National Council (Switzerland)

National Council (Switzerland). The National Council is the lower house of the Federal Assembly, the federal parliament of Switzerland. Comprising 200 members elected by the people, it represents the Swiss population as a whole, while the upper house, the Council of States, represents the cantons. Together with the Council of States, it exercises the supreme authority of the Swiss Confederation.

Composition and elections

The 200 seats are distributed among the 26 cantons proportionally to their resident population, with each canton guaranteed at least one seat. Elections are held every four years under a system of Proportional representation using the Hagenbach-Bischoff system, with most cantons forming a single constituency. The most recent general election was the 2023 Swiss federal election. All Swiss citizens aged 18 or over are eligible to vote and stand for election, following the adoption of women's suffrage at the federal level in 1971. Notable electoral milestones include the rise of the Swiss People's Party in the late 20th century and the gains by the Green Party of Switzerland in the 2019 Swiss federal election.

Powers and functions

The National Council shares legislative power equally with the Council of States, with both chambers required to adopt identical texts for a bill to become law. It participates in the election of the Swiss Federal Council, the Federal Chancellor of Switzerland, the judges of the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland, and the Attorney General of Switzerland. The chamber also approves the federal budget, declares war, and ratifies international treaties, such as those with the European Union. It exercises oversight over the Swiss Federal Council through the right to interpellation and parliamentary investigative committees, like the one concerning the Credit Suisse crisis.

History

The National Council was established by the Swiss Federal Constitution of 1848, which transformed Switzerland from a confederation of states into a federal state. Its creation was a central element of the Sonderbund War settlement. The number of seats was fixed at 200 in 1962, prior to which it varied. Key historical developments include the introduction of the Proportional representation system in 1919, which ended the dominance of the Free Democratic Party of Switzerland, and the 1999 election which saw a major realignment of the party system following the dissolution of the Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland.

Political groups

Members form parliamentary groups based on political affiliation, which are crucial for committee assignments and procedural rights. The largest groups currently are the Swiss People's Party, the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland, The Centre, and FDP.The Liberals. Other significant groups include the Green Party of Switzerland and the Green Liberal Party of Switzerland. Smaller groups like the Evangelical People's Party of Switzerland and the Ticino League also hold representation. The formation of the Centre group in 2021 followed the merger of the Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland and the Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland.

Organization and procedure

The National Council is presided over by a President, elected annually from among its members; the position rotates among the major parties. Current officers include President Eric Nussbaumer and Vice-Presidents Maja Riniker and Nicolas Walder. Most legislative work is conducted in specialized committees, such as the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Finance Committee. Sessions are held in the Federal Palace of Switzerland in Bern, with official languages being German, French, and Italian. Procedure is governed by the Parliament Act and traditions of collegiality.

Relationship with the Council of States

While the National Council represents the people, the Council of States represents the cantons, with two seats per canton. Both chambers possess identical powers and must reach agreement on all legislation, often through a process of differences resolution and United Federal Assembly sessions. Notable instances of disagreement between the chambers have occurred over policies concerning the European Union, taxation, and energy strategies like the nuclear phase-out. This bicameral structure is a defining feature of the Swiss federal system.