SwitzerlandDemokratie und Föderalismus 22 · Democracy and federalism
What determines the number of seats a canton has in the National Council (Nationalrat)?
In the exam (German)
Wonach richtet sich die Zahl der Nationalratssitze eines Kantons?
- aThe canton's areaNach der Fläche des Kantons
- bThe canton's populationNach der Bevölkerungszahl des KantonsCorrect answer
- cThe year the canton joinedNach dem Beitrittsjahr des Kantons
- dThe canton's tax revenueNach den Steuereinnahmen des Kantons
Why?
The 200 seats are shared among the cantons according to their population (Art. 149 of the Federal Constitution). Large cantons have many seats, but every canton has at least one.
Translated with AI. In the exam the question is in German, as shown above.
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Take a free mock examDemokratie und Föderalismus 23
Which electoral system is used to elect the National Council (Nationalrat) in cantons with several seats?Correct answer:Proportional representation (Proporz)
Nach welchem Wahlsystem wird der Nationalrat in Kantonen mit mehreren Sitzen gewählt? — Nach dem Verhältniswahlrecht (Proporz)
Demokratie und Föderalismus 24
What does «panaschieren» mean in elections to the National Council (Nationalrat)?Correct answer:You write candidates from other lists on your ballot paper.
Was bedeutet «panaschieren» bei den Nationalratswahlen? — Man schreibt Kandidierende von anderen Listen auf seinen Wahlzettel.
Demokratie und Föderalismus 25
A new federal law is to be passed. What is needed for this in parliament?Correct answer:The National Council and the Council of States must approve the same text.
Ein neues Bundesgesetz soll beschlossen werden. Was braucht es dafür im Parlament? — Nationalrat und Ständerat müssen dem gleichen Text zustimmen.
Demokratie und Föderalismus 26
Who elects the judges of the Federal Supreme Court (Bundesgericht)?Correct answer:The United Federal Assembly
Wer wählt die Richterinnen und Richter des Bundesgerichts? — Die Vereinigte Bundesversammlung
Source
Our own practice questions on the facts of the Federal Constitution and the official information of the Confederation and the cantons of Zurich, Aargau and Bern. They are not the questions of the cantonal tests, and no wording from the cantonal question catalogues has been reused. Each question was written, answered blind and fact-checked in separate rounds. The English translation and the explanations are ours, made with AI; in the test the questions are in German. We are not affiliated with the Confederation, the cantons or the communes.
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