| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Bundesversammlung - Assemblée fédérale - Assemblea federale / Federal Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Nationalrat - Conseil national - Consiglio nazionale / National Council |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Ständerat - Conseil des Etats - Consiglio degli Stati / Council of States
|
| LEGAL FRAMEWORK |
| Electoral Law |
17 December 1976
Last amendment: 22/03/1991 |
| Mode of designation |
directly elected 200 |
| Constituencies |
26 multi- or single-member constituencies corresponding to the country's 26 cantons. The number of seats per constituency varies according to population. |
| Voting system |
Mixed:
Mixed system:
- proportional representation using the Hagenbach-Bischoff method, with remaining seats being distributed according to the rule of highest average, in multi-member constituencies. Each elector can vote for a list as it stands or modify it by crossing out or repeating names appearing on it; he can moreover split his vote between different lists ("panachage") or select names from different lists in forming his own on a blank ballot paper
- single majority system for 5 single-member constituencies
Vacancies arising between general elections are filled by the "next-in-line" candidates on the same party list or through by-elections in single-member constituencies.
Voting is compulsory in a small number of cantons, where those abstaining without a justifiable reason are subject to a small fine. |
| Voter requirements |
- Age: 18 years
- Swiss citizenship
- Disqualifications: insanity |
| CANDIDATES |
| Eligibility |
- Every citizen having the right to vote |
| Incompatibilities |
- Members of the Federal Council
- Federal judges
- Federal civil servants
- High-ranking army officials |
| Candidacy requirements |
- Nomination by political parties
- Support of 100 electors for each party list in cantons electing 2 to 10 seats, 200 in cantons electing 11 to 20 seats and of 400 in cantons electing more than 20 seats.
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Electoral system module
