The Cantons
2 February 2023
Switzerland or the Swiss Confederation (Eidgenossenschaft) consists of twenty-six cantons (Article 1 Federal Constitution). This article also defines the territory of Switzerland: it consists of the areas of the cantons.
The cantons
In alphabetical order (with their license plate indications in brackets), these are; Aargau (AG), Appenzell Ausserrhoden (AR), Appenzell Innerrhoden (AI), Bern (BE), Basel-Landschaft (BL), Basel-Stadt (BS), Fribourg (FR), Geneva (GE), Glarus (GL), Grisons/Graubünden (GR), Jura (JU), Lucerne (LU), Neuchâtel (NE), Nidwalden (NW), Obwalden (OW), Schaffhausen (SH), Schwyz (SZ), Solothurn (SO), St. Gall (SG), Thurgau (TG), Ticino (TI), Uri (UR), Valais (VS), Vaud (VD), Zug (ZG), Zurich (ZH).
There are immense differences between the cantons’ surface areas, population, urban and rural character, language, religion and geological characteristics. Just as essential as this constitutional construction is the linguistic, cultural and political identity of the inhabitants of these sometimes centuries-old republics.
History
The creation of today’s cantons has been an ongoing process for centuries. As such, it is not fully covered in this contribution. These cantons already existed in 1848, although in 1979, Jura split off from the canton of Bern to form a new canton in its own right.
The system of cantons as constitutional constructions and democratic sovereign republics in a sovereign country is unique in Europe and possibly in the world.
Powers
The cantons and the (male) population created the Constitution, the Eidgenossenschaft and the federal government in 1848 by a referendum (Article 3 Constitution). The federal government is thus a creation of the cantons (and the people) and has no less, but never more, powers than those indicated in Article 3.
In all other fields, the cantons are sovereign. Each has its own Constitution, Parliament, government, health care and education system, taxation, civil service and jurisdiction (subject to the Federal Constitution and international treaties).
Article 50 of the Constitution confirms the national hierarchy: the Federal government, the Cantons and the Municipalities (the lowest level of constitutional entities).
The cantons are, in short, democratic republics and sovereign states insofar as Article 3 does not delegate powers to the federal government.
The cantons are also represented at the federal level in the Standerät (Council of States) in the national Parliament.
In 1848, defence, foreign policy and relations, customs and currency were the leading powers of the federal government. Since then, but especially after 1945, powers have been increasingly transferred to the federal government by the cantons (with the consent of the Council of States and the people (by a binding referendum). The transfer of power from cantons to the federal government is mentioned under Article 87 of the Constitution’s 195 Articles.
The cantons are no longer sovereign in these areas but implement federal laws and decisions (Article 49 (1) Constitution). The cantons are sovereign in this implementation process (Artikel 46 (1) Constitution).
This also explains why the federal government has few civil servants: about 38,000. The Supreme Court in Lausanne (Bundesgericht) ultimately decides on questions concerning implementing federal law.
Cantonal and international treaties
Hundreds of treaties exist between two or more cantons: inter-cantonal law (Art. 48 Constitution) thus takes precedence over cantonal law.
International treaties, including treaties with the European Union, precede cantonal law.
Foreign policy is an exclusive domain of the federal government (Art. 54). The government informs the cantons at an early stage about foreign policy that is also relevant for the cantons (Art. 55). The Conference of the Cantonal governments (Konferenz der Kantonsregierungen, located in the House of the Cantons in Bern) plays an essential role in this process. The relationship with the European Union — nowadays mainly the new (institutional) treaty with the European Union (the so-called Rahmenabkommen or accord-cadre) — is particularly crucial.
The cantons can conclude treaties with other countries if they belong to the powers of the canton and do not harm the law and policy of the federal government.
The cantons must inform the government before concluding treaties (Art.56). Treaties with lower authorities in other countries are allowed without prior notice (Art.56).
Constitutions
The constitutions of the twenty-six cantons differ from one another. Still, all share the democratic principles of the Federal Constitution (Art. 51). The citizens of the cantons have various ways of influencing the legislation and Constitution of the cantons using referendums.
Moreover, through the Standesinitiative (Article 160 Constitution), cantons can ask the federal Parliament to initiate legislation.
At least eight cantons can also invoke the optional referendum against federal laws (the cantonal referendum, Article 141 Constitution).
The cantons were and remain one of Switzerland’s two pillars (together with the people), embodying the originating constituting power (le pouvoir constituant originaire). They have created the nation. The cantons are also imbued with a derived constituent power (le pouvoir constituent dérivé).
This means that the cantons (and the people) can adapt and change the Constitution and laws anytime. Both founders of the Confederation always have the last say.
(Source: Häfelin, W. Haller, H. Keller, D. Thurnherr, Schweizerisches Bundesstaatsrecht, Basel 2020; www.admin.ch)