SwitzerlandDemokratie und Föderalismus 34 · Democracy and federalism
The people can call a referendum (Referendum) against a new federal law. How many signatures are needed, and within what period?
In the exam (German)
Gegen ein neues Bundesgesetz kann das Volk das Referendum ergreifen. Wie viele Unterschriften braucht es, und innert welcher Frist?
- a10,000 signatures within 30 days10 000 Unterschriften innert 30 Tagen
- b50,000 signatures within 100 days50 000 Unterschriften innert 100 TagenCorrect answer
- c200,000 signatures within one year200 000 Unterschriften innert einem Jahr
- d100,000 signatures within 18 months100 000 Unterschriften innert 18 Monaten
Why?
An optional referendum (fakultatives Referendum) needs 50,000 signatures from people entitled to vote within 100 days of the law's publication (Art. 141 of the Federal Constitution). In the vote, a majority of the people is then enough.
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 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
Demokratie und Föderalismus 36
How can the cantons themselves demand a popular vote on a new federal law?Correct answer:If at least eight cantons call for a referendum
Wie können die Kantone selbst eine Volksabstimmung über ein neues Bundesgesetz verlangen? — Wenn mindestens acht Kantone das Referendum ergreifen
Demokratie und Föderalismus 37
Parliament puts a direct counter-proposal (direkter Gegenvorschlag) against a popular initiative (Volksinitiative). How can the voters vote?Correct answer:They may approve both proposals and say in a tie-break question which one they prefer.
Das Parlament stellt einer Volksinitiative einen direkten Gegenvorschlag gegenüber. Wie können die Stimmberechtigten abstimmen? — Sie dürfen beiden Vorlagen zustimmen und in einer Stichfrage sagen, welche sie vorziehen.
Demokratie und Föderalismus 38
What is the minimum number of voters who must take part in a federal vote (eidgenössische Abstimmung) for the result to be valid?Correct answer:There is no minimum turnout.
Wie viele Stimmberechtigte müssen mindestens an einer eidgenössischen Abstimmung teilnehmen, damit das Ergebnis gilt? — Es gibt keine Mindestbeteiligung.
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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