Reproduced without permission but with thankfulness from: http://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/law/sz00t___.html

Switzerland - Constitution

 Table of  Contents

  Preamble
  Title 1 General Provisions

 Article 1 Swiss Confederation
 Article 2 Purpose
 Article 3 Cantons
 Article 4 National Languages
 Article 5 Rule of Law
 Article 6 Individual and Social Responsibility

  Title 2 Basic, Civil, and Social Rights

 Chapter 1 Basic Rights
 Article 7 Human Dignity
 Article 8 Equality
 Article 9 Protection Against Arbitrariness and Preservation of Good
 Faith
 Article 10 Right to Life and Personal Freedom
 Article 11 Protection of Children and Adolescents
 Article 12 Right to Aid in Distress
 Article 13 Protection of Privacy
 Article 14 Right to Marriage and Family
 Article 15 Freedom of Religion and Conscience
 Article 16 Freedom of Opinion and Information
 Article 17 Freedom of the Media
 Article 18 Freedom of Language
 Article 19 Right to Primary Education
 Article 20 Freedom of Science
 Article 21 Freedom of Art
 Article 22 Freedom of Assembly
 Article 23 Freedom of Association
 Article 24 Freedom of Domicile
 Article 25 Protection against expulsion, extradition, and removal by
 force
 Article 26 Right to property
 Article 27 Economic Freedom
 Article 28 Freedom to Unionize
 Article 29 General Procedural Guarantees
 Article 29a Guarantee of Legal Proceedings
 Article 30 Judicial Proceedings
 Article 31 Habeas Corpus
 Article 32 Criminal procedure
 Article 33 Right of Petition
 Article 34 Political Rights
 Article 35 Realization of Fundamental Rights
 Article 36 Limitations of Fundamental Rights
 Chapter 2 Citizenship and Political Rights
 Article 37 Citizenships
 Article 38 Acquisition and Loss of Citizenship
 Article 39 Exercise of Political Rights
 Article 40 Swiss citizens domiciled abroad
 Chapter 3 Social Goals
 Article 41 [General Provisions]

  Title 3 Confederation, Cantons, and Municipalities

 Chapter 1 Relationship between the Confederation and the Cantons
 Section 1 Tasks of the Confederation and the Cantons
 Article 42 Tasks of the Confederation
 Article 43 Tasks of the Cantons
 Section 2 Cooperation between the Confederation and the Cantons
 Article 44 Principles
 Article 45 Participation in Federal Decision Making
 Article 46 Implementation of Federal Law
 Article 47 Autonomy of the Cantons
 Article 48 Intercantonal Treaties
 Article 49 Supremacy of and Respect for Federal Law
 Section 3 Municipalities
 Article 50 [General Provisions]
 Section 4 Federal Guarantees
 Article 51 Cantonal Constitutions
 Article 52 Constitutional Order
 Article 53 Existence and Territory of the Cantons
 Chapter 2 Powers
 Section 1 Relations with foreign countries
 Article 54 Foreign Relations
 Article 55 Participation of the Cantons in Decisions of Foreign
 Policy
 Article 56 Relations between the Cantons and Foreign
 Countries
 Section 2 Security, National and Civil Defense
 Article 57 Security
 Article 58 Army
 Article 59 Military and Alternative Service
 Article 60 Organisation, Instruction, and Equipment of the
 Army
 Article 61 Civil defense
 Section 3 Education, Research, and Culture
 Article 62 Education
 Article 63 Professional Education and Universities
 Article 64 Research
 Article 65 Statistics
 Article 66 Support of Education
 Article 67 Education of Young People and Adults
 Article 68 Sport
 Article 69 Culture
 Article 70 Languages
 Article 71 Film
 Article 72 Church and State
 Section 4 Environment and Zoning
 Article 73 Sustainable Development
 Article 74 Protection of the Environment
 Article 75 Zoning
 Article 76 Water
 Article 77 Forests
 Article 78 Nature and Cultural Heritage
 Article 79 Fishery and Hunting
 Article 80 Protection of Animals
 Section 5 Public Works and Transportation
 Article 81 Public Works
 Article 82 Road Traffic
 Article 83 National Highways
 Article 84 Alpine Transit
 Article 85 Charge on Heavy Goods Traffic
 Article 86 Motor Fuels Consumption Tax and other Traffic
 Charges
 Article 87 Rail Traffic and further Means of Traffic
 Article 88 Footpaths and Hiking Trails
 Section 6 Energy and Communication
 Article 89 Energy Policy
 Article 90 Nuclear Energy
 Article 91 Transportation of Energy
 Article 92 Postal and Telecommunication Services
 Article 93 Radio and Television
 Section 7 Economy
 Article 94 Principles of Economic Order
 Article 95 Private Economic Activity
 Article 96 Competition Policy
 Article 97 Consumer Protection
 Article 98 Banking and Insurance
 Article 99 Monetary Policy
 Article 100 Policy on Economic Development
 Article 101 Foreign Trade
 Article 102 Supply of Essential Goods and Services
 Article 103 Structural Policy
 Article 104 Agriculture
 Article 105 Alcohol
 Article 106 Gambling
 Article 107 Weapons and Military Material
 Section 8 Housing, Work, Social Security and Health
 Article 108 Promotion of Construction and Ownership of
 Housing
 Article 109 Landlord and Tenant
 Article 110 Labor
 Article 111 Social Security
 Article 112 Old age, Survivors' and Disability Insurance
 Article 113 Employee Pension Plans
 Article 114 Unemployment Insurance
 Article 115 Assistance to Needy Persons
 Article 116 Family Allocations and Maternity Insurance
 Article 117 Health and Accident Insurance
 Article 118 Protection of Health
 Article 119 Medical Assistance to Procreation and Gene
 Technology in the Human Field
 Article 120 Gene Technology in the Non-Human Field
 Section 9 Residence and Domicile of Foreigners
 Article 121 [General Provisions]
 Section 10 Civil and Criminal Law, Weights and Measures
 Article 122 Civil Law
 Article 123 Criminal Law
 Article 124 Aid to Victims of Criminal Acts
 Article 125 Weights and Measures
 Chapter 3 Finances
 Article 126 Budget
 Article 127 Principles of Taxation
 Article 128 Direct Taxes
 Article 129 Harmonization of Taxes
 Article 130 Value Added Tax
 Article 131 Special Consumption Taxes
 Article 132 Stamp and Withholding Taxes
 Article 133 Customs Duties
 Article 134 Exclusion of Cantonal and Municipal Taxation
 Article 135 Financial Equalization

  Title 4 People and Cantons

 Chapter 1 General Provisions
 Article 136 Political Rights
 Article 137 Political Parties
 Chapter 2 Initiative and Referendum
 Article 138 Popular Initiative for Total Revision of the Federal
 Constitution
 Article 139 Popular Initiative for Partial Revision of the Federal
 Constitution
 Article 140 Mandatory Referendum
 Article 141 Optional Referendum
 Article 142 Required Majorities

  Title 5 Federal Authorities

 Chapter 1 General Provisions
 Article 143 Eligibility
 Article 144 Incompatibilities
 Article 145 Term of Office
 Article 146 Answerability of the State
 Article 147 Hearings and Consultations
 Chapter 2 Federal Parliament
 Section 1 Organisation
 Article 148 Status
 Article 149 Composition and Election of the House of
 Representatives
 Article 150 Composition and Election of the Senate
 Article 151 Session Periods
 Article 152 Presidency
 Article 153 Parliamentary Commissions
 Article 154 Parliamentary Groups
 Article 155 Parliamentary Services
 Section 2 Procedure
 Article 156 Separate Deliberation
 Article 157 Joint Deliberation
 Article 158 Meetings to be Public
 Article 159 Quorum and Majority
 Article 160 Right to Initiatives and Motions
 Article 161 Prohibition of Instructed Mandates
 Article 162 Immunity
 Section 3 Powers
 Article 163 Form of Laws and Decrees by the Federal
 Parliament
 Article 164 Legislation
 Article 165 Urgent Legislation
 Article 166 Foreign Relations and International Treaties
 Article 167 Finances
 Article 168 Elections
 Article 169 High Supervision
 Article 170 Evaluation of Efficacy
 Article 171 Mandates to the Federal Government
 Article 172 Relations between the Confederation and the
 Cantons
 Article 173 Further Tasks and Powers
 Chapter 3 Federal Government and Federal Administration
 Section 1 Organisation and Procedure
 Article 174 Federal Government
 Article 175 Composition and Election
 Article 176 Presidency
 Article 177 Principle of Collective Authority and Division into
 Departments
 Article 178 Federal Administration
 Article 179 Federal Chancery
 Section 2 Powers
 Article 180 Government Policy
 Article 181 Initiative
 Article 182 Legislation and Implementation
 Article 183 Finances
 Article 184 Foreign Relations
 Article 185 External and Inner Security
 Article 186 Relations between the Confederation and the
 Cantons
 Article 187 Further Tasks and Powers
 Chapter 4 Federal Supreme Court and other Judicial Authorities
 Article 188 Position of Federal Supreme Court
 Article 189 Jurisdiction of Federal Supreme Court
 Article 190 Jurisdiction in Civil, Criminal and Public Law
 Article 191 Relevant Law

  Title 6 Revision of the Federal Constitution and Temporal Provisions

 Chapter 1 Revision
 Article 192 Principle
 Article 193 Total Revision
 Article 194 Partial Revision
 Article 195 Entry into Force
 Chapter 2 Transitory Provisions
 Article 196 [Transitory Provisions]
 

 Switzerland - Constitution
 

 { Adopted by the Federal Parliament on: 18 Dec 1998 }
 { Adopted by Public Referendum on: 14 April 1999 }
 { Enforcement decree of the Federal Parliament on: 28 Sep 1999 }
 { In force since: 1 Jan 2000 }
 { ICL Document Status: 1 Jan 2000 }

 { Editor's Note
 Dr. Susan Emmenegger, LL.M. is in the process of editing the Swiss
 Constitution for the ICL project. This document will be updated continuously
 as the improved translation is progressing.
 The new constitution is a complete revision ('Totalrevision'). However, it does
 not radically change the structure of the Swiss Federation, but integrates the
 accumulated amendments since 1874 into a new text ('Nachführung der
 Bundesverfassung'). The new constitution has been formally adopted by
 referendum on 14 April 1999 (59% yes, 41% no) and is in force since 1 Jan
 2000.
 The ICL translation and edition takes into account the English text provided
 to the public by the Swiss Embassy in Washington D.C., but does introduce
 changes where this seems necessary regarding the original text. This is
 particularly true for Articles 189-191c which are still in their draft version in
 the embassy translation. Furthermore, ICL avoids the indifferent
 (British-style) use of 'shall' for every kind of normative content and adds
 descriptive article titles in square brackets where the original constitution
 does not contain them (e.g., Article 50). }

 Preamble
 In the name of God Almighty!
 WE, the Swiss People and Cantons,
 WHEREAS we are mindful of our responsibility towards creation;
 RESOLVING to renew our alliance to strengthen liberty and democracy,
 independence and peace in solidarity and openness towards the world;
 DETERMINED to live our diversity in unity respecting one another;
 CONSCIOUS of our common achievements and our responsibility towards furure
 generations; and
 KNOWING that only those remain free who use their freedom, and that the strength
 of a people is measured by the welfare of the weakest of its members;
 THEREFORE we adopt the following Constitution:

 Title 1 General Provisions

 Article 1 Swiss Confederation
 The Swiss People and the Cantons of Zurich, Berne, Lucerne, Uri, Schyz, Obwald,
 Nidwald, Glarus, Zug, Fribourg, Solothurn, Basel-City, Basel-Land, Schaffhausen,
 Appenzell Outer-Rhodes, Appenzell Inner-Rhodes, St. Gall, Grisons, Aargau,
 Thurgau, Ticino, Vaud, Valais, Neuchâtel, Geneva, and Jura form the Swiss
 Confederation.

 Article 2 Purpose

 (1) The Swiss Confederation protects the liberty and rights of the people and
 safeguards the independence and security of the country.
 (2) It promotes common welfare, sustainable development, inner cohesion, and
 cultural diversity of the country.
 (3) It ensures equal opportunities for all citizens to the extent possible.
 (4) It strives to safeguard the long-term preservation of natural
 resources and to promote a just and peaceful international order.

 Article 3 Cantons
 The Cantons are sovereign insofar as their sovereignty is not limited by the Federal
 Constitution; they exercise all rights which are not transferred to the Confederation.

 Article 4 National Languages
 The National Languages are German, French, Italian, and Romansh.

 Article 5 Rule of Law

 (1) The law is the basis and limitation for all activities of the state.
 (2) State activity must be in the public interest and proportional.
 (3) State institutions and privat persons must act in good faith.
 (4) The Confederation and the Cantons do respect international law.

 Article 6 Individual and Social Responsibility
 Every person is responsible for him- or herself and advances, according to his or her
 abilities, the goals of state and society.

 Title 2 Basic, Civil, and Social Rights

 Chapter 1 Basic Rights

 Article 7 Human Dignity
 Human dignity ought to be respected and protected.

 Article 8 Equality

 (1) Everyone is equal before the law.
 (2) Nobody may be discriminated against, namely for his or her origin, race, sex,
 age, language, social position, way of life, religious, philosophical, or political
 convictions, or because of a corporal or mental disability.
 (3) Men and women have equal rights. The law provides for legal and factual
 equality, particularly in the family, during education, and at the workplace. Men and
 women have the right to equal pay for work of equal value.
 (4) The law provides for measures to eliminate disadvantages of disabled people.

 Article 9 Protection Against Arbitrariness and Preservation of Good Faith
 Every person has the right to be treated by state institutions without arbitrariness
 and in good faith.

 Article 10 Right to Life and Personal Freedom

 (1) Every person has the right to life. The death penalty is prohibited.
 (2) Every person has the right to personal liberty, particularly to corporal and mental
 integrity and freedom of movement.
 (3) Torture and any other form of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or
 punishment are prohibited.

 Article 11 Protection of Children and Adolescents

 (1) Children and adolescents have the right to special protection of the personal
 integrity and to promotion of their development.
 (2) They excercise their rights according to their capacity to discern.

 Article 12 Right to Aid in Distress
 Whoever is in distress without the ability to take care of him- or herself has the right
 to help and assistance and to the means indispensable for a life led in human
 dignity.

 Article 13 Protection of Privacy

 (1) Every person has the right to receive respect for his or her private and familiy life,
 home, and secrecy of mail and
 telecommunication.
 (2) Every person has the right to be protected against abuse of personal data.

 Article 14 Right to Marriage and Family
 The rights to marriage and family are guaranteed.

 Article 15 Freedom of Religion and Conscience

 (1) The freedom of religion and conscience is guaranteed.
 (2) Every person has the right to freely choose his or her religion or
 non-denominational belief and to profess them alone or in community with others.
 (3) Every person has the right to join or belong to a religious community and to
 receive religious education.
 (4) No person may be forced to join a religious community, to conduct a religious
 act or participate in religious education.

 { The remainder of the document is still under textual revision to consolidate the
 translation. }

 Article 16 Freedom of Opinion and Information

 (1) The freedom of opinion and information is guaranteed.
 (2) All persons have the right to form, express, and disseminate their opinions
 freely.
 (3) All persons have the right to receive information freely, to gather it from generally
 accessible sources, and to disseminate it.

 Article 17 Freedom of the Media

 (1) The freedom of the press, radio and television, and of other forms of public
 telecasting of productions and information is guaranteed.
 (2) Censorship is prohibited.
 (3) Editorial secrecy is guaranteed.

 Article 18 Freedom of Language
 The freedom of language is guaranteed.

 Article 19 Right to Primary Education
 The right to sufficient and free primary education is guaranteed.

 Article 20 Freedom of Science
 The freedom of scientific research and teaching is guaranteed.

 Article 21 Freedom of Art
 The freedom of art is guaranteed.

 Article 22 Freedom of Assembly

 (1) The freedom of assembly is guaranteed.
 (2) Every person has the right to organize assemblies, to participate in them or to
 stay away from them.

 Article 23 Freedom of Association

 (1) The freedom of association is guaranteed.
 (2) Every person has the right to form associations, to join or to belong to them, and
 to participate in their activities.
 (3) No person shall be forced to join or to belong to an association.

 Article 24 Freedom of Domicile

 (1) Swiss citizens have the right to establish their domicile anywhere within the
 country.
 (2) They have the right to leave or to return to Switzerland.

 Article 25 Protection against expulsion, extradition, and removal by force

 (1) Swiss citizens may not be expelled from the country; they may be extradited to
 a foreign authority only with their consent.
 (2) Refugees may not be removed by force or extradited to a state in which they are
 persecuted.
 (3) No person shall be removed by force to a state where he or she is threatened by
 torture, or another means of cruel and
 inhuman treatment or punishment.

 Article 26 Right to property

 (1) The right to property is guaranteed.
 (2) Expropriation and restrictions of ownership equivalent to expropriation shall be
 fully compensated.

 Article 27 Economic Freedom

 (1) Economic freedom is guaranteed.
 (2) It contains particularly the freedom to choose one's profession, and to enjoy free
 access to and free exercise of private economic activity.

 Article 28 Freedom to Unionize

 (1) Workers, employers, and their organizations have the right to unionize for the
 protection of their insterests, to form unions and to join or refrain from joining them.
 (2) Conflicts shall be resolved to the extent possible through negotiation and
 mediation.
 (3) Strike and lockout are permitted when they relate to labor relations, and when
 they are not contrary to obligations to keep labor peace or to resort to conciliation.
 (4) Legislation may prohibit certain categories of persons from striking.

 Article 29 General Procedural Guarantees

 (1) Every person has the right in legal or administrative proceedings to have the
 case treated equally and fairly, and judged within a reasonable time.
 (2) The parties have the right to be heard.
 (3) Every person lacking the necessary means has the right to free legal
 assistance, unless the case appears to be without any chance of success. The
 person has moreover the right to free legal representation, to the extent that this is
 necessary to protect the person's rights.

 Article 29a Guarantee of Legal Proceedings
 Every person has the right to have legal disputes judged by a judicial authority. The
 Confederation and the Cantons may in exceptional cases exclude judicial
 proceedings.

 Article 30 Judicial Proceedings

 (1) Every person whose case must be judged in judicial proceedings has the right to
 have this done by a court that is established by law, has jurisdiction, and is
 independent and impartial. Exceptional tribunals are prohibited.
 (2) A person against whom a civil action is brought has the right to have the case
 heard before the court at the person's domicile. Legislation may provide for another
 jurisdiction.
 (3) The court hearing shall be public, and the judgment shall be publicly proclaimed.
 Legislation may provide for exceptions.

 Article 31 Habeas Corpus

 (1) No person may be deprived of liberty except in the cases and in the forms
 provided by statute.
 (2) All persons deprived of their liberty have the right to be informed immediately,
 and in a language that they understand, of the reasons for their detention, and of
 their rights. They must have the opportunity to assert their rights. In particular, they
 have the right to have their close relatives informed.
 (3) Every person taken into preventive detention has the right to be brought before a
 judge without delay; the judge shall decide whether the person shall remain in
 detention or shall be released. Every person in preventive detention has the right to
 be judged within a reasonable time.
 (4) All persons who are deprived of their liberty without a trial have the right to seize
 a court at any time. The court shall decide as soon as possible whether the
 detention is legal.

 Article 32 Criminal procedure

 (1) Every person shall be presumed innocent until the person is
 subject to a condemnation having force of law.
 (2) Every accused person has the right to be informed as soon as possible and in
 full detail of the accusations. The person must have the opportunity to exercise its
 means of defense.
 (3) Every condemned person has the right to have the judgment reviewed by a
 higher court. The cases where the Federal Supreme Court sits as a court of sole
 instance are reserved.

 Article 33 Right of Petition

 (1) Every person has the right to address petitions to authorities without suffering
 prejudice.
 (2) The authorities must take cognizance of petitions.

 Article 34 Political Rights

 (1) The political rights are guaranteed.
 (2) The guarantee of political rights protects the free formation of opinion by the
 citizens and the unaltered expression of their will.

 Article 35 Realization of Fundamental Rights

 (1) The fundamental rights shall be realized in the entire legal system.
 (2) Whoever exercises a function of the state must respect the fundamental rights
 and contribute to their realization.
 (3) The authorities shall ensure that the fundamental rights also be respected in
 relations among private parties whenever the analogy is applicable.

 Article 36 Limitations of Fundamental Rights

 (1) Any limitation of a fundamental right requires a legal basis. Grave limitations
 must be expressly foreseen by statute. Cases of clear and present danger are
 reserved.
 (2) Any limitation of a fundamental right must be justified by public interest, or serve
 for the protection of fundamental rights of other persons.
 (3) Limitations of fundamental rights must be proportionate to the goals pursued.
 (4) The essence of fundamental rights is inviolable.

 Chapter 2 Citizenship and Political Rights

 Article 37 Citizenships

 (1) Every person who has the citizenship of a Municipality and of the Canton, to
 which it belongs has Swiss citizenship.
 (2) No person shall enjoy a privilege or suffer prejudice because of his or her
 citizenship. Exceptions are possible to regulate political rights in bourgeoisies and
 corporations, and provide for participation in their assets, unless cantonal legislation
 excludes this.

 Article 38 Acquisition and Loss of Citizenship

 (1) The Confederation shall regulate the acquisition and the loss of citizenship
 through descent, marriage and adoption. Moreover, it shall regulate the loss of
 Swiss citizenship on other grounds, and the reinstatement of citizenship.
 (2) It shall set minimum requirements for the naturalization of foreigners by the
 Cantons, and grant naturalization permits.
 (3) It shall facilitate the naturalization of stateless children.

 Article 39 Exercise of Political Rights

 (1) The Confederation shall regulate the exercise of political rights in federal matters;
 the Cantons shall regulate the exercise of these rights in cantonal and municipal
 matters.
 (2) The political rights shall be exercised at the domicile. The Confederation and the
 Cantons may foresee exceptions.
 (3) No person shall exercise political rights in more than one Canton.
 (4) The Cantons may provide that new domiciliaries may exercise political rights in
 cantonal and municipal matters, only once a waiting period of no more than three
 months has been
 observed.

 Article 40 Swiss citizens domiciled abroad

 (1) The Confederation shall encourage links amongst Swiss citizens domiciled
 abroad, and their links with Switzerland. It may support organizations which pursue
 this goal.
 (2) It shall legislate on the rights and obligations of Swiss citizens domiciled abroad,
 in particular on the exercise of the political rights on the federal level, the duty to
 render military or alternative service, assistance to needy persons, and social
 security.

 Chapter 3 Social Goals

 Article 41 [General Provisions]

 (1) The Confederation and the Cantons shall strive to ensure that, in addition to
 personal responsibility and private initiative,
 a. every person shall benefit from social security;
 b. every person shall benefit from necessary health care;
 c. the family as a community of adults and children shall be protected and
 encouraged;
 d. every person capable of working shall sustain himself or herself through working
 under fair and adequate conditions;
 e. every person looking for housing shall find, for himself or herself and his or her
 family, appropriate housing at reasonable conditions;
 f. children and young people and people of working age shall benefit from initial and
 continuing education according to their abilities;
 g. children and young people shall be encouraged in their development to become
 independent and socially responsible persons, and they shall be supported in their
 social, cultural, and political integration.
 (2) The Confederation and the Cantons shall strive to ensure that every person shall
 be insured against the economic consequences of old age, disability, illness,
 accidents, unemployment, maternity, orphanhood, and widowhood.
 (3) They shall strive to realize the social goals within the framework of their
 constitutional powers and with the means available to them.
 (4) No direct subjective right to prestations by the state may be derived from the
 social goals.

 Title 3 Confederation, Cantons, and Municipalities

 Chapter 1 Relationship between the Confederation and the Cantons

 Section 1 Tasks of the Confederation and the Cantons

 Article 42 Tasks of the Confederation

 (1) The Confederation shall accomplish the tasks which are attributed to it by the
 Constitution.
 (2) It shall assume the tasks which require uniform regulation.

 Article 43 Tasks of the Cantons
 The Cantons shall define the tasks which they shall accomplish within the
 framework of their powers.

 Section 2 Cooperation between the Confederation and the Cantons

 Article 44 Principles

 (1) The Confederation and the Cantons shall collaborate, and shall support each
 other in the fulfillment of their tasks.
 (2) They owe each other mutual consideration and support. They shall grant each
 other administrative and judicial assistance.
 (3) Disputes between Cantons, or between Cantons, and the Confederation shall, to
 the extent possible, be resolved through negotiation or mediation.

 Article 45 Participation in Federal Decision Making

 (1) In the cases foreseen by the Federal Constitution, the Cantons shall participate
 in the decision-making process on the federal level, in particular in federal
 legislation.
 (2) The Confederation shall inform the Cantons timely and fully of its plans; it shall
 consult them if their interests are involved.

 Article 46 Implementation of Federal Law

 (1) The Cantons shall implement federal law in conformity with the Constitution and
 the statute.
 (2) The Confederation shall leave the Cantons as large a space of action as
 possible, and shall take their particularities into account.
 (3) The Confederation shall take into account the financial burden that is associated
 with implementing federal law by leaving sufficient sources of financing to the
 Cantons, and by ensuring an equitable financial equalization.

 Article 47 Autonomy of the Cantons
 The Confederation shall respect the autonomy of the Cantons.

 Article 48 Intercantonal Treaties

 (1) The Cantons may enter into intercantonal treaties, and may create common
 organizations and institutions. They may, in particular, join forces to fulfill tasks of
 regional interest.
 (2) The Confederation may participate in such organizations or institutions within the
 limits of its powers.
 (3) Intercantonal treaties may not be contrary to the law or the interests of the
 Confederation, nor to the rights of other Cantons. The Confederation must be notified
 of such treaties.

 Article 49 Supremacy of and Respect for Federal Law

 (1) Federal law takes precedence over contrary cantonal law.
 (2) The Confederation shall ensure that the Cantons respect federal law.

 Section 3 Municipalities

 Article 50 [General Provisions]

 (1) The autonomy of the Municipalities is guaranteed within the limits fixed by
 cantonal law.
 (2) In its activity, the Confederation shall take into account the possible
 consequences for the Municipalities.
 (3) In particular, it shall take into account the special situation of cities,
 agglomerations, and mountainous regions.

 Section 4 Federal Guarantees

 Article 51 Cantonal Constitutions

 (1) Every Canton shall adopt a democratic constitution. The cantonal constitution
 must be approved by the people, and must be subject to revision if a majority of the
 people so requires.
 (2) The cantonal constitutions must be guaranteed by the Confederation. The
 Confederation shall grant this guarantee, if the constitutions are not contrary to
 federal law.

 Article 52 Constitutional Order

 (1) The Confederation shall protect the constitutional order of the Cantons.
 (2) It shall intervene if the inner order of a Canton is disturbed or threatened and
 cannot be protected by the Canton alone or with the help of other Cantons.

 Article 53 Existence and Territory of the Cantons

 (1) The Confederation shall protect the existence and the territory of the Cantons.
 (2) Modifications of the number of the Cantons, of the Cantons or their status are
 subject to the assent of the population concerned, of the Cantons concerned, and of
 the People and the Cantons.
 (3) Modifications of the territory of a Canton are subject to the
 assent of the population concerned, of the Cantons concerned, and the assent of
 the Federal Parliament in the form of a federal decree.
 (4) Intercantonal boundary settlements may be made by treaty between the
 Cantons concerned.

 Chapter 2 Powers

 Section 1 Relations with foreign countries

 Article 54 Foreign Relations

 (1) Foreign Relations are a federal matter.
 (2) The Confederation shall strive to preserve the independence of Switzerland and
 its welfare; it shall, in particular, contribute to alleviate need and poverty in the world,
 and to promote respect for human rights, democracy, the peaceful coexistence of
 nations, and the preservation of natural resources.
 (3) It shall take into consideration the powers of the Cantons, and shall protect their
 interests.

 Article 55 Participation of the Cantons in Decisions of Foreign Policy

 (1) The Cantons shall participate in the preparation of decisions of foreign policy
 which concern their powers or their essential interests.
 (2) The Confederation shall inform the Cantons timely and fully, and consult them.
 (3) The position of the Cantons shall have particular weight when their powers are
 concerned. In these cases, the Cantons shall participate in international
 negotiations as appropriate.

 Article 56 Relations between the Cantons and Foreign Countries

 (1) The Cantons may conclude treaties with foreign countries within the scope of
 their powers.
 (2) These treaties may not be contrary to the law nor to the interests of the
 Confederation nor to the laws of other Cantons. Before concluding a treaty, the
 Cantons must inform the Confederation.
 (3) The Cantons may deal directly with lower ranking foreign authorities; in other
 cases, the relations of the Cantons with foreign countries shall be conducted by the
 Confederation acting on their behalf.

 Section 2 Security, National and Civil Defense

 Article 57 Security

 (1) The Confederation and the Cantons shall ensure, within the framework of their
 powers, the security of the country and the protection of the population.
 (2) They shall coordinate their efforts in the field of inner security.

 Article 58 Army

 (1) Switzerland shall have an army. The army shall be organized, in principle, as a
 militia.
 (2) The army shall contribute to prevent war and to maintain peace; it shall defend
 the country and protect its population. It shall lend support to the civil authorities
 when they must repel serious threats to internal security or master other
 exceptional circumstances. The statute may provide for further tasks.
 (3) The use of the army is a federal matter. The Cantons may engage their troops to
 maintain public order on their territory, if the means of the civil authorities no longer
 suffice to repel serious threats to inner security.

 Article 59 Military and Alternative Service

 (1) Every Swiss man must render military service. The statute shall provide for an
 alternative service.
 (2) For Swiss women, military service is voluntary.
 (3) Swiss men who render neither military nor alternative service owe a tax. The tax
 is levied by the Confederation and is assessed and collected by the Cantons.
 (4) The Confederation shall legislate on fair compensation for loss of income.
 (5) Those who render military or alternative service and thereby suffer health
 impairment or lose their lives, have the right for themselves or their relatives to
 adequate support by the Confederation.

 Article 60 Organisation, Instruction, and Equipment of the Army

 (1) Legislation on the military and on the organization, the instruction, and the
 equipment of the army, is a federal matter.
 (2) Within the limits of federal law, the Cantons shall have the power to form
 cantonal troops, to appoint and to promote officers of such troops, and to furnish a
 part of their clothing and equipment.
 (3) The Confederation may take over military installations of the Cantons against fair
 compensation.

 Article 61 Civil defense

 (1) Legislation on civil defense is a federal matter; civil defense has the purpose of
 protecting persons and property against the consequences of armed conflicts.
 (2) The Confederation shall legislate on the intervention of civil defense in
 catastrophes and emergencies.
 (3) The Confederation may make the civil defense service compulsory for men. For
 women, it shall be voluntary.
 (4) The Confederation shall legislate on fair compensation for loss of income.
 (5) Those who render civil defense service and thereby suffer health impairment or
 lose their lives, have the right for themselves or their relatives to adequate support
 by the Confederation.

 Section 3 Education, Research, and Culture

 Article 62 Education

 (1) Education is a cantonal matter.
 (2) The Cantons shall ensure a sufficient primary education open to all children. This
 education shall be compulsory, and shall be placed under state direction or
 supervision. It shall be free in public schools. The school year shall begin between
 mid-August and mid-September.

 Article 63 Professional Education and Universities

 (1) The Confederation shall legislate on professional education.
 (2) It shall operate technical universities. It may create, operate, or support other
 universities and institutions of higher learning. It may make its support conditional
 upon taking coordination measures.

 Article 64 Research

 (1) The Confederation shall encourage scientific research.
 (2) It may make its support conditional, in particular, upon taking coordination
 measures.
 (3) It may create, take over, or operate research institutions.

 Article 65 Statistics

 (1) The Confederation shall collect the necessary statistical data on the status and
 evolution of the population, the economy, the society, the territory, and the
 environment in Switzerland.
 (2) To facilitate the collection of data, it may legislate on harmonizing and keeping
 official registers.

 Article 66 Support of Education

 (1) The Confederation may grant subsidies to the Cantons for the expenses that
 they may incur for scholarships and for other assistance towards education.
 (2) It may, moreover, complement cantonal measures while respecting cantonal
 autonomy in school matters, and take its own measures to encourage education.

 Article 67 Education of Young People and Adults

 (1) The Confederation and the Cantons shall, when fulfilling their tasks, take into
 account children's and young people's special needs for development and
 protection.
 (2) The Confederation may complement cantonal measures and support the
 extra-curricular work with children and young people and the education of adults.

 Article 68 Sport

 (1) The Confederation shall promote sport, particularly sport education.
 (2) It shall operate a sport school.
 (3) It may legislate on youth sport, and may make sport education in schools
 compulsory.

 Article 69 Culture

 (1) The field of culture is a cantonal matter.
 (2) The Confederation may support cultural activities of national interest, and
 encourage art and music, in particular in the field of education.
 (3) In accomplishing its tasks, it shall take into account the cultural and linguistic
 diversity of the country.

 Article 70 Languages

 (1) The official languages of the Confederation are German, French, and Italian.
 Romansh shall be an official language for communicating with persons of Romansh
 language.
 (2) The Cantons shall designate their official languages. In order to preserve
 harmony between linguistic communities, they shall respect the traditional territorial
 distribution of languages, and take into account the indigenous linguistic minorities.
 (3) The Confederation and the Cantons shall encourage understanding and
 exchange between the linguistic communities.
 (4) The Confederation shall support the plurilingual Cantons in the fulfillment of their
 particular tasks.
 (5) The Confederation shall support the measures taken by the Cantons of Grisons
 and Ticino tomaintain and to promote Romansh and Italian.

 Article 71 Film

 (1) The Confederation may encourage Swiss film production and film culture
 generally.
 (2) It may legislate to encourage the variety and quality of cinematographic works
 offered.

 Article 72 Church and State

 (1) The regulation of the relationship between church and state is a cantonal matter.
 (2) The Confederation and the Cantons may, within the framework of their powers,
 take measures to maintain public peace between the members of the various
 religious communities.
 (3) No diocese may be set up without the consent of the Confederation.

 Section 4 Environment and Zoning

 Article 73 Sustainable Development
 The Confederation and the Cantons shall strive to establish a durable equilibrium
 between nature, in particular its capacity to renew itself, and its use by man.

 Article 74 Protection of the Environment

 (1) The Confederation shall legislate on the protection of man and the natural
 environment against harm and nuisance.
 (2) It shall ensure that such influences are avoided. The polluters shall pay for the
 costs of avoidance and removal.
 (3) The federal regulations shall be implemented by the Cantons, insofar as the
 statute does not reserve this for the Confederation.

 Article 75 Zoning

 (1) The Confederation shall establish principles on zoning. Zoning falls to the
 Cantons, and shall serve to achieve an appropriate and moderate use of the land
 and its ordered inhabitation.
 (2) The Confederation shall encourage and coordinate the efforts of the Cantons, and
 shall collaborate with them.
 (3) In fulfilling their tasks, the Confederation and the Cantons shall take the needs of
 zoning into account.

 Article 76 Water

 (1) Within the limits of its powers, the Confederation shall ensure the moderate use
 and the protection of water resources, and fight against harmful effects of water.
 (2) It shall establish principles on the preservation and use of water reserves, on the
 use of water for the production of energy and for cooling purposes, and on other
 interventions into the water cycle.
 (3) It shall legislate on water protection, on securing sufficient residual water, on
 hydraulic engineering, on the safety of dams and on interventions to influence
 precipitation.
 (4) The Cantons shall dispose of their water resources. Within the limits of federal
 law, they may levy dues for water use. The Confederation shall have the right to use
 water for its traffic enterprises; it shall pay dues and compensation for this.
 (5) On rights concerning international water resources and dues connected with
 them, the Confederation shall decide in consultation with the Cantons concerned. If
 the Cantons concerned cannot agree on rights to intercantonal water reserves, the
 Confederation shall decide.
 (6) In fulfilling its tasks, the Confederation shall take into account the interests of the
 Cantons from which the water originates.

 Article 77 Forests

 (1) The Confederation shall ensure that forests may fulfill their protective, economic
 and social functions.
 (2) It shall establish principles for the protection of forests.
 (3) It shall encourage measures for the conservation of forests.

 Article 78 Nature and Cultural Heritage

 (1) The protection of nature and cultural heritage is a cantonal matter.
 (2) In fulfilling its tasks, the Confederation shall take into account the objectives of
 the protection of nature and cultural heritage. It shall protect scenery, localities,
 historical sites, and natural and cultural monuments; it shall preserve them
 untouched if public interest so requires.
 (3) It may support efforts towards the protection of nature and cultural heritage, and
 may, by contract or by expropriation, acquire or secure objects of national
 importance.
 (4) It shall legislate on the protection of animal and plant life, and on the preservation
 of their natural environment and multiplicity. It shall protect endangered species from
 extinction.
 (5) Moors and marshland of special beauty and national importance shall be
 protected. No installations may be built on them, and no alterations of any kind may
 be made to the land. An exception is made for installations serving to ensure their
 protection or continuation of existing agricultural use.

 Article 79 Fishery and Hunting
 The Confederation shall establish principles on the exercise of fishery and hunting,
 in particular to preserve multiplicity of fish, game, and birds.

 Article 80 Protection of Animals

 (1) The Confederation shall legislate on the protection of animals.
 (2) It shall regulate in particular:
 a. the keeping and care of animals;
 b. experiments and intervention on live animals;
 c. the use of animals;
 d. the importation of animals and animal products;
 e. trade in animals and transportation of animals;
 f. the slaughter of animals.
 (3) The federal regulations shall be implemented by the Cantons, insofar as the
 statute does not reserve this for the Confederation.

 Section 5 Public Works and Transportation

 Article 81 Public Works
 In the interest of Switzerland or a large part of the country, the Confederation may
 build and operate public works, or promote the realization of such works.

 Article 82 Road Traffic

 (1) The Confederation shall legislate on road traffic.
 (2) It exercises high supervision over roads of national importance; it may determine
 which transit roads must remain open to traffic.
 (3) The use of public roads shall be free. The Federal Parliament may authorize
 exceptions.

 Article 83 National Highways

 (1) The Confederation shall ensure the construction of a network of national
 highways and the utilization of these highways.
 (2) The Cantons shall build and maintain their national highways according to the
 rules established by the Confederation and under its high supervision.
 (3) The Confederation and the Cantons shall bear the costs of the national highways
 jointly. The costs to be borne by each Canton shall be allocated by taking into
 account the burden falling on them due to the national highways, their interest in
 these highways, and their financial resources.

 Article 84 Alpine Transit

 (1) The Confederation shall protect the alpine regions from the negative effects of
 transit traffic. It shall limit the nuisance caused by such traffic to a level which is not
 harmful to persons, animals, or plants, or their environment.
 (2) Transalpine freight in border-to-border transit shall be transported by rail. The
 Federal Government shall take the necessary measures. Exceptions shall be
 permitted only if they are inevitable. They shall be specified by statute.
 (3) The capacity of transit roads in the alpine regions may not be increased, except
 for bypass roads to relieve the pressure of through-traffic in towns and villages.

 Article 85 Charge on Heavy Goods Traffic

 (1) The Confederation may levy a charge on heavy goods traffic related to motor
 power or consumption. The charge may only be levied to the extent to which heavy
 goods traffic creates public costs which are not already covered by other
 contributions or charges.
 (2) The net revenue from the charge shall be used to cover costs in connection with
 road traffic.
 (3) The Cantons shall receive portions of the net revenue from the charge. These
 portions shall be calculated by taking into account the specific repercussions of the
 charge in mountainous and remote regions.

 Article 86 Motor Fuels Consumption Tax and other Traffic Charges

 (1) The Confederation may raise a consumption tax on motor fuels.
 (2) It shall raise a tax on the use of national highways by motor vehicles and trailers
 which are not subject to the heavy goods traffic charge.
 (3) It shall use half of the net revenue from the motor fuels
 consumption tax and the net revenue from the national highway tax for the following
 purposes and costs in connection with road traffic:
 a. Construction, maintenance, and operation of national highways;
 b. Measures to promote combined traffic and traffic of accompanied road vehicles,
 or to separate railway traffic from road traffic;
 c. Contributions towards the construction of main roads;
 d. Contributions towards the construction of works of protection against natural
 elements, and towards measures of protection of the environment and scenery
 made necessary by road traffic;
 e. General participation in the financing by the Cantons of highways open to motor
 vehicles and to equalization of financial charges in the field of roads;
 f. Contributions to the Cantons without national highways, and to Cantons with
 alpine roads serving international traffic.
 (4) If these means are insufficient, the Confederation shall raise a surtax on the
 motor fuels consumption tax.

 Article 87 Rail Traffic and further Means of Traffic
 The legislation on rail traffic, cable cars, navigation, aviation, and space travel is a
 federal matter.

 Article 88 Footpaths and Hiking Trails

 (1) The Confederation shall establish principles on networks of footpaths and hiking
 trails.
 (2) It may support measures of the Cantons to establish and keep such networks,
 and to coordinate them.
 (3) In fulfilling its tasks, it shall take into account networks of footpaths and hiking
 trails, and shall replace paths and trails that it must close.

 Section 6 Energy and Communication

 Article 89 Energy Policy

 (1) Within their powers, the Confederation and the Cantons shall strive to ensure a
 sufficient, diversified, reliable, and economical energy supply compatible with the
 protection of the environment, and the economical and efficient use of energy.
 (2) The Confederation shall establish principles on the use of domestic and
 renewable energy, and the economical and efficient use of energy.
 (3) The Confederation shall legislate on the use of energy for installations, vehicles,
 and appliances. It shall promote the development of energy techniques, particularly
 in the fields of energy saving and renewable energy.
 (4) Measures concerning the use of energy in buildings are primarily a cantonal
 matter.
 (5) In its energy policy, the Confederation shall take into account the efforts of the
 Cantons, of the Municipalities, and of economic circles; it shall take into account
 the conditions in the various regions, and the limitations of what is economically
 feasible.

 Article 90 Nuclear Energy
 Legislation in the field of nuclear energy is a federal matter.

 Article 91 Transportation of Energy

 (1) The Confederation shall legislate on the transportation and the supply of
 electricity.
 (2) Legislation on pipelines for the transport of liquid or gaseous fuels is a federal
 matter.

 Article 92 Postal and Telecommunication Services

 (1) Postal and telecommunication services are a federal matter.
 (2) The Confederation shall ensure sufficient and reasonable basic postal and
 telecommunication services in all regions. The rates shall be fixed according to
 uniform principles.

 Article 93 Radio and Television

 (1) Legislation on radio and television and other forms of public telecasting of
 features and information is a federal matter.
 (2) Radio and Television shall contribute to education and cultural development, to
 the free formation of opinion, and to the entertainment of the listeners and viewers.
 They shall take into account the particularities of the country and the needs of the
 Cantons. They shall present events factually, and reflect diverse opinions fairly and
 adequately.
 (3) The independence of radio and television and the autonomy of their programming
 are guaranteed.
 (4) The situation and the role of other media, in particular the press, shall be taken
 into account.
 (5) It shall be possible to submit complaints about programs to an independent
 authority.

 Section 7 Economy

 Article 94 Principles of Economic Order

 (1) The Confederation and the Cantons shall respect the principle of economic
 freedom.
 (2) They shall safeguard the interests of the national economy and, together with the
 private sector of the economy, contribute to the welfare and economic security of
 the population.
 (3) Within the limits of their powers, they shall strive to create favorable conditions
 for the private sector of the economy.
 (4) Derogations from the principle of economic freedom, in particular measures
 against competition, shall be allowed only if foreseen by the Federal Constitution or
 based on cantonal mo nopolies.

 Article 95 Private Economic Activity

 (1) The Confederation may legislate on the exercise of private economic activity.
 (2) It shall strive to create a unified Swiss economic area. It shall guarantee that
 persons having a university education or a federal or cantonal education certificate
 or an education certificate recognized by a Canton may exercise their profession
 throughout Switzerland.

 Article 96 Competition Policy

 (1) The Confederation shall legislate to fight against economically or socially
 damaging effects of cartels and other restrictions of competition.
 (2) It shall take measures
 a. to prevent abuses in price fixing by enterprises and organizations of private and
 public law enjoying a dominant position on the market;
 b. against unfair competition.

 Article 97 Consumer Protection

 (1) The Confederation shall take measures for consumer protection.
 (2) It shall legislate on the remedies available to consumer organizations. In the field
 of federal legislation against unfair competition, these organizations shall have the
 same rights as professional and economic associations.
 (3) The Cantons shall provide a conciliation procedure or a simple and speedy
 judicial procedure for cases below a certain value in dispute. The Federal
 Government shall establish this value.

 Article 98 Banking and Insurance

 (1) The Confederation shall legislate on banking and stock exchanges; it shall take
 into account the specific task and position of the cantonal banks.
 (2) It may legislate on financial services in other fields.
 (3) It shall legislate on private insurance.

 Article 99 Monetary Policy

 (1) Money and currency are a federal matter. The Confederation shall have the
 exclusive right to coin money and to issue bank notes.
 (2) As an independent central bank, the Swiss National Bank shall follow a
 monetary policy which serves the general interest of the country; it shall be
 administered with the cooperation and under the supervision of the Confederation.
 (3) The Swiss National Bank shall create sufficient monetary reserves from its
 profits; a part of these reserves shall be held in gold.
 (4) At least two thirds of the net profits of the Swiss National Bank shall be credited
 to the Cantons.

 Article 100 Policy on Economic Development

 (1) The Confederation shall take measures to ensure a balanced economic
 development and, in particular, to prevent and fight unemployment and inflation.
 (2) It shall take into account the economic development of the various regions. It
 shall cooperate with the Cantons and the economic circles.
 (3) In the fields of credit and currency, in foreign trade and in public finance, it may,
 if necessary, depart from the principle of economic freedom.
 (4) In their budgetary policy, the Confederation, Cantons and Municipalities shall
 take into account the economic development.
 (5) In order to stabilize the economy, the Confederation may temporarily levy
 surcharges, or grant rebates on federal taxes and dues. The accumulated funds
 shall be frozen; after their release, direct surcharges shall be individually
 reimbursed, and indirect surcharges shall be used to grant rebates or to create
 employment.
 (6) The Confederation may oblige businesses to accumulate reserves for the
 creation of employment; for this purpose, it shall grant tax privileges, and may also
 oblige Cantons to grant such privileges. After the release of the reserves, the
 businesses shall be free to decide how to use them within the purposes prescribed
 by statute.

 Article 101 Foreign Trade

 (1) The Confederation shall safeguard abroad the interests of the Swiss economy.
 (2) In special cases, it may take measures to protect the domestic economy. It
 may, if necessary, depart from the principle of economic freedom.

 Article 102 Supply of Essential Goods and Services

 (1) The Confederation shall ensure the country's supply of essential goods and
 services in case of threats of military or economic war, or of severe shortages which
 the economy cannot counteract by itself. It shall take provisional measures.
 (2) It may, if necessary, depart from the principle of economic freedom.

 Article 103 Structural Policy
 The Confederation may support economically threatened regions and promote
 branches of the economy and professions, if the measures of self-help that can
 reasonably be excepted are insufficient to ensure their existence. It may, if
 necessary, depart from the principle of economic freedom.

 Article 104 Agriculture

 (1) The Confederation shall ensure that agriculture contributes substantially by way
 of a sustainable and market-oriented production
 a. to the secure approvisionment of the population;
 b. to the conservation of national resources and the upkeep of rural scenery;
 c. to a decentralized inhabitation of the country.
 (2) In addition to the measures of self-help that may reasonably
 be expected from agriculture and, if necessary, in derogation of the principle of
 economic freedom, the Confederation shall promote farms cultivating the land.
 (3) It shall conceive the measures in such a way that agriculture may fulfill its
 multiple functions. Its powers and tasks shall particularly be the following:
 a. It shall complement agricultural revenues by direct payments, to secure a fair and
 adequate remuneration for the services rendered, provided that compliance with
 ecological requirements is proven;
 b. It shall promote, by way of economic incentives, forms of production which are
 particularly close to nature and friendly to the environment and the animals;
 c. It shall legislate on the declaration of origin, quality, production and processing
 methods for foodstuffs;
 d. It shall protect the environment against pollution due to excessive use of
 fertilizers, chemicals and other auxiliary substances;
 e. It may encourage agricultural research, counseling, and education, and subsidize
 investments;
 f. It may legislate on the consolidation of rural property.
 (4) To these ends it shall invest dedicated funds from the agricultural field and
 general federal funds.

 Article 105 Alcohol
 The legislation on the production, the importation, the refining, and the sale of
 distilled spirits is a federal matter. The Confederation shall, in particular, take into
 account the harmful effects of the consumption of alcohol.

 Article 106 Gambling

 (1) Legislation on gambling and lotteries is a federal matter.
 (2) A federal license is required to establish and run a gambling casino. When
 issuing a federal license, the Confederation shall take into account regional
 circumstances and the dangers of gambling.
 (3) The Confederation shall levy from casinos a tax on their revenues; this tax shall
 not exceed 80 percent of the gross revenues from gambling. It shall be used to
 cover the federal subsidy to old age, survivors', and disability insurance.
 (4) The licensing of gambling machines involving an element of skill and where
 money can be won is a cantonal matter.

 Article 107 Weapons and Military Material

 (1) The Confederation shall legislate on the misuse of weapons, associated
 equipment, and ammunition.
 (2) It shall legislate on the production, acquisition, distribution, importation,
 exportation, and transit of military material.

 Section 8 Housing, Work, Social Security and Health

 Article 108 Promotion of Construction and Ownership of Housing

 (1) The Confederation shall encourage the construction and the ownership of
 housing for private persons' own use, and the activity of developers and
 organisations for social housing.
 (2) It shall promote, in particular, the acquisition and development of land, the
 efficiency of construction, and the reduction of construction and housing costs.
 (3) It may legislate on the development of land for the construction of housing, and
 on efficiency in construction.
 (4) In fulfilling this task, it shall, in particular, take into account the interests of
 families and elderly, needy, and disabled persons.

 Article 109 Landlord and Tenant

 (1) The Confederation shall issue regulations against abuses in the field of landlord
 and tenant, particularly against abusive rent, on avoiding abusive notices of
 termination, and on the limited extension of tenancies.
 (2) It may legislate to confer generally binding effect on general contracts between
 landlords and tenants. Contracts may
 become generally binding only if they take fairly into account justified minority
 interests and regional differences, and respect the principle of equality be fore the
 law.

 Article 110 Labor

 (1) The Confederation may legislate on:
 a. the protection of employees;
 b. the relationship between employees and employers, in particular the common
 regulation of matters concerning an enterprise or a trade;
 c. placement services;
 d. conferring generally binding effect on collective labor contracts.
 (2) Collective labor contracts may receive generally binding effect only if they take
 fairly into account justified minority interests and regional differences, and respect
 the principle of equality before the law and the freedom to unionize.
 (3) August 1 is the Federal National Day. In labor law, it is assimilated to a Sunday,
 and paid.

 Article 111 Social Security

 (1) The Confederation shall take measures for an adequate social security for the
 elderly, survivors, and disabled persons. These shall be based on three pillars,
 namely, federal old age, survivors', and disability insurance, employee pension
 plans, and provision by individuals for their own future.
 (2) The Confederation shall ensure that the federal old age, survivors', and disability
 insurance, and the employee pension plans may fulfill their purpose durably.
 (3) It may oblige the Cantons to exempt from taxation the institutions of the federal
 old age, survivors', and disability insurance, and the employee pension plans, and to
 grant tax relief to persons insured and their employers for contributions paid, and
 entitlements to future benefits.
 (4) In cooperation with the Cantons, the Confederation shall encourage individuals to
 provide for their own future, particularly by fiscal measures and by policies
 encouraging ownership.

 Article 112 Old age, Survivors' and Disability Insurance

 (1) The Confederation shall legislate on the old age, survivors', and disability
 insurance.
 (2) In doing so, it shall respect the following principles:
 a. The insurance shall be mandatory;
 b. The pensions must cover basic living expenses appropriately;
 c. The maximal pension shall not exceed twice the minimal pension;
 d. The pensions shall at least be adapted to the development of prices.
 (3) The insurance shall be financed:
 a. by contributions of the insured persons; half the contributions of employees shall
 be paid by their employers;
 b.by subsidies of the Confederation and, if the statute so provides, of the Cantons.
 (4) Together, the subsidies of the Confederation and the Cantons shall not exceed
 half the disbursements.
 (5) The subsidies of the Confederation shall be primarily financed by the net
 proceeds of the tax on tobacco, the tax on distilled spirits, and the tax on the
 revenue from the operation of casinos.
 (6) The Confederation shall encourage the integration of disabled persons, and
 support efforts to assist the elderly, survivors, and disabled persons. To this end, it
 may use the funds of the old age, survivors', and disability insurance.

 Article 113 Employee Pension Plans

 (1) The Confederation shall legislate on employee pension plans.
 (2) In doing so, it shall respect the following principles:
 a. Employee pension plans together with the old age,
 survivors', and disability insurance shall ensure appropriately that the previous
 lifestyle may be maintained;
 b. Employee pension plans shall be mandatory for employees; the statute may
 foresee exceptions;
 c. Employers shall insure their employees with a pension institution. If necessary,
 the Confederation shall give them the possibility to insure their employees with a
 federal pension institution;
 d. Self-employed persons may voluntarily insure themselves with a pension
 institution;
 e. For particular groups of self-employed persons, the Confederation may declare
 employee pension plans mandatory, in general or only for particular risks.
 (3) Employee pension plans shall be financed through contributions by the insured
 persons; at least half the contribution of employees shall be paid by their
 employers.
 (4) Employee pension institutions must satisfy federal minimum requirements; the
 Confederation may provide for nationwide measures to resolve particular problems.

 Article 114 Unemployment Insurance

 (1) The Confederation shall legislate on unemployment insurance.
 (2) In doing so, it shall respect the following principles:
 a. The insurance shall guarantee an appropriate compensation for loss of earnings,
 and shall support measures to prevent and fight unemployment;
 b. Insurance shall be mandatory for employees; the statute may provide exceptions;
 c. Self-employed persons may voluntarily insure themselves.
 (3) The unemployment insurance shall be financed by the contributions of the
 insured persons. Half the contribution of employees shall be paid by their
 employers.
 (4) In extraordinary circumstances, the Confederation and the Cantons shall provide
 subsidies.
 (5) The Confederation may legislate on social assistance to the unemployed.

 Article 115 Assistance to Needy Persons
 Needy persons shall be assisted by the Cantons in which they are domiciled. The
 Confederation may provide for exceptions, and shall determine the competent
 authorities.

 Article 116 Family Allocations and Maternity Insurance

 (1) In fulfilling its tasks, the Confederation shall take into account the needs of the
 family. It may support measures to protect the family.
 (2) It may legislate on family allocations and operate a federal family compensation
 fund.
 (3) It shall institute a maternity insurance. It may also oblige persons to contribute
 who cannot benefit from the insurance.
 (4) The Confederation may declare mandatory joining a family compensation fund
 and maternity insurance generally or for certain categories of persons, and may
 make its subsidies dependent upon fair contributions by the Cantons.

 Article 117 Health and Accident Insurance

 (1) The Confederation shall legislate on health and accident insurance.
 (2) It may declare mandatory health and accident insurance generally or for certain
 categories of persons.

 Article 118 Protection of Health

 (1) Within the limits of its powers, the Confederation shall take measures for the
 protection of
 health.
 (2) It shall legislate on:
 a. the use of foodstuffs and of therapeutics, drugs, organisms, chemicals, and
 objects which may be dangerous to health;
 b. fighting contagious, widespread or particularly dangerous
 human and animal diseases;
 c. protection against ionizing radiation.

 Article 119 Medical Assistance to Procreation and Gene Technology in the
 Human Field

 (1) Persons shall be protected against the abuse of medically assisted procreation
 and gene technology.
 (2) The Confederation shall legislate on the use of human reproductive and genetic
 material. It shall ensure the protection of human dignity, of personality, and of
 family, and in particular it shall respect the following principles:
 a. All forms of cloning and interference with genetic material of human reproductive
 cells and embryos is prohibited;
 b. Non-human reproductive and genetic material may neither be introduced into nor
 combined with human reproductive material;
 c. Methods of medically assisted procreation may only be used when sterility or the
 danger of transmission of a serious illness cannot be avoided otherwise, but neither
 in order to induce certain characteristics in the child nor to conduct research. The
 fertilization of human ova outside a woman's body shall be permitted only under
 conditions determined by statute. No more human ova may be developed into
 embryos outside a woman's body than are capable of being immediately implanted
 into her;
 d. The donation of embryos and all forms of surrogate maternity are prohibited;
 e. No trade may be conducted with human reproductive material or with any product
 obtained from embryos;
 f. A person's genetic material may only be analyzed, registered or disclosed with
 the consent of that person, or if a statute so provides;
 g. Every person shall have access to the data concerning his or her ancestry.

 Article 120 Gene Technology in the Non-Human Field

 (1) Persons and their environment shall be protected against abuse of gene
 technology.
 (2) The Confederation shall legislate on the use of the reproductive and genetic
 material of animals, plants, and other organisms. In doing so, it shall take into
 account the dignity of creation and the security of man, animal and environment,
 and shall protect the genetic multi plicity of animal and vegetal species.

 Section 9 Residence and Domicile of Foreigners

 Article 121 [General Provisions]

 (1) Legislation on immigration, emigration, residence and domicile of foreigners, and
 on granting asylum are federal matters.
 (2) Foreigners who endanger Switzerland's security may be removed from
 Switzerland by force.

 Section 10 Civil and Criminal Law, Weights and Measures

 Article 122 Civil Law

 (1) Legislation in the field of civil law and civil procedure is a federal matter.
 (2) The organization of the judiciary and civil justice are cantonal matters unless
 otherwise provided by statute.

 Article 123 Criminal Law

 (1) Legislation in the field of criminal law and criminal procedure is a federal matter.
 (2) The organization of the judiciary, criminal justice, and execution of criminal
 penalties and measures are cantonal matters, unless otherwise provided by statute.

 Article 124 Aid to Victims of Criminal Acts
 The Confederation and the Cantons shall ensure that the victims of criminal acts
 against the corporal, mental, or sexual integrity
 receive assistance and appropriate compensation if, as a consequence of the
 criminal act, they suffer financial difficulties.

 Article 125 Weights and Measures
 Legislation on weights and measures is a federal matter.

 Chapter 3 Finances

 Article 126 Budget

 (1) The Confederation shall keep its expenditure and receipts in balance in the long
 term.
 (2) It shall reduce the federal debt. In doing so, it shall take the economic situation
 into consideration.

 Article 127 Principles of Taxation

 (1) The general principles of taxation, particularly the circle of taxpayers, and the
 object of the tax and its calculation, shall be established by statute.
 (2) To the extent that the nature of the tax allows it, the principles of universality and
 equality of tax treatment and of taxation according to economic capacity shall be
 followed.
 (3) Intercantonal double taxation is prohibited. The Confederation shall take the
 necessary measures.

 Article 128 Direct Taxes

 (1) The Confederation may raise a direct tax:
 a. of at most 11.5 percent on the income of natural persons;
 b. of at most 9.8 percent on the net profit of legal entities;
 c. of at most 0.0825 percent on the capital and the reserves of legal entities.
 (2) In establishing the tax scales, the Confederation shall take into account the
 burden of direct taxes on the Cantons and the Municipalities.
 (3) The effect on natural persons of the shift into higher tax brackets due to inflation
 shall be periodically equalized.
 (4) The Cantons shall assess and collect the taxes. Three tenths of the gross tax
 yield shall fall to the Cantons; at least one sixth of this amount shall be used for
 financial equalization among Cantons.

 Article 129 Harmonization of Taxes

 (1) The Confederation establishes principles on the harmonization of direct taxes of
 the Confederation, Cantons, and Municipalities; she takes into account the efforts of
 the Cantons to harmonize their taxes.
 (2) The harmonization extends to the duty to pay taxes, the object of taxation, its
 period, and procedural and criminal law on taxation. Harmonization does not cover
 tax scales, tax rates, and tax-exempt amounts.
 (3) The Confederation may issue regulations against arrangements granting
 unjustified tax advantages.

 Article 130 Value Added Tax

 (1) The Confederation may levy a value added tax with a maximum tax rate of 6.5
 percent on the supply of goods and services, including own use, and on imports.
 (2) 5 percent of the tax yield shall be used for measures in favor of low income
 groups.
 (3) If, because of the development of the age structure, the financing of the old age,
 survivors', and disability insurance is no longer secured, the value added tax rate
 may be raised by at most 1 percent point by Federal Statute.

 Article 131 Special Consumption Taxes

 (1) The Confederation may levy special consumption taxes on the following:
 a. tobacco and tobacco products;
 b. distilled spirits;
 c. beer;
 d. automobiles and their components;
 e. crude, oil, other mineral fuels, natural gas, and products obtained through refining
 them, and on motor fuels.
 (2) It may levy a surtax on motor fuels.
 (3) One tenth of the net yield of the tax on distilled spirits shall be credited to the
 Cantons. These funds shall be used to fight the causes and the effects of addiction.

 Article 132 Stamp and Withholding Taxes

 (1) The Confederation may levy a stamp tax on securities, on insurance premium
 receipts, and on other documents of commerce; documents concerning operations
 in immovable property and mortgages shall be exempt from stamp tax.
 (2) The Confederation may levy a withholding tax on the revenue from movable
 capital assets, on lottery gains, and on insurance benefits.

 Article 133 Customs Duties
 Legislation on customs duties and other levies on trans-border goods traffic is a
 federal matter.

 Article 134 Exclusion of Cantonal and Municipal Taxation
 What federal legislation subjects to value added tax, to a special consumption tax,
 to stamp tax, or to withholding tax, or declares to be exempt from these taxes, may
 not be taxed by the Cantons and the Municipalities with taxes of the same kind.

 Article 135 Financial Equalization

 (1) The Confederation shall promote financial equalization among the Cantons.
 (2) When granting subsidies, it shall take into account the financial capacity of the
 Cantons and the special situation of the mountainous regions.

 Title 4 People and Cantons

 Chapter 1 General Provisions

 Article 136 Political Rights

 (1) All Swiss citizens who are 18 years or older, and are not under guardianship
 because of mental illness or weakness, shall have political rights in federal matters.
 All shall have the same political rights and obligations.
 (2) They may participate in elections to the House of Representatives and in federal
 votations, and may launch and sign popular initiatives and referenda in federal
 matters.

 Article 137 Political Parties
 The political parties shall contribute to the forming of the opinion and the will of the
 People.

 Chapter 2 Initiative and Referendum

 Article 138 Popular Initiative for Total Revision of the Federal Constitution

 (1) 100 000 citizens entitled to vote may propose a total revision of the Federal
 Constitution.
 (2) This proposal has to be submitted to the people by referendum.

 Article 139 Popular Initiative for Partial Revision of the Federal Constitution

 (1) 100 000 citizens entitled to vote may propose a partial revision of the Federal
 Constitution.
 (2) The popular initiative for a partial revision of the Federal Constitution may be in
 the form of a general suggestion or a formulated draft.
 (3) If an initiative does not respect the principle of unity of form, the principle of unity
 of subject matter, or mandatory rules of international law, the Federal Parliament
 shall declare the initiative invalid, in whole or in part.
 (4) If the Federal Parliament approves an initiative in the form of a general
 suggestion, it shall prepare a partial revision in the sense of the initiative, and
 submit it to the vote of the people and the Cantons. If it rejects the initiative, it shall
 submit it to the vote of the People; the People shall decide whether the initiative
 should be followed. If the People approves the initiative, the Federal Parliament shall
 formulate a corresponding draft.
 (5) An initiative in the form of a formulated draft shall be submitted to the vote of the
 People and the Cantons. The
 Federal Parliament shall recommend its approval or its rejection. If it recommends
 its rejection, it may submit its own counter-draft.
 (6) The People and the Cantons shall vote simultaneously on the initiative and the
 counter-draft. The voters may approve both drafts. They may indicate which draft
 they prefer, should both be approved; should one of the drafts obtain the majority of
 the People's votes and the other the majority of the votes of the Cantons, neither of
 them shall come into force.

 Article 140 Mandatory Referendum

 (1) The following shall be submitted to the vote of the People and the Cantons:
 a. Revisions of the Federal Constitution;
 b. The entry into organizations for collective security or into supranational
 communities;
 c. Federal Statutes declared urgent which have no constitutional basis and whose
 validity exceeds one year; such Federal Statutes must be submitted to the vote
 within one year after their adoption by the Federal Parliament.
 (2) The following shall be submitted to the vote of the People:
 a. Popular initiatives for total revision of the Federal Constitution;
 b. Popular initiatives for partial revision of the Federal Constitution in the form of a
 general suggestion which were rejected by the Federal Parliament;
 c. The question whether a total revision of the Constitution should be carried out if
 both Chambers disagree.

 Article 141 Optional Referendum

 (1) The following are submitted to the vote of the People at the request of 50'000
 citizens entitled to vote, or of eight Cantons:
 a. Federal Statutes;
 b. Federal Statutes declared urgent with a validity exceeding one year;
 c. Federal decrees to the extent the Constitution or the statute foresee this;
 d. International treaties which:
 1. are of unlimited duration and may not be terminated;
 2. provide for the entry into an international organization;
 3. involve a multilateral unification of law.
 (2) The Federal Parliament may submit further international treaties to optional
 referendum.

 Article 142 Required Majorities

 (1) Proposals submitted to the vote of the People shall be accepted if the majority of
 those voting approves them.
 (2) Proposals submitted to the vote of the People and the Cantons shall be
 accepted if the majority of those voting and the majority of the Cantons approve
 them.
 (3) The result of a popular vote in a Canton determines the vote of that Canton.
 (4) The Cantons of Obwald, Nidwald, Basle-City, Basle-Land, Appenzell Outer
 Rhodes and Appenzell Inner Rhodes have each one half of a cantonal vote.

 Title 5 Federal Authorities

 Chapter 1 General Provisions

 Article 143 Eligibility
 Every Swiss citizen entitled to vote is eligible for membership in the House of
 Representatives, the Federal Government, and the Federal Supreme Court.

 Article 144 Incompatibilities

 (1) Members of the House of Representatives, of the Senate, of the Federal
 Government, and Judges of the Federal Supreme Court may not at the same time
 be members of another of these bodies.
 (2) The members of the Federal Government and the full-time judges of the Federal
 Supreme Court may not carry out another function of the Confederation or a Canton,
 nor may they exercise another gainful activity.
 (3) The statute may provide for other incompatibilities.

 Article 145 Term of Office
 The members of the House of Representatives, the Federal Government, and the
 Chancellor of the Confederation shall be elected for four years. The judges of the
 Federal Supreme Court shall be elected for six years.

 Article 146 Answerability of the State
 The Confederation shall be answerable for damage caused illegally by its organs in
 the exercise of their official activities.

 Article 147 Hearings and Consultations
 The Cantons, the political parties, and the interested circles shall be heard in the
 course of the preparation of important legislation and other projects of substantial
 impact, and on important international treaties.

 Chapter 2 Federal Parliament

 Section 1 Organisation

 Article 148 Status

 (1) Subject to the rights of the People and the Cantons, the Federal Parliament is
 the highest authority of the Confederation.
 (2) It has two Chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate; which have
 equal powers.

 Article 149 Composition and Election of the House of Representatives

 (1) The House of Representatives shall be composed of 200 representatives of the
 People.
 (2) The representatives shall be elected directly by the People according to the
 system of proportional representation. The House of Representatives shall be
 renewed in full every four years.
 (3) Each Canton shall form an electoral district.
 (4) The seats shall be distributed among the Cantons in proportion to their
 population. Each Canton shall have at least one seat.

 Article 150 Composition and Election of the Senate

 (1) The Senate shall consist of 46 delegates of the Cantons.
 (2) The Cantons of Obwald, Nidwald, Basle-City, Basle-Land, Appenzell Outer
 Rhodes and Appenzell Inner Rhodes shall elect one Senator each, the other
 Cantons shall elect two Senators.
 (3) The Cantons shall regulate the election of their Senators.

 Article 151 Session Periods

 (1) The Chambers shall meet regularly for sessions. The Statute shall regulate the
 calling of sessions.
 (2) One fourth of the members of a Chamber or the Federal Government may
 request that the Chambers be called to an extraordinary session period.

 Article 152 Presidency
 Each Chamber shall elect from its midst for a term of one year, a President, the first
 VicePresident, and the second Vice-President. These mandates shall not be
 renewable for the following year.

 Article 153 Parliamentary Commissions

 (1) Each Chamber shall appoint commissions from its midst.
 (2) The statute may foresee joint commissions.
 (3) The statute may delegate certain powers that are not of a legislative nature to
 commissions.
 (4) To fulfill their tasks, the commissions shall have the right to obtain information,
 to consult documents, and to conduct inquiries. The statute shall define the limits of
 these rights.

 Article 154 Parliamentary Groups
 The members of the Federal Parliament may form parliamentary groups.

 Article 155 Parliamentary Services
 The Federal Parliament shall benefit from parliamentary services. It may call upon
 the services of the Federal Administration. The statute shall regulate the modalities.

 Section 2 Procedure

 Article 156 Separate Deliberation

 (1) The House of Representatives and the Senate shall deliberate separately.
 (2) Decisions of the Federal Parliament shall require the approval of both Chambers.

 Article 157 Joint Deliberation

 (1) The House of Representatives and the Senate shall deliberate in common as the
 Federal Parliament in Joint Session under the chairmanship of the President of the
 House of Representatives in order to:
 a. hold elections;
 b. rule on jurisdictional disputes between the highest federal authorities;
 c. to rule on petitions for pardon.
 (2) The Federal Parliament in Joint Session shall assemble for special occasions,
 and to hear declarations of the Federal Government.

 Article 158 Meetings to be Public
 The meetings of the Chambers shall be public. The Statute may provide for
 exceptions.

 Article 159 Quorum and Majority

 (1) The Chambers may deliberate validly if the majority of its members are present.
 (2) The decisions are taken in both Chambers and in the Federal Parliament in Joint
 Session by the majority of those voting.
 (3) However, the majority of the members of each Chamber shall be required for the
 following:
 a.The declaration of urgency of Federal Statutes;
 b. Provisions granting subsidies, authorizing credit lines, and establishing spending
 ceilings which cause new one-time expenditures exceeding 20 Million Swiss
 Francs, or new recurrent expenditures exceeding 2 Million Swiss Francs.
 (4) The Federal Parliament may adjust these amounts to inflation by an ordinance.

 Article 160 Right to Initiatives and Motions

 (1) Every member of the Federal Parliament, every parliamentary group, every
 parliamentary commission, and every Canton, have the right to submit initiatives to
 the Federal Parliament.
 (2) The members of the Federal Parliament and of the Federal Government may
 present motions concerning a proposal under deliberation.

 Article 161 Prohibition of Instructed Mandates

 (1) The members of the Federal Parliament shall vote without instructions.
 (2) They shall reveal their links with interest groups.

 Article 162 Immunity

 (1) The members of the Federal Parliament and the Federal
 Government, and the Federal Chancellor may not be held responsible for their
 statements in the Chambers and before parliamentary organs.
 (2) The statute may provide for further forms of immunity, and extend them to other
 persons.

 Section 3 Powers

 Article 163 Form of Laws and Decrees by the Federal Parliament

 (1) The Federal Parliament shall enact rules of law in the form of a Federal Statute
 or ordinance.
 (2) The other acts shall use the form of a federal decree. A federal decree not
 subjected to referendum shall be called a simple federal decree.

 Article 164 Legislation

 (1) All important provisions establishing rules of law must be enacted in the form of
 Federal Statutes. These include the fundamental provisions on:
 a. the exercise of political rights;
 b. the restrictions of constitutional rights;
 c. the rights and obligations of persons;
 d. the circle of tax payers, and the object and the calculation of taxes;
 e. the tasks and services of the Confederation;
 f. the obligations of the Cantons when implementing and executing federal law;
 g. the organization and the procedure of federal authorities.
 (2) A Federal Statute may delegate the power to legislate unless this is excluded by
 the Federal Constitution.

 Article 165 Urgent Legislation

 (1) A Federal Statute whose coming into force tolerates no delay, may be declared
 urgent by the majority of each Chamber and put into force immediately. It must be
 limited in time.
 (2) If a referendum is demanded against an urgent Federal Statute, it shall lapse one
 year after its adoption by the Federal Parliament, unless it is approved by the
 People within that period.
 (3) An urgent Federal Statute that has no constitutional basis shall lapse one year
 after its adoption by the Federal Parliament, unless it was adopted within that period
 by the People and the Cantons. It must be limited in time.
 (4) An urgent Federal Statute that was not adopted in a votation may not be
 renewed.

 Article 166 Foreign Relations and International Treaties

 (1) The Federal Parliament shall participate in shaping foreign policy, and shall
 supervise foreign relations.
 (2) It shall approve international treaties, with the exception of those which by
 statute or international treaty are within the powers of the Federal Government.

 Article 167 Finances
 The Federal Parliament shall decide on federal spending, shall adopt the budget,
 and shall approve the federal accounts.

 Article 168 Elections

 (1) The Federal Parliament shall elect the members of the Federal Government, the
 Federal Chancellor, the judges of the Federal Supreme Court, and the General.
 (2) The Statute may empower the Federal Parliament to carry out further elections
 or to confirm appointments.

 Article 169 High Supervision

 (1) The Federal Parliament shall exercise the high supervision over the Federal
 Government, the Federal Administration, the Federal Courts and the other organs
 entrusted with tasks of the Confederation.
 (2) Official secrecy shall not be opposable to those special delegations of
 supervisory commissions that are appointed as
 provided by Statute.

 Article 170 Evaluation of Efficacy
 The Federal Parliament shall ensure that the efficacy of measures taken by the
 Confederation is evaluated.

 Article 171 Mandates to the Federal Government
 The Federal Parliament may confer mandates to the Federal Government. The
 statute shall regulate the modalities, and, in particular, the instruments which the
 Federal Parliament may use to influence matters within the powers of the Federal
 Government.

 Article 172 Relations between the Confederation and the Cantons

 (1) The Federal Parliament shall maintain the relations between the Confederation
 and the Cantons.
 (2) It shall guarantee the cantonal constitutions.
 (3) It shall decide whether to approve intercantonal treaties and treaties between
 Cantons and foreign countries, should the Federal Government or a Canton raise an
 objection.

 Article 173 Further Tasks and Powers

 (1) The Federal Parliament shall further have the following tasks and powers:
 a. It shall take measures to safeguard the external security, the independence, and
 the neutrality of Switzerland;
 b. It shall take measures to secure the inner security;
 c. If extraordinary circumstances so require, it may issue ordinances or simple
 federal decrees to fulfill the tasks according to letters a and b;
 d. It shall order active military service, and to this end, shall mobilize all or part of
 the army.
 e. It shall take measures to enforce federal law;
 f. It shall decide on the validity of popular initiatives that meet the formal
 requirements;
 g. It shall cooperate in important planning of state activities;
 h. It shall decide on individual acts, if a Federal Statute so provides expressly;
 i. It shall decide conflicts or jurisdiction between the highest federal authorities;
 k. It shall decide on petitions for pardon and declare amnesties.
 (2) The Federal Parliament shall moreover deal with all subjects that are within the
 powers of the Confederation, and are not attributed to another federal authority.
 (3) The Statute may assign other tasks and powers to the Federal Parliament.

 Chapter 3 Federal Government and Federal Administration

 Section 1 Organisation and Procedure

 Article 174 Federal Government
 The Federal Government is the highest governing and executive authority of the
 Confederation.

 Article 175 Composition and Election

 (1) The Federal Government shall consist of seven members.
 (2) The members of the Federal Government shall be elected by the Federal
 Parliament after each full renewal of the House of Representatives.
 (3) Not more than one member from the same Canton shall be elected.

 Article 176 Presidency

 (1) The President of the Confederation shall chair the Federal Government.
 (2) The Federal Parliament shall elect, for a term of one year, one of the members of
 the Federal Government as President of the Confederation, and another as
 Vice-President of the Federal Government.
 (3) These mandates may not be renewed for the following year. The President of the
 Confederation shall not be eligible to be Vice-President for the following year.

 Article 177 Principle of Collective Authority and Division into Departments

 (1) The Federal Government shall take its decisions as a collective body.
 (2) For the preparation and implementation of the decisions, the matters of the
 Federal Government shall be distributed amongst its members according to
 Departments.
 (3) Matters shall be entrusted to Departments or administrative units subordinated
 to them to be settled directly; in such cases, the right of recourse to a remedy shall
 be guaranteed.

 Article 178 Federal Administration

 (1) The Federal Government shall direct the Federal Administration. It shall ensure
 its efficient organization and the effective fulfillment of its tasks.
 (2) The Federal Administration shall be divided into Departments; each Department
 is directed by one member of the Federal Government.
 (3) The statute may attribute administrative tasks to organizations and persons of
 public or private law outside the Federal Administration.

 Article 179 Federal Chancery
 The Federal Chancery is the general staff of the Federal Government. It shall be
 directed by a Federal Chancellor.

 Section 2 Powers

 Article 180 Government Policy

 (1) The Federal Government shall determine the goals and the means of its
 government policy. It shall plan and coordinate the activities of the state.
 (2) It shall inform the public timely and fully of its activity, unless preponderant
 public or private interests prevent this.

 Article 181 Initiative
 The Federal Government shall submit to the Federal Parliament drafts of its
 legislation.

 Article 182 Legislation and Implementation

 (1) The Federal Government shall legislate in the form of ordinances, insofar as the
 Constitution or the statute empower it to do so.
 (2) It shall ensure the implementation of statutes, of decrees of the Federal
 Parliament, and of judgments of the federal judiciary.

 Article 183 Finances

 (1) The Federal Government shall prepare the financing plan, draft the budget and
 establish the federal accounts.
 (2) It shall ensure correct financial management.

 Article 184 Foreign Relations

 (1) The Federal Government shall conduct foreign relations safeguarding the Federal
 Parliament's participation rights; it shall represent Switzerland abroad.
 (2) It shall sign treaties and ratify them. It shall submit them to the Federal
 Parliament for approval.(3) When the safeguard of the interests of the country so
 require, the Federal Government may issue ordinances and orders. Ordinances
 must be limited in time.

 Article 185 External and Inner Security

 (1) The Federal Government shall take measures to secure the external security,
 the independence, and the neutrality of Switzerland.
 (2) It shall take measures to safeguard the inner security.
 (3) It may base itself directly on the present article to issue ordinances and orders
 to obviate existing or imminent great
 disturbances of the public order, the external or the inner security. Such ordinances
 shall be limited in time.
 (4) In urgent cases, it may mobilize troops. If it mobilizes more than 4000 members
 of the armed forces for active duty, or if the mobilization for active duty is expected
 to last more than three weeks, the Federal Parliament must be convened without
 delay.

 Article 186 Relations between the Confederation and the Cantons

 (1) The Federal Government shall entertain the relations between the Confederation
 and the Cantons, and shall collaborate with the Cantons.
 (2) It shall approve cantonal legislation where the implementation of federal law so
 requires.
 (3) It may raise objections against treaties amongst the Cantons, or between
 Cantons and foreign countries.
 (4) It shall ensure the implementation of federal law, cantonal constitutions, and
 intercantonal treaties, and shall take the necessary measures.

 Article 187 Further Tasks and Powers

 (1) The Federal Government shall further have the following tasks and powers:
 a. It shall supervise the Federal Administration and the other organizations or
 persons entrusted with tasks of the Confederation;
 b. It shall regularly inform the Federal Parliament of its activity and on the state of
 the country;
 c. It shall carry out the appointments that are not in the powers of other authorities;
 d. It shall decide on remedies where the statute so provides.
 (2) The statute may attribute further tasks and powers to the Federal Government.

 Chapter 4 Federal Supreme Court and other Judicial Authorities

 Article 188 Position of Federal Supreme Court

 (1) The Federal Supreme Court is the highest federal judicial authority.
 (2) Its organization and its procedure shall be regulated by statute.
 (3) The Federal Supreme Court shall provide for its own administration.

 Article 189 Jurisdiction of Federal Supreme Court

 (1) The Federal Supreme Court has jurisdiction over:
 a. complaints regarding the violation of constitutional rights;
 b. complaints regarding the violation of communal autonomy and other cantonal
 guarantees on the behalf associations of public law;
 c. complaints regarding the violation of international or intercantonal contracts;
 d. public law disputes between the Confederation and the Cantons or between
 Cantons.
 (2) The statute may provide for further grounds for jurisdiction of the Federal
 Supreme Court.

 Article 190 Jurisdiction in Civil, Criminal and Public Law

 (1) The statues provides for the jurisdiction of the Federal Supreme Court regarding
 civil, ciriminal and public law and in all other areas of the law.
 (2) The Cantons may, with the consent of the Federal Parliament, assign to the
 Federal Supreme Court for its determination disputes of cantonal public law.

 Article 191 Relevant Law
 Federal statutes and public international law are the relevant laws for the Federal
 Supreme Court and other law-applying public agencies.

 Title 6 Revision of the Federal Constitution and Temporal Provisions

 Chapter 1 Revision

 Article 192 Principle

 (1) The Federal Constitution may be subjected to a total or a partial revision at any
 time.
 (2) Where the Federal Constitution and implementing legislation do not provide
 otherwise, the revision shall follow the legislative process.

 Article 193 Total Revision

 (1) A total revision of the Federal Constitution may be proposed by the People or by
 one of the Chambers, or may be decreed by the Federal Parliament.
 (2) If the initiative emanates from the People or if the Chambers disagree, the
 People shall decide whether a total revision shall be undertaken.
 (3) Should the People accept a total revision, both Chambers shall be newly
 elected.
 (4) The mandatory provisions of international law may not be violated.

 Article 194 Partial Revision

 (1) A partial revision of the Federal Constitution may be requested by the People, or
 be decreed by the Federal Parliament.
 (2) A partial revision must respect the principle of the unity of subject matter; it may
 not violate the mandatory provisions of international law.
 (3) A popular initiative for partial revision must, moreover, respect the principle of the
 unity of form.

 Article 195 Entry into Force
 The Constitution revised in total or in part shall enter into force as soon as it is
 accepted by the People and the Cantons.

 Chapter 2 Transitory Provisions

 Article 196 [Transitory Provisions]
 1. Transitory Provision to Art. 84 (Transalpine Traffic)
 The transfer of freight transit traffic from road to rail shall be completed ten years
 after the adoption of the popular initiative for the protection of the alpine regions from
 transit traffic.
 2. Transitory Provision to Art. 85 (Flat Heavy Traffic Charge)
 (1) The Confederation shall levy an annual charge on each domestic and foreign
 motor vehicle and trailer having a total weight of over 3.5 tons for the use of roads
 open to general traffic.
 (2) The charge shall be:
 a. for lorries and articulated motor vehicles of
 - over 3,5 up to 12t: CHF 650
 - over 12 up to 18t: CHF 2000
 - over 18 up to 26t: CHF 3000
 - over 26t: CHF 4000
 b. for trailers of
 - over 3,5 up to 8t: CHF 650
 - over 8 up to 10t: CHF 1500
 - over 10t: CHF 2000
 c. for coaches: CHF 650
 (3) The rates may be adjusted by means of a Federal Statute, insofar as this is
 justified by the cost of road traffic.
 (4) The Federal Government may, moreover, by means of an ordinance, bring the
 tariff categories that apply above 12 tons listed in paragraph 2 into line with possible
 amendments of the weight categories defined in the road traffic statute.
 (5) For vehicles which are not on the road in Switzerland during the whole year, the
 Federal Government shall establish suitably gradual rates, taking into account the
 costs of collecting the charge.
 (6) The Federal Government shall regulate the implementation. It may establish the
 rates foreseen in subsection 2 for special
 categories of vehicles, exempt certain vehicles from the charge, and establish
 special regulations, particularly for journeys in border areas. Such regulations shall
 not result in vehicles registered abroad being treated more favorably than Swiss
 vehicles. The Federal Government may foresee fines in case of infractions. The
 Cantons shall collect the charges on vehicles registered in Switzerland.
 (7) The charge may be wholly or partly abolished by statute.
 (8) The present article shall apply until the coming into force of the Federal Statute
 of December 19, 1997 on the heavy traffic duty related to motor power or
 consumption.
 3. Transitory Provision to Art. 87 (Railroad and other Traffic)
 (1) The Major Railroad Projects are the New Alpine Crossing, Rail 2000, the link of
 Eastern and Western Switzerland to the European high-speed railroad network, and
 the improvement by active and passive measures of protection against noise along
 railroad lines.
 (2) In order to finance the Major Railroad Projects, the Federal Government may:
 a. use the full yield of the flat heavy traffic charge set out in Art. 196, subsection 2
 until the charge on heavy goods traffic related to motor power or consumption
 according to Article 85 comes into force, and may, for this purpose, at most double
 the rates;
 b. use no more than two thirds of the yield of the heavy goods traffic charge related
 to motor power or consumption set out in Art. 85;
 c. use funds yielded by the tax on mineral fuels set out in Art. 86, subsection 3,
 letter b to cover 25 percent of the total costs for the basic lines of the New Alpine
 Crossing;
 d. raise funds on the capital markets, but no more than 25 percent of the general
 costs of the new alpine crossing, Rail 2000, and the link of Eastern and Western
 Switzerland to the European high-speed railroad network;
 e. raise by .1 percent points all value added tax rates (including surtax) out in Art.
 196, subsection 14 and Art. 130;
 f. provide for additional financing from private sources or international organizations.
 (3) The financing of the Major Railroad Projects according to paragraph 1 shall be
 assured by a fund legally dependent on the Confederation, but keeping separate
 accounts. The proceeds from the tolls and taxes set out in paragraph 2 shall be
 credited to the financial accounts of the Confederation, and transferred into the fund
 the same year. The Confederation may grant advances to the fund. The Federal
 Parliament shall issue the regulations for the fund by means of an ordinance.
 (4) The four Major Railroad Projects according to paragraph 1 shall be adopted by
 means of Federal Statutes. For each major project as a whole, its necessity and
 status of planning must be established. For the New Alpine Crossing project, the
 various construction phases shall be defined in the Federal Statute. The Federal
 Parliament shall allocate the necessary funds by way of authorizing credit lines. The
 Federal Government shall approve the construction mile stones, and determine the
 timetable.
 (5) This provision shall apply until the construction of the Major Railroad Projects
 mentioned in paragraph 1 is completed, and their financing has ended (through
 repayment of advances)
 4. Transitory Provision to Art. 90 (Nuclear Energy)
 Until September 23, 2000, no general, building, start-up, or operating permit shall be
 granted for new installations for the production of nuclear energy.
 5. Transitory Provision to Art. 95 (Private Economic Activity)
 Until federal legislation is adopted, the Cantons shall mutually recognize their
 education or training certificates.
 6. Transitory Provision to Art. 102 (Approvisionment of the Country)
 (1) The Confederation shall ensure the approvisionment of the country with millable
 cereals and baking flour.
 (2) This transitory provision shall remain in effect until December 31, 2003 at the
 latest.
 7. Transitory Provision to Art. 103 (Structural Policy)
 For no more than ten years from the entry into force of the Constitution, the Cantons
 may, to secure the existence of important parts of a particular sector of the hotel
 and restaurant indus try, continue to apply existing regulations that make the
 opening of new businesses in that sector conditional upon establishingf a need.
 8. Transitory Provision to Art. 106 (Gambling)
 (1) Article 106 shall enter into force with the entry into force of a new Federal
 Statute on gambling and casinos.
 (2) Until that date, the following provisions shall apply:
 a. It shall be prohibited to open and to operate casinos.
 b. The Cantonal Governments may, under certain limitations mandated by public
 interest, authorize entertainment gambling as was customary in Kursaals until the
 Spring of 1925, if the competent authority is of the opinion that this gambling is
 necessary to maintain or develop tourism, and if it is organized by a Kursaal
 operator serving this purpose. The Cantons may also prohibit this type of gambling.
 c. The Federal Government shall issue an ordinance on the limitations mandated by
 public interest. The stake shall be no more than CHF 5.--.
 d. Each cantonal gambling license must be approved by the Federal Government.
 e. One fourth of the raw receipts of the gambling operations must be credited to the
 Confederation which shall use this part, without regard to its own prestations, for the
 benefit of victims of natural disasters, and for institutions of public assistance.
 f. The Confederation may also take the necessary measures concerning lotteries.
 9. Transitory Provision to Art. 110 Subsection 3 (National Day)
 (1) Until the entry into force of the new federal legislation, the Federal Government
 shall regulate the modalities.
 (2) Swiss National Day shall not be included in the number of holidays established
 in Art. 18, par. 2 of the Labor Statute.
 10. Transitory Provision to Art. 112 (Old age, Survivors', and Disability Insurance)
 As long as the federal old age, survivors', and disability insurance does not cover the
 basic living expenses, the Confederation shall grant the Cantons subsidies for the
 financing of supplementary benefits.
 11. Transitory Provision to Art. 113 (Employment Pension Plans)
 Insured persons who belong to the generation at the time of the introduction of
 mandatory employee pension plans, and therefore did not contribute for the full time,
 shall receive the minimum statutory benefits, according to their income, within 10 to
 20 years after the entry into force of the statute.
 12. Transitory Provision to Art. 126 (Financial Order)
 (1) The deficit in the financial accounts of the Confederation shall be reduced
 through savings until the accounts are substantially balanced.
 (2) The deficit may not exceed 5000 Million Swiss Francs in the 1999 accounts and
 2500 Million in the 2000 accounts. In the 2001 accounts, it shall be reduced to at
 most 2 percent of the receipts.
 (3) If the economic situation so requires, the majority of the members of both
 Chambers may extend by way of a decree the deadlines according to paragraph 2
 at most by two years altogether.
 (4) The Federal Parliament and the Federal Government shall take into account the
 objectives of paragraph 2 when establishing the budget and the long-term financing
 plan, and when deliberating on all matters having financial consequences.
 (5) When implementing the budget, the Federal Government shall use all saving
 opportunities. To this end, it may freeze credits and credit lines already authorised.
 Statutory rights and subsidies promised in individual cases with force of law shall be
 reserved.
 (6) If the objectives according to paragraph 2 are missed, the
 Federal Government shall determine which amount must be additionally saved. To
 this end,
 a. it shall decide on additional savings within its powers;
 b. it shall propose to the Federal Parliament amendments of statutes leading to
 additional savings.
 (7) The Federal Government shall establish the total sum of the additional savings in
 such a way that the objectives shall be achieved with a delay of no more than two
 years. The savings shall be made both on subsidies to third parties and in the field
 of the Confederation itself.
 (8) The two Chambers shall decide on the motions of the Federal Government in the
 same session, and shall put their decree into force following the procedure of Art.
 165 of the Constitution; they shall be bound to the amount of savings established by
 the Federal Government according to paragraph 6.
 (9) Should the deficit in a later yearly account again exceed 2 percent of the
 receipts, it shall be reduced in the following yearly accounts to this objective. If the
 economy so requires, the Federal Parliament may, by way of an ordinance, extend
 the period by no more than two years. In all other respects, the procedure follows
 paragraphs 4 to 8.
 (10) This provision shall remain in effect until it shall be replaced by constitutional
 law measures to limit the federal deficit and the federal debt.
 13. Transitory Provision to Art. 128 (Term of Tax Levy)
 The direct federal tax may be levied until the end of 2006.
 14. Transitory Provision to Art. 130 (Value Added Tax)
 (1) Until a statute on value added tax shall enter into force, the implementing
 provisions shall be established by the Federal Government. For the implementing
 provisions, the following principles shall apply:
 a. The following shall be taxable:
 1. The supply of goods and services that a business provides against payment
 within Switzerland (including own use);
 2. The import of goods.
 b. The following shall be exempt from the tax, and there shall be no right to deduct
 previous tax:
 1. Postal service within the framework of its monopoly with the exception of the
 transportation of persons;
 2. Health services;
 3. Social welfare and social security services;
 4. Services related to education, teaching, and care of children and young persons;
 5. Cultural services;
 6. Insurance transactions;
 7. Money market and capital market transactions, with the exception of asset
 management and recovery of debt;
 8. Transfer, long term leasing, and letting of immovable property;
 9. Betting, lotteries, and other games of chance;
 10. Services rendered by non-profit organizations to their members against payment
 of a contribution fixed in the articles of incorporation;
 11. Supply of official Swiss postage stamps used as such. To safeguard fair
 competition or to simplify the collection of the tax, voluntary taxation of the
 transactions listed above may be permitted with a right to deduct the tax in
 advance.
 c. The following shall be freed from tax with a right to deduct previous taxes:
 1. The export of goods, and services rendered abroad;
 2. Services in connection with the export or transit of goods.
 d. The following shall not be subjected to the tax on transactions made within
 Switzerland:
 1. Businesses with a total annual taxable turnover of no more than 75'000 francs;
 2. Businesses with a total annual taxable turnover of no more than 250'000 francs,
 provided that the amount of tax, after deduction of previous tax, does not regularly
 exceed 4'000 francs per year;
 3. Farmers, foresters, and horticulturists who supply produce exclusively from their
 own businesses, and livestock dealers;
 4. Painters and sculptors with respect to works of art created by them personally.
 To ensure fair competition or to simplify the collection of the tax, the businesses
 and persons listed above may be permitted to pay tax an a voluntary basis, with the
 right to deduct previous tax.
 e. The tax rate shall be:
 1. 2.0 percent on the transactions and importation of the following goods which the
 Federal Government may define in greater detail:
 - piped water,
 - foodstuffs and beverages, with the exception of alcoholic beverages,
 - livestock, poultry, fish,
 - cereals,
 - seeds, tubor vegetables, and plant bulbs, growing plants, cuttings, grafts, and cut
 flowers and branches, also when arranged as bouquets, reeves, and in similar ways,
 - fodder, silage acids, straw, fertilizers, and pesticides,
 - pharmaceuticals,
 - newspapers, magazines, books and other printed materials to the extent defined
 by the Federal Government;
 2. 2.0 percent on radio and television activities with the exception of those of
 commercial character;
 3. 6.5 percent on the supply and the importation of other goods, and on all other
 taxable services.
 f. The tax shall be calculated on the payment obtained, or, if there is no such
 payment, and in the case of imports, on the value of the goods or services received.
 g. The following shall be taxable:
 1. Taxpayers who generate taxable turnover;
 2. Persons who receive services originating abroad, provided that their total cost
 exceeds 10'000 francs per year;
 3. Persons who import goods, and are liable to pay customs duty or to make a
 customs declaration.
 h. The taxpayer shall pay the tax on the taxable turnover; if the taxpayer uses the
 goods supplied and the services received to generate taxable turnover within
 Switzerland or abroad, in the tax accounts the following may be deducted from the
 tax owed as previously paid tax:
 1. the tax passed on to the taxpayer by other taxpayers, and
 2. the tax paid on the importation of goods or on the acquisition of services from
 abroad;
 3. 2.0 percent of the price of natural products purchased from businesses not
 subject to the tax in accordance with letter d, point 3. The right to deduct previous
 tax does not extend to non-commercial expenditures.
 i. As a general rule, the tax and the deduction for previous tax shall be accounted
 for every quarter.
 k. Special provisions may be established for turnover taxation in the case of gold
 coins and refined gold, and of goods that are already subject to special fiscal
 charges.
 l. Simplifications may be made if they neither alter tax revenues nor affect
 competition significantly, nor create excessive tax accounting difficulties for other
 tax payers.
 m. Tax evasion and tax endangerment shall be punishable in analogy with the other
 federal criminal provisions in the field of tax law.
 n. The special provisions on the criminal liability of businesses foreseen in article 7
 of the Federal Statute on administrative criminal law may also be applied in cases
 where a fine of more than 5'000 francs is possible.
 (2) During the first five years following the introduction of the value added tax, 5
 percent of the yield of this tax shall be used to reduce the health insurance
 premiums to the benefit of persons in lower income strata. The Federal Parliament
 shall decide how this part of the value added tax that is dedicated for a specific
 purpose shall be used after the expiry of this period.
 (3) The Confederation may by statute set a lower rate for the
 value added tax on tourist services in Switzerland, provided that the services are
 largely used by foreigners and the competitive situation so requires.
 (4) The value added tax may be levied until the end of 2006.
 15. Transitory Provision to Art. 131 (Beer Tax)
 Until the adoption of a Federal Statute, the beer tax shall be levied according to the
 law presently in force.
 16. Transitory Provision to Art. 132 (Cantonal Share of Withholding Tax)
 Until the financial equalization among the Cantons shall be subjected to new
 regulations, the cantonal share of the yield of the withholding tax shall be 12
 percent. If the tax rate for the withholding tax exceeds 30 percent, the share of the
 Cantons is 10 percent.
 

 © 1994 - 12. Nov. 2001 / Thanks to S. Emmenegger.
  For corrections please contact A. Tschentscher.