SwitzerlandDémocratie et fédéralisme 41 · Democracy and federalism
What about the right of foreign nationals to vote in Switzerland?
In the exam (French)
Qu'en est-il du droit de vote des personnes étrangères en Suisse ?
- aNot at federal level; some cantons and municipalities grant it to them at their own level.Pas au niveau fédéral ; certains cantons et communes le leur accordent pour leur niveau.Correct answer
- bNot at federal level; but in every canton they vote at cantonal level after ten years.Pas au niveau fédéral ; mais dans tous les cantons, elles votent sur le plan cantonal après dix ans.
- cAt federal level after ten years; in the cantons and municipalities, never.Au niveau fédéral après dix ans ; dans les cantons et les communes, jamais.
- dAt federal level with a C permit; the cantons and municipalities cannot grant it.Au niveau fédéral avec un permis C ; les cantons et les communes ne peuvent pas l'accorder.
Why?
Foreign nationals cannot vote at federal level. However, some cantons give them the right to vote at cantonal level, such as Neuchâtel and Jura, and others at municipal (communal) level, such as Vaud and Geneva.
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 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
Démocratie et fédéralisme 45
What does concordance mean in Swiss politics?Correct answer:The major parties govern together and look for compromises.
Que signifie la concordance dans la politique suisse ? — Les grands partis gouvernent ensemble et cherchent des compromis.
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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