The Prince-Bishopric of Basel after 1813

The Prince-Bishopric of Basel experienced two significant revolutions after 1500. The title of Prince-Bishopric is a consequence of the status of the Bishop in the Holy Roman Empire. The Bishop was a prince (Reichsfürst/Fürstbischof) of the Empire. The Reformation in the years 1527-1529 was a clear break. The Bishop moved to Porrentruy (Pruntrut in German, … Read more » “The Prince-Bishopric of Basel after 1813”

The National Conferences on Federalism

The National Conferences on Federalism (Die Nationalen Föderalismuskonferenzen) were created by the government (Bundesrat), the Council of States (Ständerat) and the 26 cantons. Since then, six conferences have taken place: 2005 in Fribourg, 2008 in Baden (Canton of Aargau), 2011 in Mendrisio (Canton of Ticino), 2014 in Solothurn, 2017 in Montreux (Canton of Vaud) and … Read more » “The National Conferences on Federalism”

The Landsgemeinde and Direct Democracy

For a good understanding of the emergence and functioning of direct democracy in Switzerland, a (historical) knowledge of the Landsgemeinde is indispensable. This article is limited to a broad outline of the subject. It shows that the basis of Swiss direct democracy is centuries old. The political choice in the nineteenth century resulted from fierce … Read more » “The Landsgemeinde and Direct Democracy”