SwitzerlandDémocratie et fédéralisme 32 · Democracy and federalism
How many valid signatures are needed for a federal popular initiative, and within what time limit?
In the exam (French)
Combien de signatures valables faut-il pour une initiative populaire fédérale, et dans quel délai ?
- a50,000 signatures in 18 months50 000 signatures en 18 mois
- b100,000 signatures in 100 days100 000 signatures en 100 jours
- c50,000 signatures in 100 days50 000 signatures en 100 jours
- d100,000 signatures in 18 months100 000 signatures en 18 moisCorrect answer
Why?
A popular initiative (initiative populaire) succeeds if 100,000 people with the right to vote sign it within 18 months (Art. 139 of the Federal Constitution). The people and the cantons then vote on the text.
Translated with AI. In the exam the question is in French, as shown above.
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Take a free mock examDémocratie et fédéralisme 33
What can be demanded with a federal popular initiative?Correct answer:An amendment to the Federal Constitution
Que peut-on demander par une initiative populaire fédérale ? — Une modification de la Constitution fédérale
Démocratie et fédéralisme 34
The people can demand a referendum against a new federal law. How many signatures are needed, and within what time limit?Correct answer:50,000 signatures in 100 days
Le peuple peut demander le référendum contre une nouvelle loi fédérale. Combien de signatures faut-il, et dans quel délai ? — 50 000 signatures en 100 jours
Démocratie et fédéralisme 35
What must the people and the cantons always vote on (mandatory referendum, référendum obligatoire)?Correct answer:Every amendment to the Federal Constitution
Sur quoi le peuple et les cantons doivent-ils toujours voter (référendum obligatoire) ? — Sur chaque modification de la Constitution fédérale
Démocratie et fédéralisme 36
How can the cantons themselves call for a popular vote on a new federal law?Correct answer:If at least eight cantons request the referendum
Comment les cantons eux-mêmes peuvent-ils demander une votation populaire sur une nouvelle loi fédérale ? — Si au moins huit cantons demandent le référendum
Source
Our own practice questions, written in French on the facts of the Federal Constitution and official information from the Confederation and the cantons of Vaud and Geneva. They are not the questions of the cantonal tests, and no text from the official cantonal or communal lists is reused. Each question was written, answered blind and fact-checked in separate rounds. The English translation and the explanations are ours, made with AI help; in the test the questions are asked in French. We are not affiliated with the Confederation, the cantons or the communes.
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