SwitzerlandDémocratie et fédéralisme 33 · Democracy and federalism
What can be demanded with a federal popular initiative?
In the exam (French)
Que peut-on demander par une initiative populaire fédérale ?
- aThe cancellation of a Federal Supreme Court rulingL'annulation d'un arrêt du Tribunal fédéral
- bThe removal of a member of the Federal CouncilLa révocation d'un membre du Conseil fédéral
- cThe election of a new Federal ChancellorL'élection d'une nouvelle chancelière fédérale
- dAn amendment to the Federal ConstitutionUne modification de la Constitution fédéraleCorrect answer
Why?
At federal level, a popular initiative (initiative populaire) always demands an amendment to the Constitution, either partial or total. An election or a court judgment cannot be decided by an initiative.
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 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
Démocratie et fédéralisme 37
Parliament puts forward a direct counter-proposal (contre-projet direct) to a popular initiative (initiative populaire). How can voters vote?Correct answer:They can accept both and say, in a tie-break question, which one they prefer.
Le Parlement oppose un contre-projet direct à une initiative populaire. Comment les électeurs peuvent-ils voter ? — Ils peuvent accepter les deux et dire, par une question subsidiaire, lequel ils préfèrent.
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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