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SWITZERLAND
Ständerat - Conseil des Etats - Consiglio degli Stati (Council of States)

This page contains the full text of the PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary chamber, with the exception of Specialized bodies modules which, because of their excessive length, can be only viewed and printed separately.

Modules:
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Bundesversammlung - Assemblée fédérale - Assemblea federale / Federal Assembly
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Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name (generic / translated) Ständerat - Conseil des Etats - Consiglio degli Stati / Council of States
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Nationalrat - Conseil national - Consiglio nazionale / National Council
Affiliation to the IPU Yes
Affiliation date(s) 1891 -
LEADERSHIP
President Karin Keller-Sutter (F) 
Notes Elected on 27 Nov. 2017.
Secretary General Martina Buol  (F) 
Notes Appointed on 1 Aug. 2013.
COMPOSITION
Members (statutory / current number) 46 / 46
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN


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Women (current number) 7 (15.22%)
Mode of designation directly elected 46
Term  The length of term and election of the Council of States are governed by cantonal law.
Last renewal dates 18 October 2015
22 November 2015 (View details)
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address Ständerat - Conseil des Etats
Parlamentsgebäude/Palais du Parlement
3003 BERNE
(Export mailing lists)
Phone (41 58) 322 98 07
Fax (41 58) 322 99 21
E-mail praesidentin_sr@parl.admin.ch (Speaker/Présidente)
ipu.uip@parl.admin.ch
Website
http://www.parlament.ch

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Parliament name (generic / translated) Bundesversammlung - Assemblée fédérale - Assemblea federale / Federal Assembly
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name (generic / translated) Ständerat - Conseil des Etats - Consiglio degli Stati / Council of States
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Nationalrat - Conseil national - Consiglio nazionale / National Council
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Electoral law 1 January 1900
Mode of designation directly elected 46
Constituencies - 20 multi-member (2 seats each) constituencies representing the cantons
- 6 single-member constituencies representing what were previously known as half-cantons (Obwald, Nidwald, Basle-City, Basle-Country, Appenzell Outer-Rhodes and Appenzell Inner-Rhodes)
Voting system Majority: Members are generally chosen by simple majority vote with the exception of the cantons of Jura and Neuchâtel (proportional vote)..

Elections to the Council of States are governed by internal cantonal law. However, cantons may not designate their government as an electoral body of their members of parliament in the National Council. Elections are held therefore by the cantonal parliament or by referendum. Currently, in all cantons, members of the Council of States are directly elected by the people.

By-elections are generally held to fill vacancies arising between general elections.
Voting is compulsory in a small number of cantons, where those abstaining without a justifiable reason are subject to a small fine.
Voter requirements (governed by cantonal law)
CANDIDATES
Eligibility (governed by cantonal law)
Incompatibilities - National Councillors (members of the National Council)
- members of the Federal Council
- Federal judges
- judges of federal tribunals who have not been elected by the Federal Assembly
- persons elected by the Federal Assembly or whose nomination was confirmed by it (e.g. Secretary General of the Federal Assembly)
- high-ranking army officials
- federal civil servants, including civil servants of decentralized administrative units, of departments within the Parliament, of federal tribunals, of the Secretariat of the watchdog agency for the Attorney General’s Office and of the Attorney General’s Office, as well as members of non-parliamentary committees with decision-making powers, for so long as special laws do not provide otherwise
- members of governing bodies of organizations and legal persons - public or private - outside the administration which are invested with administrative functions and in which the Confederation holds a significant stake
- persons who represent the Confederation in organizations or legal persons - public or private - outside the administration which are invested with administrative functions and in which the Confederation has a significant stake
Candidacy requirements (cantonal law)

LAST ELECTIONS

Parliament name (generic / translated) Bundesversammlung - Assemblée fédérale - Assemblea federale / Federal Assembly
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name (generic / translated) Ständerat - Conseil des Etats - Consiglio degli Stati / Council of States
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Nationalrat - Conseil national - Consiglio nazionale / National Council
BACKGROUND
Dates of election / renewal (from/to) (from/to)18 October 2015
22 November 2015
Timing and scope of renewal The five parties in the outgoing government (Federal Council, see note 1) were returned with a similar number of seats in the 200-member National Council, except for the Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC), now led by Mr. Toni Brunner, which increased its share from 54 to 65 seats. In the 46-member Council of States, the Radical-Democratic Party (FDP/PRD) increased its share to 13 seats, the same as the Christian-Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC). The latter had been the largest party in the outgoing legislature.

The 2015 elections were held against the background of the refugee/migration crisis in Europe. On 9 September, the National Council adopted amendments to the law on asylum (see note 2) by 135 votes to 53. The SVP/UDC, which was opposed to the amendments, said that it would call a referendum on them and argued for more border controls. PLR leader Philipp Müller called for better cooperation with the European Union to deal with the refugee crisis. Other major parties, including the Socialist Party (SP/PS), led by Mr. Christian Levrat, focused on social issues, such as better salaries, affordable housing and pension reforms.

Note 1:
The five parties in the outgoing government are the Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC), the Socialist Party (SP/PS), The Liberals (FDP/PLR), the Christian-Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC) and the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP/PBD).

Note 2:
The amendments aimed at accelerating the asylum procedure. Around 60% of asylum procedures are expected to be completed less than 140 days, instead of the current average of 700 days. Asylum seekers will be assisted by a lawyer free of charge. Earlier, the Council of States had adopted the amendments by 35 votes to 5.
Date of previous elections: 23 October 2011

Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 30 November 2015

Timing of election: Upon normal expiry

Expected date of next elections: October 2019

Number of seats at stake: 46 (full renewal)*
*In Appenzell Inner Rhodes, a male candidate from the CVP/PDC was elected through "Landsgemeinde" (cantonal assembly of citizens) in April 2015.

Number of candidates: Not available.

Percentage of women candidates: Not available.

Number of parties contesting the election: Not available.

Number of parties winning seats: 6

Alternation of power: No
Note: Four of the five parties that were in the previous Federal Council - all those except the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP/PBD) - are represented in the new Federal Council, elected on 9 December 2015."

Number of parties in government: 4

Names of parties in government: Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC), Socialist Party (SP/PS), FDP.The Liberals (FDP/PLR) and the Christian-Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC)

Date of the first session of the new parliament: 30 November 2015

Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Raphaël Comte (FDP.The Liberals, FDP/PLR)
STATISTICS
Voter turnout
Round no 1 (from/to)18 October 2015
22 November 2015
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes



Notes
Distribution of votes
Round no 1
Political group Candidates Votes % of votes
FDP.The Liberals (FDP/PLR)
Christian-Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC)
Socialist Party (SP/PS)
Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC)
Others
Green Party (GPS/PES)
Conservative Democratic Party (BDP/PBD)
Distribution of seats
Round no 1
Political Group Total of seats 1st round 2nd round
FDP.The Liberals (FDP/PLR) 13 8 5
Christian-Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC) 13 7 6
Socialist Party (SP/PS) 12 6 6
Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) 5 5 0
Others 1 1 0
Green Party (GPS/PES) 1 0 1
Conservative Democratic Party (BDP/PBD) 1 0 1
Distribution of seats according to sex
Men

Women

Percent of women
39

7

15.22%
Distribution of seats according to age
Distribution of seats according to profession
Comments
Sources:
http://www.politik-stat.ch/srw2015CH_fr.html
https://www.ch.ch/fr/elections2015/resultate-staenderat/resultate-kanton/
http://www.letemps.ch
http://www.reuters.com

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Parliament name (generic / translated) Bundesversammlung - Assemblée fédérale - Assemblea federale / Federal Assembly
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name (generic / translated) Ständerat - Conseil des Etats - Consiglio degli Stati / Council of States
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Nationalrat - Conseil national - Consiglio nazionale / National Council
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title President of the Council of States
Term - duration: 1 year
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death
Appointment - elected by the Members of the Council
- the election is held every year at the beginning of the winter session, following validation of Members' mandates and swearing-in
Eligibility - all Members of the Council (barring the second cantonal MP elected in the canton of the outgoing President)
Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot
- an absolute majority of the valid ballots cast is required
- several rounds if no candidate obtains the required majority
- the first two rounds are free - however, starting with the third round, the candidate with the fewest votes must withdraw
Procedures / results - the outgoing President presides over the Council during the voting
- the tellers supervise the voting
- the presiding officer of the sitting announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged
STATUS
Status - ranks fifth in the hierarchy of State, after the President of the Confederation, the Vice-President of the Federal Council, the five other federal councillors and the President of the National Council
- ranks second in the order of precedence between the Presidents of the two Houses
- is the Deputy Presiding officer of joint sittings of both Houses (Federal Assembly)
- represents the Council of States in international bodies
- presides ex officio over the Board, the administrative delegation, the Co-ordinating Conference and, at present, the delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE
- in case of absence, the President is replaced by the Deputy President or former President who is still an MP. Should a vacancy arise before the beginning of the summer session, the Council elects a new President without delay
Board - the Board is regulated by the Standing Orders of the Council of States
- consists of 5 Members (President, Vice-President, 2 tellers, 1 substitute teller)
- a term of five years, with each Member occupying successively the post of substitute teller, second teller, first teller, Vice-President and President, each post being held for one year
- meets before each session and as need be during sessions at the President's initiative
- is a decision-making body
Material facilities - allowance
- additional allowance of SF 20,000
- official car
- secretariat for the President's Office
FUNCTIONS
Organization of parliamentary business - establishes and modifies the agenda, while respecting the timetable laid down by the Board
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time

Chairing public sittings :
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Chamber
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Chamber
Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders

- makes announcements concerning the Council (e.g. reads out the agenda for the next sitting of the National Council
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Council
Special powers - takes part in the establishment of the Chamber's budget within the administrative delegation, together with the President of the other Chamber
- confirms certain appointments made by the administrative delegation
- takes part in the appointment of the Secretary General as part of the Co-ordinating Conference
- is consulted with regard to the organization of the services of Parliament
- is regularly briefed by the Government on the foreign relations situation, on planned projects within the framework of international organizations and on negotiations conducted with foreign States
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments, in agreement with the Co-ordinating Conference
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber
Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates (in which case he lets the Vice-President preside)
- only votes in case of a tie
- proposes bills or amendments

PARLIAMENTARY MANDATE

Parliament name (generic / translated) Bundesversammlung - Assemblée fédérale - Assemblea federale / Federal Assembly
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name (generic / translated) Ständerat - Conseil des Etats - Consiglio degli Stati / Council of States
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Nationalrat - Conseil national - Consiglio nazionale / National Council
NATURE
Nature of the mandate · Free representation (Art. 91 of the Constitution of 29.05.1874, updated to 01.10.1996)
Start of the mandate · When the MPs take the oath (see Art. 4 (2) of the Standing Orders of the Council of States)
· Procedure (Art. 1 to 4 of the Standing Orders of the Council of States)
Validation of mandates · No validation (the Council of States merely takes note of the communications from the cantons announcing the names of those elected)
End of the mandate · On the day when the legal term of the House ends, which corresponds to the day when the newly elected Parliament meets
Can MPs resign? Yes · Grounds: personal, health, political, professional, concurrent holding of office with cantonal mandates (legal incompatibility or decision taken freely), upon acceptance of foreign decorations
· Procedure: resignations must be addressed in writing to the President.
· Authority competent to accept the resignation: the agreement of the Council of States is not required.
Can MPs lose their mandate ? Yes (a) Loss of mandate by judicial decision: forfeiture of civil rights
(b) Loss of mandate in case of acceptance, from a foreign government, of benefits or allowances, titles, presents or decorations (Art. 12 (1) of the Constitution)
STATUS OF MEMBERS
Rank in hierarchy · Within Parliament:
1. The President
2. The other deputies
· Outside Parliament: the official order of precedence ranks the President of the Council of States in the 5th position and the State Councillors in the 18th position.
Indemnities, facilities and services · Diplomatic passport, upon request, for the President and members of international delegations (IPU, Parliamentary Assemblies of the Council of Europe, the OSCE and of French-speaking Communities, Committee of EFTA Parliamentarians)
· Basic salary (see also Art. 83 of the Constitution): CHF 30,000 per year
+ Additional allowance: CHF 300 per plenary sitting or group or committee meeting
· Partial exemption from tax for the CHF 18,000 of compensation included in the basic salary. The other CHF 12,000 of the basic salary is subject to tax.
· Pension scheme: CHF 5,731 as a contribution to private contingency schemes
· Other facilities:
(a) Secretariat (see also Art. 48 and 49 of the Standing Orders of the Council of States): provision of a personal computer
(b) Official car for the President
(c) Postal and telephone services
(d) Travel and transport
Obligation to declare personal assets Yes
Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept does exist (absolute immunity, Art. 2 (2) of the Federal Law on the Responsibility of the Confederation, the Members of its Authorities and of its Officials).
· Absolute immunity is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament. Relative immunity applies to words spoken and written by MPs outside Parliament insofar as they are liable to penal proceedings and have a bearing on parliamentary activity.
· Derogations: offence or insult inside Parliament (Art. 51 (1) and 65 (1) of the Standing Orders of the Council of States; see Discipline), lifting of relative immunity (Art. 14 to 14 ter of the Federal Law on the Responsibility of the Confederation, the Members of its Authorities and of its Officials)
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate.
Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept does exist (Art. 1 (1) of the Federal Law on Political and Police Guarantees in Favour of the Confederation).
· It applies only to criminal proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive cus-tody, from the opening of judicial proceedings against them and from their homes being searched.
· Derogations: preventive arrest remains possible for presumption of flight and, when a crime is involved, in cases of flagrante delicto, but the Council must give its consent within 24 hours, unless the deputy concerned has himself given his consent in writing (Art. 1 (2) of the Federal Law on Political and Police Guarantees in Favour of the Confederation).
· Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal.
· Protection is provided only during sessions and does not automatically cover judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election, but the MPs concerned may be released or the summons in connection with important judicial proceedings may be annulled (Art. 2 (1), Art. 3 of the Federal Law on Political and Police Guarantees in Favour of the Confederation).
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 1 (1) of the Federal Law on Political and Police Guarantees in Favour of the Confederation):
- Competent authority: the Council of States or the deputy concerned
- Procedure. In this case, MPs can be heard. They have means of appeal.
· Parliament cannot subject the prosecution and/or detention to certain conditions.
· Parliament cannot suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members.
· In the event of preventive custody or imprisonment, the MPs concerned can be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament (Art. 2 (1), Art. 3 of the Federal Law on Political and Police Guarantees in Favour of the Confederation; see Judicial proceedings initiated against MPs before their election).
- Competent authority: the Council of States
- Procedure (Art. 2 (1), Art. 3 of the Federal Law on Political and Police Guarantees in Favour of the Confederation)
EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE
Training · There is a brief initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs.
· It consists of training in procedure, the provision of documentation and guidance for new members provided by the groups.
· Handbooks of parliamentary procedure:
- Aide-mémoire
- Standing Orders of the Council of States
Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings and committee meetings (Art. 12 (1) (see also (2) to (4)), Art. 39 and 40 (1) of the Standing Orders of the Council of States).
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation: loss of allowances
Discipline · The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in Art. 7 (1), 44 (2) and (3), 55 and 56 of the Standing Orders of the Council of States.
· Disciplinary measures foreseen:
- Call to order (Art. 56 of the Standing Orders of the Council of States)
- Warning for irrelevance (Art. 55 of the Standing Orders of the Council of States)
- Expulsion from the room (Art. 44 (2) of the Standing Orders of the Council of States)
- Lifting of the sitting (Art. 44 (3) of the Standing Orders of the Council of States)
· Specific cases:
- Offence or insult (Art. 56 of the Standing Orders of the Council of States): call to order
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties (see Art. 7 (1) of the Standing Orders of the Council of States):
- Call to order: the President; the Council (appeal)
- Warning for irrelevance, expulsion from the room, lifting of the sitting: the President
· Procedure:
- Call to order, offence or insult (Art. 56 of the Standing Orders of the Council of States)
- Warning for irrelevance (Art. 55 of the Standing Orders of the Council of States)
- Expulsion from the room (Art. 44 (2) of the Standing Orders of the Council of States)
- Lifting of the sitting (Art. 44 (3) of the Standing Orders of the Council of States)
Code (rules) of conduct · This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system.
Relations between MPs and pressure group · There are no legal provisions in this field.

This page was last updated on 10 January 2018
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