Switzerland - The Direct Democracy Model

by Thorsten Koenig, historian

The European Union is increasingly becoming a power conglomerate lacking in democratic legitimisation, and the more apparent this becomes, the more obvious people's resistance and distaste is towards the dictatorship that is establishing itself. In the search for an alternative it comes as no surprise that the Swiss form of direct democracy has been a source of debate.

This model allows citizens a high degree of direct participation. For instance, just two months ago, the Swiss were called upon to vote on whether or not their government should begin negotiations with the EU over membership. 77% of the population said no. Other countries are denied such opportunities, but the signs are that a change is in the air.

The Swiss Federal state has lasted a good century and a half. In 1848, after tough wrangling, the individual Cantons succeeded in agreeing on a common constitution. This constitution offers both the Cantons and the people at large a high degree of political participation. The federal constitution of 1848 (amended in 1874 and 2000) has enabled the development of a government structure which takes account of the four Swiss languages and their distinctive cultures. At the same time it allows the historical local communities-'Gemeinden'-to exercise autonomy, and the Cantons to develop their own forms of democracy, all on the basis of subsidiarity. In this way the entrenched rights which enable all citizens to play an active part in political decision making are protected at all three levels of government: namely the Gemeinde, the Canton and the Federal government levels. The distinctive Swiss federal constitution, built on the principle of subsidiarity, determines the character of Swiss political institutions. What that means in detail is set out more explicitly below.

Autonomy of the local communities

The Swiss government is not the source of all power; this originates with the people. The autonomy of the Gemeinden constitutes the cradle of direct democracy, and thus of participatory politics. The citizens can participate directly in shaping the political life of their own Gemeinden through their local assemblies. Most of the just over 3000 Swiss Gemeinden still have assemblies. They have the power to make the laws. The citizens who have voting rights meet in these assemblies to decide on important questions concerning the Gemeinde, their decisions are put into effect by the Gemeinde executive. Matters which come under their competence include the adoption of local ordinances, tasks of the police (Gemeinde or town police), the building of sports facilities or schools, roads, matters of finance etc. Particularly important is the levying of local taxes (financial autonomy). So the citizens of a Gemeinde who have voting rights can decide on their own budget. In this way public finances are continually under the control of the people.

In more thickly populated Gemeinden (towns), there are no assemblies, but the people elect representatives. On top of that, the people have a well-functioning right to vote, through statutory referenda, on laws proposed in parliament. They also have the right to initiate legislative proposals themselves. For a proposed initiative to be valid, those proposing it must collect a certain number of signatories among the people.

Organisation of the Cantons

The Canton takes responsibility for all those tasks which are beyond the competence of the Gemeinden. These include the planning and financing of the Cantonal roads, the building of hospitals and grammar schools, law courts, Cantonal police etc.. Both the Cantonal parliament, which enacts the laws, and the Government, which executes them, are elected by the citizens. In many Cantons the citizens also elect the Judiciary. Citizens also have a right to referenda and initiatives at the Canton level. If a citizen wants to change a Cantonal law, he must collect the requisite number of signatures to enable the proposal to be considered. So the citizen enjoys the right to participate in the politics of the Canton, not only by electing his representatives, but also by direct intervention.

The Federal Government

The Federal government decides on those matters which fall outside the competence of the Cantons. These comprise among other things foreign affairs, the organisation and provision of the railways and traffic, and defence insofar as these things are not taken care of in the Cantons, also the budget and currency, asylum policy, customs etc..

At federal level the legislature consists of two chambers, the Staenderat (Upper Chamber) and the Nationalrat (National Council) that have equality of status. The Staenderat represents the Cantons; each Canton sends two representatives regardless of whether a Canton has 1 million inhabitants or just 50,000. The composition of the Nationalrat corresponds to the numbers of the population spread over all the Cantons. Both chambers are elected by the people. The Executive, which consist of seven members of these chambers, represents the four most important Swiss political parties, and is chosen by a combined sitting of the two chambers. Thus there is no domination by a single political party, and there is no prime minister who might become an all-powerful individual during the period between elections.

Just as at Gemeinde and Canton level, so also at federal level, the Swiss citizens enjoy rights of referendum and initiative. All changes to the constitution must be laid before the people for decision by referendum. And whenever the federal parliament changes or introduces a law, there is the possibility to demand a referendum if it is not automatically put before the people. For such an intervention to be considered, it must be backed by 50,000 signatures collected within three months.

If citizens want to insert a new clause in the constitution they must collect 100,000 signatures within eighteen months. It must then be presented for decision by referendum without unreasonable delay. Thus the Swiss citizen has the last word at all levels of government.

The system of direct democracy is an example for anybody wanting real government by the people. Switzerland has used it for 150 years of peace, stability and prosperity. Where the citizen participates directly in political decision-making it is virtually impossible for him to be forced into a dictatorship against his will. Patronising and disenfranchising of the citizens, such as we have witnessed in recent decades even in western European countries, stand little chance in Switzerland. At the beginning of the 21st century it is high time to discuss openly just how we human beings want to live. Do we want to stand on our human rights or hurtle blindly towards catastrophe? One thing is certain; if the citizens stop allowing themselves to be manipulated and take their destiny in their own hands by means of direct democracy, dictatorship ˆ la Schroeder, Jospin or Blair becomes impossible.