group speakers

Other speakers to provide grounds for a motion

Individual members

Rapporteurs and members of the Federal Council in general debates

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Council debates of the National Council

5 categories

I Open debate

II Organised debateThe parliamentary group speakers, other members proposed by the groups and the authors of the proposals

III Reduced debateThe committee rapporteurs, the parliamentary group speakers and the authors of proposals

IV Short debateRapporteurs, authors of minority proposals and parliamentary initiatives

V Written debateNo right to take the floor

All Council members

17


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The 12 Committees


The 12 Committees

National Council: 25 members

• Finance Committee

Council of States: 13 members

• Control Committee

• Foreign Affairs Committee

• Committee for Science, Education and Culture

• Committee for Social Security and Health

• Committee for the Environment, Spatial planning and Energy

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The 12 Committees

National Council: 25 members

• Defence Committee

Council of States: 13 members

• Committee for Transport and Telecommunications

• Committee for Economic Affairs and Taxation

• Political Institutions Committee

• Committee for Legal Affairs

• Committee for Public Buildings

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21

Parliamentary Procedures



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Referendum and initiative

Optional Referendum

Federal Acts and Federal decrees

50,000 citizens entitled to vote or eight cantons can request a referendum

Compulsory ReferendumDecisions on a total or partial revision of the Federal Constitution

Can be conducted as the result of a popular initiative (100,000 signatures) or a federal decree

Must be submitted to the vote of the people and the cantons

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Forms of parliamentary intervention

Parliamentary initiative

MotionCan be submitted by a parliamentary member, a parliamentary group or a parliamentary committee

Both chambers must approve the motion

The motion obliges the Federal Council to submit a draft bill or decree or take appropriate measures as proposed

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Enables members to submit a proposal for a constitutional amendment, law or decree

Members can submit a draft of the bill or propose in general terms that such a text be drafted




Postulate

Form of application requiring the Federal Council to determine if a draft bill or decree must be presented or if other appropriate measures must be taken

Approval is only required from the chamber in which the postulate was submitted

InterpellationRequests information on important events or matters

May be qualified as urgent

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Question

Request for information from the government on important domestic or foreign affairs

The Federal Council replies in writing before the next session

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Documents

The Federal Assembly