Organisation of Parliament

Eleven parties are represented in Parliament, none of which holds a majority. There are five parties that each make up 10% or more of the seats in the Federal Assembly (SVP: 24%, SP: 20%, FDP: 17%, The Centre: 15% and The Greens: 13%). These parties are all represented in the Federal Council, with the exception of the Green Party, which gained over 10% of the votes for the first time in the 2019 parliamentary elections. However, parliamentary groups all have greater clout than the parties in the parliamentary process.

Parliament is divided politically into six parliamentary groups. They are made up of council members from the same party or from parties with similar views. Even members of small cantonal parties or independents tend to join a parliamentary group. At least five members are needed to form a parliamentary group.

In the National Council, membership of a parliamentary group is particularly important, since it is a prerequisite for being granted a seat on a committee. The more members a parliamentary group has, the more seats they are entitled to on committees and the greater the influence they have in Parliament. In the Council of States, parliamentary groups play a less important role.

The parliamentary groups are important for the formation of political opinion. They discuss important items of business of the Councils with the aim of agreeing on a common position, which can be supported by the council members in the chamber and before the media and the general public.

The full Parliament is made up of 246 people. It would be difficult for so many people to deliberate an item of business. This is why initial discussions on all items of business take place in committees, which hold their meetings in camera. National Council committees comprise 25 members each, while those in the Council of States comprise 13 members. There are different types of committees:

Specialist committees
The National Council and the Council of States have nine committees that deal with specific areas. They discuss items of business related to their specific area and stay up-to-date on any relevant social and political developments.

Specific areas:

• Legal affairs

• Security policy

• State policy

• Economy and taxes

• Social security and healthcare

• Science, education and culture

• Transport and telecommunications

• Environment, spatial planning and energy

• Foreign policy

Supervisory committees
Each chamber has two supervisory committees: one to oversee the federal finances and the other to examine the business of other federal authorities (Finance Committees and Control Committees). The most rigorous means of parliamentary oversight is the Parliamentary Investigation Committee (PInC). Only four PlnCs have been ever been appointed in the history of Switzerland, the last one in 1996.

Delegations
Delegations are composed of members of both chambers. Three delegations perform supervisory functions; seven delegations represent Swiss Parliament in international parliamentary assemblies; and five additional delegations are in charge of fostering relations with foreign parliaments.

Members of the Federal Assembly, parliamentary groups and committees can initiate measures, propose new legislation and request information or reports. These procedural requests are generally addressed to the Federal Council.

• Members of the Federal Assembly, parliamentary groups and committees can table a parliamentary initiative to propose draft legislation. If both Councils agree, a committee will draw up the draft legislation.

• A motion is used to instruct the Federal Council to draft legislation (an act or an ordinance) or to take a specific measure. A motion must be approved by both Councils.

• A postulate is used to instruct the Federal Council to examine and report whether a new law should be drafted or measures taken. A postulate is accepted if a Council agrees to it.
  Before a motion or a postulate is submitted to the Council, the Federal Council puts forward a recommendation. The procedural requests recommended for adoption are expedited. The recommendation is prepared by the responsible department.

• An interpellation is a request to the Federal Council for information on important incidents in Switzerland and abroad, and on federal government matters. The Federal Council’s response is then sometimes discussed in the Council of States and, in the case of urgent interpellations, also in the National Council. 

• Questions are used to request information from the Federal Council. The Federal Council answers questions in writing. They are not dealt with in the Council. Urgent questions must be answered by the Federal Council in the same session.

• During question time in the National Council, council members can ask the Federal Council questions on current issues. The questions must be submitted in writing one week in advance and will be answered orally by the responsible head of department.