List of cantonal legislatures of Switzerland
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This is a list of cantonal legislatures of Switzerland. Each canton has a democratically elected cantonal legislature, as well as elected members to the Federal Assembly. The cantonal legislatures are elected for four years, except in Fribourg, Vaud, Geneva and Jura, which elect their legislatures for five years.
The largest legislature, in Zürich, has 180 members, whilst the smallest, in less-populous Appenzell Innerrhoden, has only 49 members. Appenzell Innerrhoden is also the only legislature that is non-partisan. All other legislatures operate party political systems. The Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) and FDP.The Liberals are the largest party in eight legislatures each, whilst the Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC) is the largest in six and the Social Democratic Party (SP/PS) is the largest in three.
Two cantons, Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus, hold Landsgemeinden as their highest legislative body. Under this system, a form of direct democracy, all adult citizens may attend an annual general assembly, where they may vote on laws. A permanent legislature also sits more frequently, but sovereignty resides with the Landsgemeinden. For the purpose of this article, the permanent legislature is considered the cantonal legislature.
Terminology
The legislatures of the cantons have various terms used in the four official languages of Switzerland:
- Grand Council (Template:Lang-de, Template:Lang-fr, Template:Lang-it, Template:Lang-rm)
- 13 Cantons
- Cantonal Council (German: Kantonsrat)
- 9 Cantons
- State Council (German: Landrat)
- 3 Cantons
- Parliament (French: Parlement)
- 1 Canton (Jura)
List
See also
Notes
- ^ a b The ultimate legislative body is the annual Landsgemeinde.
