1. The Federal Assembly

2. Chiara Simoneschi-Cortesi PDC, TI President 2008 - 2009 02 The National Council The Federal Assembly

3. Distribution of seats by canton The Federal Assembly03 The National Council

4. Distribution of seats by canton 04 ZH BE VD AG SG GEFR VS BL SO TI LUTG BS GR 5NE SZ ZG SH JU AR UR OW NW AI GL 34 26 18 15 12 117 7 7 7 8 106 5 5 4 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 The Federal Assembly

5. Distribution of seats by parliamentary group 05 The National Council The Federal Assembly

6. The National Council Distribution of seats by parliamentary group 06The Federal Assembly

7. The National Council 07 Women in Parliament The Federal Assembly

8. Women in Parliament The National Council 08The Federal Assembly

9. Alain Berset SP, FR President 2008 - 2009 09 The Council of States The Federal Assembly

10. Distribution of seats by parliamentary group 10 The Council of States The Federal Assembly

11. The Council of States Distribution of seats by parliamentary group 11The Federal Assembly

12. The Council of States 12 Women in Parliament The Federal Assembly

13. Women in Parliament The Council of States 13The Federal Assembly

14. Christoph Lanz Secretary-General 14 Parliament The Federal Assembly

15. of the National Council 15 Council debates The Federal Assembly

16. Council debates of the National Council The regulated floor time 20 Minutes 10 Minutes 5 Minutes Parliamentary group speakers Other speakers to provide grounds for a motion Individual members Rapporteurs and members of the Federal Council in general debates 16The Federal Assembly

17. Council debates of the National Council 5 categories IOpen debate IIOrganised debate The parliamentary group speakers, other members proposed by the groups and the authors of the proposals IIIReduced debate The committee rapporteurs, the parliamentary group speakers and the authors of proposals IVShort debate Rapporteurs, authors of minority proposals and parliamentary initiatives VWritten debate No right to take the floor All Council members 17The Federal Assembly

18. 18 The 12 Committees The Federal Assembly

19. The 12 Committees National Council: 25 members Finance Committee Council of States: 13 members Control Committee Foreign Affairs Committee Committee for Science, Education and Culture Committee for Social Security and Health Committee for the Environment, Spatial planning and Energy 19The Federal Assembly

20. The 12 Committees National Council: 25 members Defence Committee Council of States: 13 members Committee for Transport and Telecommunications Committee for Economic Affairs and Taxation Political Institutions Committee Committee for Legal Affairs Committee for Public Buildings 20The Federal Assembly

21. 21 Parliamentary Procedures The Federal Assembly

22. Parliamentary Procedures 22The Federal Assembly

23. Parliamentary Procedures Referendum and initiative Optional Referendum Federal Acts and Federal decrees 50,000 citizens entitled to vote or eight cantons can request a referendum Compulsory Referendum Decisions on a total or partial revision of the Federal Constitution Can be conducted as the result of a popular initiative (100,000 signatures) or a federal decree Must be submitted to the vote of the people and the cantons 23The Federal Assembly

24. Parliamentary Procedures Forms of parliamentary intervention Parliamentary initiative Motion Can be submitted by a parliamentary member, a parliamentary group or a parliamentary committee Both chambers must approve the motion The motion obliges the Federal Council to submit a draft bill or decree or take appropriate measures as proposed 24 Enables members to submit a proposal for a constitutional amendment, law or decree Members can submit a draft of the bill or propose in general terms that such a text be drafted The Federal Assembly

25. Parliamentary Procedures Forms of parliamentary intervention Postulate Form of application requiring the Federal Council to determine if a draft bill or decree must be presented or if other appropriate measures must be taken Approval is only required from the chamber in which the postulate was submitted Interpellation Requests information on important events or matters May be qualified as urgent 25The Federal Assembly

26. Parliamentary Procedures Forms of parliamentary intervention Question Request for information from the government on important domestic or foreign affairs The Federal Council replies in writing before the next session 26The Federal Assembly