SwitzerlandDémocratie et fédéralisme 35 · Democracy and federalism
What must the people and the cantons always vote on (mandatory referendum, référendum obligatoire)?
In the exam (French)
Sur quoi le peuple et les cantons doivent-ils toujours voter (référendum obligatoire) ?
- aEvery annual budget presented by the ConfederationSur chaque budget annuel présenté par la Confédération
- bEvery election of Federal Supreme Court judgesSur chaque élection des juges du Tribunal fédéral
- cEvery new federal law passed by ParliamentSur chaque nouvelle loi fédérale votée par le Parlement
- dEvery amendment to the Federal ConstitutionSur chaque modification de la Constitution fédéraleCorrect answer
Why?
Every amendment to the Federal Constitution is automatically put to the people and the cantons, without collecting signatures (Art. 140 of the Federal Constitution). This also applies to joining an organisation for collective security or a supranational community, and to certain urgent federal laws that have no basis in the Constitution. Against an ordinary federal law, on the other hand, 50,000 signatures are needed (optional referendum, référendum facultatif).
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 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.
Démocratie et fédéralisme 39
Who can take part in federal votes and elections?Correct answer:Swiss women and men aged 18 and over
Qui peut participer aux votations et aux élections fédérales ? — Les Suissesses et les Suisses dès 18 ans
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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