SwitzerlandDemokratie und Föderalismus 40 · Democracy and federalism
A Swiss woman has lived in Canada for years. May she take part in federal votes?
In the exam (German)
Eine Schweizerin wohnt seit Jahren in Kanada. Darf sie bei eidgenössischen Abstimmungen mitmachen?
- aOnly in elections to the National Council, but never in votes on issues.Nur bei den Nationalratswahlen, aber nie bei Abstimmungen über Sachfragen.
- bYes, if she is registered with a Swiss representation abroad and entered in the electoral register.Ja, wenn sie bei der Schweizer Vertretung angemeldet und im Stimmregister eingetragen ist.Correct answer
- cNo, people who live abroad lose their right to vote in federal matters.Nein, wer im Ausland wohnt, verliert das Stimmrecht in eidgenössischen Angelegenheiten.
- dOnly if she travels in person to her Swiss municipality for every vote.Nur wenn sie für jede Abstimmung persönlich in ihre Schweizer Gemeinde reist.
Why?
Swiss citizens living abroad (Auslandschweizerinnen und Auslandschweizer) can vote and elect at the federal level (Art. 40 of the Federal Constitution, BV). To do so, they must be registered with a Swiss representation (embassy or consulate) and entered in the electoral register (Stimmregister) of their voting municipality; most of them vote by post.
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 41
What is true about the right of foreign nationals to vote in Switzerland?Correct answer:They have none at the federal level; some cantons and municipalities grant it for their own level.
Was gilt für das Stimmrecht von Ausländerinnen und Ausländern in der Schweiz? — Auf Bundesebene haben sie keines; einige Kantone und Gemeinden geben es ihnen für ihre Ebene.
Demokratie und Föderalismus 42
What is the difference between "electing" (wählen) and "voting" (abstimmen)?Correct answer:You elect people to an office; you vote on issues such as laws.
Was ist der Unterschied zwischen «wählen» und «abstimmen»? — Man wählt Personen in ein Amt; man stimmt über Sachfragen wie Gesetze ab.
Demokratie und Föderalismus 43
What is the "Parole" of a political party?Correct answer:Its recommendation on how to vote in a popular vote
Was ist die «Parole» einer politischen Partei? — Ihre Empfehlung, wie man bei einer Abstimmung stimmen soll
Demokratie und Föderalismus 44
What was called the "magic formula" (Zauberformel) from 1959 onwards?Correct answer:A fixed division of the seven Federal Council seats among the four largest parties
Was bezeichnete man ab 1959 als «Zauberformel»? — Eine feste Verteilung der sieben Bundesratssitze auf die vier grössten Parteien
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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