Swiss Federalism and Governance Concepts
41 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the primary requirement for members to play an active role in committee decision-making?

  • They must be citizens
  • They must have prior experience
  • They must be elected officials
  • They must belong to a group (correct)

    • The bill is finalized and submitted to Parliament without any input from advisory committees.

    False

    What does the 'Magic Formula' describe in the Federal Council?

    The distribution of seats among the largest political parties

    In Switzerland, a law can be put to a popular vote if ______ citizens request a referendum within 100 days.

    <p>50,000</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following definitions with their corresponding types:

    <p>Constitution = Fundamental laws Laws = System of rules that concretize the constitution Regulations = Regulate implementation of laws Consensus = Members seek majority support for policies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the principle of subsidiarity in the Swiss federal system?

    <p>Power is decentralized to local levels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Swiss federal system consists of two levels of governance: the Confederation and the cantons.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name one of the two main mechanisms for the separation of powers in Switzerland.

    <p>Horizontal separation or vertical separation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Swiss People's Party (SVP) focuses on ______ immigration and traditional values.

    <p>restrictive</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the political ideologies to their characteristics:

    <p>Liberal = Individual and economic freedom Conservative = Holding traditional values Left-Wing = Emphasis on employee’s interests Right-Wing = Emphasis on employer’s interests</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which level of governance in Switzerland is primarily responsible for uniform regulation on tasks that cannot be handled by cantons?

    <p>The Confederation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The right-wing political ideology promotes a strong social state that levels social disparities.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which party advocates for climate action and environmental protection?

    <p>GPS (Green Party)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The FDP (The Liberals) supports extensive state regulation in the economy.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main focus of the EVP (Evangelical People’s Party)?

    <p>Ethical issues, family protection, and social justice.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The right of individuals to formally submit concerns to the government is known as the Right of ________.

    <p>Petition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following political parties with their core principles:

    <p>SP (Social Democratic Party) = Advocates for social justice and climate action FDP (The Liberals) = Supports free markets and minimal state regulation GPS (Green Party) = Champions environmental protection and sustainable energy CVP/Mitte (The Centre) = Promotes family support and balanced foreign policy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements describes an indirect counter-proposal?

    <p>It is a legislative bill related to a popular initiative but not put to a vote.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The U.S. presidential election uses a popular vote system without any intermediary.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name one major political party in the United States.

    <p>Democratic Party or Republican Party.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The _______ Party promotes family support and a balanced foreign policy.

    <p>CVP/Mitte</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many electoral votes are required for a candidate to win the presidency?

    <p>270</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Swing states are those where one political party consistently wins the majority of votes.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the Electoral College?

    <p>To elect the U.S. president based on the votes cast by electors from each state.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the _______ system, the candidate with the most votes in a state receives all of that state's Electoral College votes.

    <p>winner-takes-all</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the consequence of U.S. election outcomes for candidates?

    <p>They shape policy and party power.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following electoral techniques with their descriptions:

    <p>Cumulative Voting = Voters can assign multiple votes to a single candidate. Cross-Voting = Voters select candidates from different parties. Striking Out = Voters remove candidates by crossing out their names. Substitution = Voters replace a crossed-out candidate with a new name.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Majority System requires a candidate to secure at least 50% plus 1 of the votes to win.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do voters impact through their choices in elections?

    <p>Local and national policies affecting healthcare, jobs, education, and civil rights.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The total number of electors in the Electoral College is _______.

    <p>538</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by 'Proportional Representation'?

    <p>Seats are allocated according to the number of votes each party receives.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main role of the National Council in Switzerland?

    <p>To enact legislation and oversee the Federal Council</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Voters in Switzerland can only vote for candidates from one political party.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many members are there in the Council of States?

    <p>45</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the National Council, each member represents approximately __________ people.

    <p>40,000</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their definitions:

    <p>Parliamentary Initiative = Proposal of a new enactment by a council member Postulate = Mandates the Federal Council to examine a bill Motion = Instructs the Federal Council to submit a bill Interpellation = Requests information from the Federal Council</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following tasks is NOT performed by the Parliament?

    <p>Elect the President</p> Signup and view all the answers

    There is a minimum requirement of five members needed to form a parliamentary group in the National Council.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary task of parliamentary committees?

    <p>To discuss items of business before they are debated in the chamber.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The National Council consists of __________ members.

    <p>200</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the minimum representation of a canton in the Council of States?

    <p>One member</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Federalism Definition

    • State power is shared between the federal government, cantons, and communes.
    • Federalism allows Switzerland to exist as one entity despite linguistic and regional differences.
    • The Swiss system has three levels of governance: the Confederation (central state), 26 cantons (federal states), and 2,352 communes.
    • Each level has legislative and executive powers.

    Principle of Subsidiarity Definition

    • Powers are allocated to the Confederation, cantons, and communes based on subsidiarity.
    • The Confederation handles tasks cantons cannot, or those needing uniform rules.
    • Tasks should be handled at the lowest possible political level. Lower levels cannot handle a task, the higher level supports.

    Separation of Powers Definition

    • Switzerland has two key separation of powers mechanisms: horizontal (legislative, executive, judicial) and vertical (Confederation, cantons, communes).

    Political Spectrum Definition

    • Liberal: Individual freedoms, political and economic freedoms.
    • Conservative: Holding traditional values.

    Parties Definition

    • SVP (Swiss People's Party): National-conservative and economically liberal, focused on restrictive immigration and Swiss sovereignty.
    • SP (Social Democratic Party): Social democratic and progressive, advocating for social justice, welfare expansion, and climate action.
    • FDP (The Liberals): Economically liberal and center-right, supporting free markets, minimal state regulation, and private sector strength.
    • CVP/Mitte (The Centre): Christian democratic and center-right, promoting family support, balanced foreign policy, welfare state, and liberal economics.
    • GPS (Green Party): Left-wing and ecological, champions climate action, environmental protection, social justice, and sustainable energy.
    • GLP (Green Liberal Party): Centrist, merges ecological goals with economic freedoms, emphasizing climate protection.
    • EVP (Evangelical People's Party): Christian-social, focuses on ethical issues, family protection, and social justice.

    Political Rights Definition

    • Popular Initiative: Citizens can propose changes to the constitution.
    • Direct Counter-proposal: The Parliament can propose a counter-proposal to counter a popular initiative.
    • Indirect counter-proposal: Parliament can propose a bill closely related to a popular initiative, but not as a direct counter-proposal. This is discussed on a lower political level, often by cantons.

    Right of Petition Definition

    • Individuals and groups can submit concerns, complaints, or proposals to the government without fear of repercussions.

    US Constitution Definition

    • The US operates with a legislative, executive, and judicial branch.
    • Legislative: Congress (House of Representatives and Senate).
    • Executive: President.
    • Judiciary: Supreme Court.
    • Electoral College: The US presidential election uses the Electoral College system to elect the president.
    • Democrats and Republicans: Two major political parties divided by political ideologies, liberal vs. conservative ideologies.

    Election Definitions

    • Swing State: A state where both major political parties have similar levels of support, crucial in determining election outcomes.
    • Electoral College: Electors vote for president based on the popular vote of their state.
    • Winner-Takes-All: A state's Electoral College votes are granted to the candidate with the most popular votes in that state.
    • Proportional Representation: Seats allocated according to votes received by political parties.
    • Majority System: Candidates must receive a majority of votes (50.1%) to win.

    Parliamentary Definition

    • Structure: National Council (200 members representing people) and Council of States (45 members representing cantons).
    • Tasks: Enacting legislation, managing funding, overseeing administration, and establishing relations with foreign entities.

    Three Phases Laws Definition

    • Initial Phase: Proposal originates from people, parliament, or cantons.
    • Parliamentary Phase: Bills undergo review and revision in both legislative bodies.
    • Vote and Entry into Force: Passed bills go to public votes, mandatory or optional referendum, then come into effect (e.g., for constitutional amendments).

    Federal Council Definition

    • The Federal Council is the executive branch of the Swiss government acting as an administrative body
    • Consensus: Members seek consensus to gain majority and support for policies
    • Principle of Collegiality: The Federal Council maintains united stand and maintains the official position.

    German Constitution Definition

    • Separation of Powers: German constitution has legislative (Bundestag, Bundesversammlung), executive (Bundespräsident, Bundesregierung), and judicial (Bundesverfassungsgericht) branches.

    German Government Definition

    • Coalition Government: Parties negotiate after elections to form a coalition government.
    • Chancellor: Leader of the largest party in the coalition, responsible for appointing ministers and policies.
    • Ampel Aus is a political crisis in Germany involving the collapse of a coalition government, often due to disputes over crucial issues (e.g., budget, military spending)

    Lobbying Definition

    • Direct representation: Members of parliament belonging to an interest group.
    • Lobbyists influence policymakers by representing interests of specific groups.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    Summary History Political Science II PDF

    Description

    Explore the foundational concepts of Swiss federalism, including the separation of powers, the principle of subsidiarity, and the political spectrum. Understand how state powers are distributed among the Confederation, cantons, and communes to maintain stability and representation in a multilingual society.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser