Laws make life possible as a society by providing a set of rules that everyone in the country must respect.
Each state has its own laws enacted by the body that holds legislative power – in Switzerland, this power is held by Parliament
Federal, cantonal and communal laws
Switzerland is a federal state: this means that political power is divided among the Confederation, cantons and communes. Thus there are federal laws, but also cantonal and communal laws, which may differ from one canton or commune to another.
International laws
In addition to these laws, there are international laws that have been accepted (ratified) in Switzerland. For example: Switzerland has ratified the European Convention on Human Rights. This means that our country is obliged to comply with these rules as well.
Who makes the laws?
Laws are debated and adopted by the legislative power, Parliament.
In Switzerland, federal laws – which apply throughout the country – are enacted by the Swiss parliament, also known as the Federal Assembly. Laws in force in the cantons are decided by the cantonal parliaments, and laws in communes by communal parliaments or assemblies.
But Parliament is not alone in having a say and being responsible for laws. Each law is the result of a complex process.
What are the stages in the legislative process?
Before coming into force, every federal law must complete a set path – although its duration may vary – which includes various stages and actors.
This process includes discussion and consultation with stakeholders, and the two houses of Parliament must also reach an agreement on the law. Only once the entire process has been completed can the Federal Council (government) bring the law into force – if the people agree.
The journey proceeds as follows:
The Federal Constitution allows for laws to be adopted and enter into force immediately in emergency situations, without going through all of the steps described above.
Such legislation must be declared urgent by an absolute majority in both chambers, and must also be of limited duration.
In some cases, the electorate will have the opportunity to vote on emergency legislation that has already entered into force.
One example of this is the COVID-19 Act, which was originally introduced as a temporary measure during the COVID pandemic in 2020 (de, fr, it).
Fedlex is a dedicated online platform providing access to all federal and cantonal legislation. You can find communal legislation on the website of the relevant commune.
Explanatory video on Parliament's YouTube channel (de, fr, it): How are laws made?