Swiss Politics

die Eidgenossenschaft

Swiss Confederation

der Föderalismus

federalism / distribution of power between federal and cantonal levels

die direkte Demokratie

direct democracy

die Konkordanzdemokratie

concordance democracy / consensus-based political system

das Subsidiaritätsprinzip

subsidiarity principle (tasks solved at lowest possible political level)

der Bundesrat

Federal Council (the 7-member Swiss national executive)

das Bundesamt

federal office / government agency

die Bundesversammlung

Federal Assembly (the Swiss parliament as a whole)

der Nationalrat

National Council (lower house, representing the population)

der Ständerat

Council of States (upper house, representing the 26 cantons)

die Volksinitiative

popular initiative (constitutional amendment proposed by citizens)

das fakultative Referendum

optional referendum (challenge to parliamentary legislation)

das obligatorische Referendum

mandatory referendum (required for constitutional changes/treaties)

das Ständemehr

majority of the cantons (required alongside popular vote)

das Volksmehr

majority of the popular vote

die Kollegialität

collegiality principle (cabinet stands united behind decisions)

das Departement

department / federal ministry

der Kantonsrat

cantonal parliament (also called Grosser Rat or Landrat)

der Regierungsrat

cantonal executive council

die Gemeindeautonomie

municipal autonomy / self-governance of municipalities

der Finanzausgleich

fiscal equalization (wealth redistribution among cantons)

das Milizsystem

militia system (citizens holding public offices alongside civilian careers)

die Vernehmlassung

consultation procedure (stakeholders review draft laws)

die Zauberformel

magic formula (traditional seat distribution in Federal Council)

das Initiativkomitee

initiative committee (citizens launching a popular initiative)

die Unterschriftensammlung

signature collection (for initiatives or referendums)

der Gegenvorschlag

counter-proposal (direct or indirect alternative from parliament)

die Stimmbeteiligung

voter turnout

das Quorum

quorum / required minimum turnout or majority threshold

die Souveränität

sovereignty

der Souverän

the sovereign (in Switzerland: the voting electorate)

die Gewaltenteilung

separation of powers

das Zweikammersystem

bicameral system

die Parteienlandschaft

political party landscape

die Fraktion

parliamentary group / party caucus

der Vorstoss

parliamentary procedural motion (e.g., motion, postulate)

die Motion

motion (binding instruction to the Federal Council)

das Postulat

postulate (instruction to study and report on an issue)

die Interpellation

interpellation (formal parliamentary request for information)

die Standesinitiative

cantonal initiative (parliamentary motion initiated by a canton)

der Stichentscheid

casting vote (tie-breaking vote by the council president)

die Einbürgerung

naturalization / acquisition of citizenship

der Röstigraben

cultural/political divide between German- and French-speaking Switzerland

der Polentagraben

cultural/political divide between Italian-speaking Ticino and the rest

der Kantönligeist

parochialism / excessive cantonal narrow-mindedness

die Neutralität

neutrality

die Guten Dienste

Good Offices (diplomatic mediation and representation by Switzerland)

das Freizügigkeitsabkommen

Free Movement of Persons Agreement (with the EU)

die bilateralen Verträge

bilateral agreements (between Switzerland and the EU)

der Alleingang

going it alone / unilateral political path

die Standortattraktivität

attractiveness as a business and research location

die Steuerhoheit

tax sovereignty / power to levy taxes

der Steuerwettbewerb

tax competition (between cantons or municipalities)

die Energie- und Klimapolitik

energy and climate policy

die Altersvorsorge

old-age pension provision (AHV / three-pillar system)

das Dreisäulenprinzip

three-pillar pension system (state, occupational, private)

die Krankenkassenprämie

health insurance premium (mandatory basic health care)

die Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Familie

compatibility of work and family life

beschlussfähig

quorate / having the required attendance to take decisions

verbindlich

legally binding / authoritative

mehrheitsfähig

capable of winning a majority

konsensfähig

capable of achieving consensus

kantonal

cantonal / relating to a Swiss canton

kommunal

municipal / local

eingespielt

well-rehearsed / established and functioning smoothly

ausgeglichen

balanced / even-handed

pragmatisch

pragmatic / solution-oriented

partizipativ

participatory

souverän

sovereign / self-governing / assured

einen Vorstoss einreichen

to submit a parliamentary motion

zur Abstimmung bringen

to bring to a vote / submit to a ballot

das Referendum ergreifen

to launch a referendum

ein Gesetz verabschieden

to pass / enact a law

eine Initiative einreichen

to submit a popular initiative (with required signatures)

in die Vernehmlassung schicken

to send out for public consultation

einen Kompromiss aushandeln

to negotiate a compromise

auf Bundesebene

at the federal level

auf kantonaler Ebene

at the cantonal level

die Oberhand gewinnen

to gain the upper hand / prevail in a political debate

auf den Prüfstand stellen

to put to the test / critically examine (a policy or law)

ins Gewicht fallen

to carry significant weight / be a decisive factor