SwitzerlandDémocratie et fédéralisme 34 · Democracy and federalism
The people can demand a referendum against a new federal law. How many signatures are needed, and within what time limit?
In the exam (French)
Le peuple peut demander le référendum contre une nouvelle loi fédérale. Combien de signatures faut-il, et dans quel délai ?
- a10,000 signatures in 30 days10 000 signatures en 30 jours
- b200,000 signatures in one year200 000 signatures en un an
- c100,000 signatures in 18 months100 000 signatures en 18 mois
- d50,000 signatures in 100 days50 000 signatures en 100 joursCorrect answer
Why?
For an optional referendum (référendum facultatif), 50,000 signatures of people with the right to vote are needed within 100 days of the law's official publication (Art. 141 of the Federal Constitution). In the vote that follows, a majority of the people is then enough.
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 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.
Démocratie et fédéralisme 38
What is the minimum number of voters who must take part in a federal vote for the result to be valid?Correct answer:There is no minimum turnout.
Combien d'électeurs doivent au moins participer à une votation fédérale pour que le résultat soit valable ? — Il n'y a pas de participation minimale.
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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