SwitzerlandDémocratie et fédéralisme 40 · Democracy and federalism
A Swiss woman has lived in Canada for years. Can she take part in federal votes?
In the exam (French)
Une Suissesse vit au Canada depuis des années. Peut-elle participer aux votations fédérales ?
- aOnly in the election of the National Council, never in votes on issues.Seulement pour l'élection du Conseil national, jamais pour les votations sur des objets.
- bNo, a person who lives abroad loses the right to vote at federal level.Non, une personne qui vit à l'étranger perd le droit de vote en matière fédérale.
- cOnly if she goes in person to her Swiss municipality for every vote.Seulement si elle se rend en personne dans sa commune suisse pour chaque votation.
- dYes, if she is registered with a Swiss representation abroad and on the electoral register.Oui, si elle est immatriculée auprès d'une représentation suisse et inscrite au registre électoral.Correct answer
Why?
Swiss citizens abroad can vote and elect at federal level (Art. 40 of the Federal Constitution). To do so, they must be registered with a Swiss representation (an embassy or consulate) and be on the electoral register of their voting municipality (commune); most of them vote by post.
Translated with AI. In the exam the question is in French, as shown above.
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What about the right of foreign nationals to vote in Switzerland?Correct answer:Not at federal level; some cantons and municipalities grant it to them at their own level.
Qu'en est-il du droit de vote des personnes étrangères en Suisse ? — Pas au niveau fédéral ; certains cantons et communes le leur accordent pour leur niveau.
Démocratie et fédéralisme 42
What is the difference between an election (élection) and a vote on an issue (votation)?Correct answer:An election chooses people; a vote decides a question, such as a law.
Quelle est la différence entre une élection et une votation ? — Une élection désigne des personnes ; une votation tranche une question, comme une loi.
Démocratie et fédéralisme 43
What is a political party's “mot d'ordre” (literally “watchword”)?Correct answer:Its recommendation on how to vote in a vote on an issue
Qu'est-ce que le « mot d'ordre » d'un parti politique ? — Sa recommandation sur la façon de voter lors d'une votation
Démocratie et fédéralisme 44
What was called the “magic formula” (formule magique) from 1959 onwards?Correct answer:A fixed sharing of the seven seats of the Federal Council among the four largest parties
Qu'appelait-on, à partir de 1959, la « formule magique » ? — Une répartition fixe des sept sièges du Conseil fédéral entre les quatre plus grands partis
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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