Federation Maps and Fact Sheets for Switzerland

Flag: Switzerland

Official name Swiss Confederation
Population 7,461,100 (2005)
Capital Berne

Constituent units

  • 26 cantons: Appenzell Inner-Rhodes; Appenzell Outer-Rhodes; Argovia; Basle-Country; Basle-Town; Berne; Fribourg; Geneva; Glarus; Grisons; Jura; Lucerne; Neuchâtel; Nidwalden; Obwalden; Saint-Gall; Schaffhausen; Schwyz; Solothurn; Thurgovia; Ticino; Uri; Valais; Vaud; Zug; Zurich.

Constitutional distribution of powers

  • The Swiss Constitution, in particular:
    • Tasks of the Confederation (Article 42)
    • Tasks of the Cantons (Article 43)
    • Cooperation Confederation/Cantons (Articles 44-49)
    • Powers
      • Relations with Foreign Countries (Articles 54-56)
      • Security, National and Civil Defence ( Articles 57-61)
      • Education, Research, Culture (Articles 62-72)
      • Environment and Zoning (Articles 73-80)
      • Public Works and Transportation (Articles 81-88)
      • Energy and Communication (Articles 89-93)
      • Economy (Articles 94-107)
      • Housing, Work, Social Security, Health (Articles 108-120)
      • Residence and Domicile of Foreigners (Articles 121)
      • Civil, Criminal Law, Weights & Measures (Articles 122-125)
    • Federal Authorities Powers
      • Foreign Relations and International Treaties (Article 166)
      • Relations between the Confederation and the Cantons (Article 172)
      • Further Tasks and Powers (Article 173)

Legislative institutions

Official languages

The Constitution of 1999 stipulates that German, French and Italian are the official languages and that Romansch is an official language for communications between the Federal Authorities and citizens of Romansh language. The Constitution also states that Cantons can adopt their official language(s).

Other links of interest