The federal government of Switzerland consists of the seven members of the Federal Council.
One member of the Federal Council serves as President of the Swiss Confederation for one year at a time. He or she chairs the meetings of the Federal Council. This person also represents the federal government externally, for example at international meetings. In contrast to other countries, the President of the Confederation in Switzerland has hardly any more decision-making power than the other members of the Federal Council (see video above).
There is often talk of an ‹eighth Federal Councillor›, the Federal Chancellor, who has a supporting and advisory role for the Federal Council.
Parliament elects the members of the Federal Council every four years. It may re-elect a member of the Federal Council as often as it wishes. Re-election is the normal course of action. In most cases, members end their time on the Federal Council by resigning on a voluntary basis. If this does not take place at the end of their four-year term of office, Parliament elects a successor in a by-election.
The federal government is supposed to represent the Swiss population. Parliament must therefore pay attention to different criteria in the election. According to the Constitution, it must take into account that the regions of the country and the language regions are adequately represented. In addition, the strength of the political parties is usually taken into account. Another electoral criterion is that men and women should be represented in the Federal Council in roughly equal numbers.
You can find out more about the Federal Council election in the following video.
The Federal Council governs Switzerland. It assesses the political situation and directs the Federal Administration in carrying out the basic tasks of the state.
The Federal Council's duties include:
preparing new laws and submitting them to Parliament;
implementing the laws passed by Parliament. To this end, it issues ordinances, which elaborate on the legal provisions. That is why the federal government is also called the ‹executive power›;
leading the Federal Administration with its seven departments. Each member of the Federal Council heads a department;
representing Switzerland abroad; and
planning for the long term. It lays down guidelines and sets targets, and monitors whether the tasks have been fulfilled and the goals achieved. The Federal Council also plans and reviews the federal finances that are approved by Parliament.
The Federal Council must keep Parliament, the cantons and the public informed of its decisions and intentions on an ongoing basis. Watch the following video for more information.
The responsibilities of the federal government complement those of Parliament and the courts. The separation of powers divides power in Switzerland between these three actors.
The Federal Council usually meets once a week in the Federal Council chamber, also known as the ‹Chalet fédéral›, in the Federal Palace. This session is always held on Wednesday - except during parliamentary sessions, when it is held on Friday. The Federal Council discusses business and makes its decisions.
A total of ten people take part in the meeting: the seven members of the Federal Council, the Federal Chancellor and the two vice chancellors.
At its weekly meeting, the Federal Council discusses a full agenda of items of business, which amount to more than 2,500 per year. Meetings therefore require careful preparation. The seven departments and the Federal Chancellery support the Federal Council in the preparation of meetings. For more information, watch the following video.
At the meeting itself, only the seven members of the Federal Council may take decisions. They have equal rights and always make their decisions together. They discuss the items on the agenda at the Federal Council meeting and seek a common solution. Only if it does not reach a solution, does the Federal Council vote.
Once the decision has been taken, all members must stand by it on a united front in their external dealings, even if it may not accord with their personal views or the policy of their party. This principle of collegiality is also explained in the video Keeping it formal at meetings:
Federal Council meetings – The role of the Federal Chancellery (web page available in German, French and Italian)
The Federal Council in the Lexicon of parliamentary terms