Switzerland

General information about the policy process
Switzerland is a federalist state, which means that state power is divided between three layers: the Confederation, the cantons and the communes. The principal of subsidiarity prevails between the different levels, which means that nothing that can be done at a lower political level should be done at a higher political level.

National actors involved
Swiss government

Swiss parliament

Federal courts

Votations

Political parties

Regional actors involved
Regional/commune government

Regional/commune parliament

Regional court

Political parties

The relationship between the actors
The legislative responsibility lies with the federal parliament and the regional parliaments. The government is responsible to execute and implement the laws enacted by the legislature. The relationship between the federal state and the cantons is the following: Tasks that are not expressly designated as federal matters are the responsibility of the cantons.