Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Bundesversammlung - Assemblée fédérale - Assemblea federale / Federal Assembly |
Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
Chamber name |
Ständerat - Conseil des Etats - Consiglio degli Stati |
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Nationalrat - Conseil national - Consiglio nazionale / National Council
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POLITICAL SYSTEM
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Type of political regime |
semi-direct democracy |
Notes |
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Head of the executive |
Federal Council |
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Method for appointing the executive |
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Term of office of the executive and coincidence with the term of the legislature |
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Incompatibility of the functions of member of the executive and member of Parliament |
Not applicable |
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Dissolution of Parliament |
Not applicable |
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ACCOUNTABILITY
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Accountability of Government to Parliament |
Not applicable |
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Modalities of oversight |
- Oral and written questions of parliamentarians
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- Government reports to Parliament
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Measures |
- Vote of confidence on Government programs and/or legislative proposals
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Motions of censure and votes of no confidence (sub-report) |
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Dismissal and/or impeachment of Government and other public officials (sub-report) |
- Circumstances and persons concerned
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- Have these procedures been applied?
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OVERSIGHT OVER THE ACTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
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Oversight over the actions of the Government administration |
Not applicable |
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Means and modalities of oversight |
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- Committees of inquiry and missions to Government departments
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- Oral and written questions of parliamentarians
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- Role of Parliament in the appointment of senior Government officials
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- Activity reports of the Government administration and of public services or establishments
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- Representation of Parliament in governing bodies of the Government administration
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Existence of an ombudsman |
Not applicable |
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- Method for appointing the executive
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- Relationship to Parliament
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BUDGETARY OVERSIGHT
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Consultation of Parliament in the preparation of the national budget
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Not applicable |
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Modalities of oversight |
- Examination of the budget / finance act by Parliament
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- Reports on the budget / finance act by Committees
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Fields overseen |
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- Budget of special departments
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- Role of Parliament in national development plans
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Parliament's deadline for the examination and adoption of the budget / finance act |
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Consequences of failure by Parliament to adopt the budget / finance act |
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Budgetary autonomy of Parliament |
Not applicable |
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OVERSIGHT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BUDGET AND OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING
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Evaluation of Government spending |
Parliament approves Government expenditures annually |
Not applicable |
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Parliamentary oversight of public companies |
Not applicable |
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Modalities of oversight |
- Body for auditing the Government's books and method for appointing
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- Reports of the public auditor's office
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OVERSIGHT OVER FOREIGN POLICY
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Foreign Relations Committee (sub-report) |
- Functions of the Committee
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- Composition of the Committee
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- Bilateral visits of Parliament, inter-parliamentary conferences and information missions abroad
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- Plenary debates on foreign policy issues
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Involvement of Parliament |
- Participation of Parliament in inter-governmental meetings
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- Modalities and procedures for ratifying international treaties and agreements (sub-report)
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- Other mechanisms for participation in foreign policy by Parliament
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OVERSIGHT OVER NATIONAL DEFENCE POLICY
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National Defence Committee (sub-report) |
- Functions of the Committee
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- Composition of the Committee
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Parliamentary oversight of public arms manufacturing companies |
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Circumstances and involvement |
- Modalities and procedures in case of war, an armed attack or a state of emergency
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- Role of Parliament in sending troops abroad
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- Other mechanisms for participation in national defence policy by Parliament
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STATE OF EMERGENCY
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Circumstances |
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Can parliament take the initiative to declare a state of emergency |
Not applicable |
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Consequences of a state of emergency for Parliament |
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VERIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTIONALITY AND THE APPLICATION OF LAWS
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Modalities of oversight |
- Body ruling on the constitutionality of laws
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Parliament or one of the Chambers |
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Evaluation of laws |
Not applicable |
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Measures |
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