Government

Switzerland in its modern form came into being in 1848. Until that time, Switzerland was not a real state, but a loose alliance of autonomous cantons whose degree of cooperation with each other varied from one period to another. Before 1848 the cantons were free to secede from the confederation if they wanted to.

In the spring of 2006, the UN General Assembly decided by 170 votes to 4 to establish a Human Rights Council to be based in Geneva.

Switzerland is divided into 26 cantons. There are German-speaking and French-speaking cantons, one Italian-speaking canton and cantons in which both German and French are spoken. In one canton (Graubünden) German, Italian and Rumantsch are spoken.

Each canton has its own constitution, its government, its parliament, its courts and its laws, though they must, of course, be compatible with those of the Confederation.

In Switzerland, the people have the last word on fundamental policy issues. The Swiss call this element of their political system "direct democracy". It allows the people to shape legislation and constitutional changes directly through initiatives and referendums.