SwitzerlandDemokratie und Föderalismus 30 · Democracy and federalism
What does «Ständemehr» mean in a popular vote?
In the exam (German)
Was bedeutet «Ständemehr» bei einer Volksabstimmung?
- aMore than half of those entitled to vote took part.Mehr als die Hälfte der Stimmberechtigten hat teilgenommen.
- bThe majority of the cantons approved the proposal.Die Mehrheit der Kantone hat der Vorlage zugestimmt.Correct answer
- cThe majority of the Council of States approved the proposal.Die Mehrheit des Ständerats hat der Vorlage zugestimmt.
- dThe majority of the municipalities approved the proposal.Die Mehrheit der Gemeinden hat der Vorlage zugestimmt.
Why?
For the Ständemehr (majority of the cantons), the result in each canton counts as one cantonal vote (Standesstimme). The six cantons with only one seat in the Council of States (Ständerat) have half a cantonal vote; in total there are 23 cantonal votes.
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 31
In a vote on an amendment to the Constitution, 52 per cent of voters say yes, but the majority of the cantons say no. What is the result?Correct answer:The proposal is rejected.
Bei einer Abstimmung über eine Verfassungsänderung sagen 52 Prozent der Stimmenden Ja, aber die Mehrheit der Kantone sagt Nein. Was ist das Resultat? — Die Vorlage ist abgelehnt.
Demokratie und Föderalismus 32
How many valid signatures does a federal popular initiative (Volksinitiative) need, and within what period?Correct answer:100,000 signatures within 18 months
Wie viele gültige Unterschriften braucht eine eidgenössische Volksinitiative, und innert welcher Frist? — 100 000 Unterschriften innert 18 Monaten
Demokratie und Föderalismus 33
What can you demand with a federal popular initiative (Volksinitiative)?Correct answer:An amendment to the Federal Constitution
Was kann man mit einer eidgenössischen Volksinitiative verlangen? — Eine Änderung der Bundesverfassung
Demokratie und Föderalismus 34
The people can call a referendum (Referendum) against a new federal law. How many signatures are needed, and within what period?Correct answer:50,000 signatures within 100 days
Gegen ein neues Bundesgesetz kann das Volk das Referendum ergreifen. Wie viele Unterschriften braucht es, und innert welcher Frist? — 50 000 Unterschriften innert 100 Tagen
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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