SwitzerlandDemokratie und Föderalismus 31 · Democracy and federalism
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?
In the exam (German)
Bei einer Abstimmung über eine Verfassungsänderung sagen 52 Prozent der Stimmenden Ja, aber die Mehrheit der Kantone sagt Nein. Was ist das Resultat?
- aIt applies only in the cantons that voted yes.Sie gilt nur in den Ja-Kantonen.
- bThe proposal is rejected.Die Vorlage ist abgelehnt.Correct answer
- cThe Federal Council decides on it.Der Bundesrat entscheidet darüber.
- dThe proposal is accepted.Die Vorlage ist angenommen.
Why?
An amendment to the Federal Constitution needs a double majority: the majority of voters (Volksmehr) and the majority of the cantons (Ständemehr). If either one is missing, the proposal is rejected.
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 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
Demokratie und Föderalismus 35
On what must the people and the cantons always vote (mandatory referendum, obligatorisches Referendum)?Correct answer:On every amendment to the Federal Constitution
Worüber müssen Volk und Stände immer abstimmen (obligatorisches Referendum)? — Über jede Änderung der Bundesverfassung
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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