Die Schweizerische Bundesversammlung: Ein Parlament in einer Konsensdemokratie

Abstract

The political system of Switzerland is a decentralized, federalist, multiparty-system in which power-sharing plays an important role . The separation of powers is strong, so that Parlia- ment (Federal Assembly) assumes its functions independently from the executive . The Fed- eral Assembly, consisting of the National Council and the Council of States, plays an important role especially in the law-making process . The Parliament can debate and change every single article of a bill . Different alliances between the different parties supporting the proposals of the government or not can occur even during one single law-making process . The election of the members of the executive by the Parliament also enforces the position of the latter . In the second part of the last century different reforms improved the parliamen- tary instruments and procedures . Therefore, the Federal Assembly is now able to profit from its strong position in the political system and to influence the political decision pro- cesses in a considerable way . In the complex processes of the bicameral system, the mem- bers of Parliament have many opportunities to build alliances to influence the decisions . However, it is necessary that they are willing and able to make deals with members of other parties .