Political systems System of government in Switzerland
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1. Members of the Swiss Parliament are elected through a system of proportional representation. This means that each political party presents a list of candidates, and the number of seats a party receives in parliament is determined by the proportion of the vote it receives. Voters cast a single vote for a party, rather than for individual candidates. The seats are then allocated to the candidates on the party's list in the order they appear on it.

2. Switzerland has a federal system of government, in which the powers and responsibilities are divided between the national government and the 26 cantons (member states) and their municipalities.

The national government, based in Bern, has authority over matters of national importance such as foreign policy, defense, trade, and transportation. It also has authority over certain areas of taxation, social security, and immigration.

The cantons and municipalities have a high degree of autonomy and are responsible for many areas of public policy, including education, health care, police, and local transportation. They also have significant powers over taxation and the administration of justice.
This division of powers allows for a high degree of decentralization, and allows for a degree of diversity in policy implementation across the country.

3. In Switzerland, members of the local government, known as the "municipal council" or "city council," are elected through a system of proportional representation. This means that each political party presents a list of candidates, and the number of seats a party receives on the council is determined by the proportion of the vote it receives.

Voters cast a single vote for a party rather than for individual candidates. The seats are then allocated to the candidates on the party's list in the order they appear on it.

In addition, many municipalities also elect a mayor or a president, who is the head of the municipal government. The mayor or president is often elected by the members of the municipal council, and in some cases, the citizens of the municipality also vote for the mayor or president directly.

It's important to note that the ways of electing members of the local government may vary between cantons and municipalities, and some cantons may have different system to elect the local government.

4. In Switzerland, the right to referendum is a fundamental part of the political system. The people have the power to vote on any changes to the federal constitution or any international treaties that the government wants to ratify.

There are two types of referendum in Switzerland: the mandatory referendum and the optional referendum.

A mandatory referendum is triggered when 50,000 citizens or eight cantons demand it, on any change to the federal constitution. This means that any change to the constitution must be approved by the people through a popular vote.

An optional referendum, on the other hand, is triggered by a petition of 100,000 citizens or by the parliament. This type of referendum is used for laws and international treaties that do not change the federal constitution.
In both types of referendum, if a majority of the citizens vote in favor of the proposed change, then it becomes law. If a majority votes against it, then it is rejected.

It is important to note that, in Switzerland, the vote is mandatory and voter turnout is high, usually around 50% to 60%. This means that a large number of citizens participate in the decision-making process, which makes the Swiss referendum system one of the most direct democracy forms in the world.

Tan Kin Lian

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