Powers are divided among the Confederation, cantons and communes based on the principle of subsidiarity. 

Under the principle of subsidiarity, nothing that can be done at a lower political level should be done at a higher level. If, for example, a commune is unable to deal with a certain task, the next higher political entity, i.e. the canton, has a duty to provide support.

The federal government’s powers are limited to those conferred upon it in the Federal Constitution:

• foreign policy

• national security policy

• customs

• currency

• federal legislation

• national defence

Any tasks that do not fall under the remit of the federal government are the responsibility of the cantons. In certain areas, such as tertiary education, the federal and cantonal governments share responsibility.

Cantons enjoy significant autonomy. The Federal Constitution ensures that all cantons are treated equally, and they all have the right to create their own cantonal constitutions.

In their respective cantons, the cantonal governments are responsible for many areas such as:

• budget

• political system

• taxation (since they can levy taxes)

The cantons work with each other and with the federal government in intercantonal conferences to address specific issues (health, social issues, security, education etc.) and in the Conference of Cantonal Governments.

Communes are the smallest political units in Switzerland. They exercise the powers delegated to them by the federal and cantonal governments, such as maintaining a register of the resident population and ensuring civil protection. They also have their own powers in various areas:

• education and schools

• social welfare

• energy provision

• infrastructure (road traffic, property and land)

• spatial planning

• taxation

The Federal Constitution is the highest law of Switzerland. It takes precedence over all laws and ordinances of the Confederation, cantons and communes.

Unlike in many other countries, federal laws are not reviewed for their constitutionality. In other words, the Federal Supreme Court cannot repeal a law that has been passed by the Swiss Parliament, even if it is contrary to the Constitution. Another special feature of Switzerland is that the Constitution is regularly amended through direct democracy (popular initiative).