Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1370

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SWITZERLAND

Rhodcn ; and Unterwald into Obwald and Nidwald. Each of these parts of cantoris sends one member to the State Council, so that there are two members to the divided as well as to the undivided cantons. The ' National rat ' consists of 189 representatives of the Swiss people, chosen in direct election, at the rate of one deputy for every 20,000 souls. The members are paid from Federal funds at the rate of 25 francs for each day on which they are present, with travelling expenses, at the rate of 20 centimes (2d.) per kilometre, to and from the capital. Members employed on commissions receive additional pay at the same rate. On the basis of the general census 1910, the cantons are represented in the National Council as follows : —

Number of

Number of

Canton

Represen-

Canton

Represen-

tatives

Appenzell — Exterior and

tatives

Zurich (Zurich)

25

Bern (Berne).

32

Interior

4

Luzern (Lucerne)

8

St. Gallen (St. Gall)

15

Uri.

1

Graubiinden (Grisons)

6

Schwyz.

3

Aargau (Argovie)

12

Unterwald — Upper

and

Thurgau (Thurgovie)

7

Lower.

2

Ticino (Tessin)

8

Glarus (Glaris)

2

Vaud (Waadt).

16

Zua (Zoug)

1

Valais (Wallis)

6

Frilxmrg (Freiburg).

7

Neuchatel (Neuenburg).

7

Solothurn (Soleure).

6

Geneve (Genf).

8

Basel (Bale) — town

and

country

11

Total.

189

Schaffhausen (Schaffh

ouse)

2

At the elections held in November, 1919, the following parties were returned -.—Liberals, 61 ; Social Democrats, 41 ; Catholics, 41 ; Agrarian, 29 ; Liberal Democrats, 9 ; other parties, 8.

A general election of representatives takes place by ballot every three years. Every citizen of the Republic who has entered on his twenty- first year is entitled to a vote ; and any voter, not a clergyman, may be elected a deputy. Both chambers united are called the ' Bundcs-Versamm- lung,' or Federal Assembly, and as such represent the supreme Government of the Republic. The first step towards legislative action may bo taken by means* of the popular initiative, and laws passed by the Federal Assembly may be vetoed by the popular voice. Whenever a petition demanding the revision or annulment of a measure passed by the Legislature is presented by 30,000 citizens, or the alteration is demanded by eight cantons, the law in question must be submitted to the direct vote of the nation. For the decision of the question submitted a majority both of the cantons and of the voters is required. This principle, called the referendum, is frequently acted on. The chief executive authority is deputed to a ' Bundesrat,' or Federal Council, consisting of seven members, elected for three years by the Foderal Assembly. The members of this council must not hold any other office in the Confederation or cantons, nor engage in any calling or business. It is only through this executive body that legislative measures are introduced in the deliberative councils, and its members are present at and take pert in their proceedings, but