Page 41 - Bulletin, Vol.82 No.3, December 2023

• Two chamber parliament with The drafting of the Federal Constitution
"Nationalrat" [national council = house of was a tour de force. In just 51 days, a
representatives, initially one member per commission made up of cantonal
20,000 inhabitants (1848: 111 seats, representatives formulated a text,
1850: 120 seats), later the number of setting out the most important points.
members was fixed on 200] and After the conflicts between the
"Ständerat" [council of states = senate, conservative Sonderbund cantons and
two members per canton]. While big the parts of Switzerland under liberal
cantons dominate "Nationalrat", the government, the loose confederation
smaller cantons may block legislation in was to become a state entity: a federal
"Ständerat" state with a common foreign policy, free
of internal customs duties and with a
• Federal government "Bundesrat", 7 common currency, postal service and
members with equal rights, elected by units of measurement. The complete
the parliament. While every member is text was approved during summer of
responsible to lead a part of the 1848.
administration, important decisions will
be taken by majority. The presidency is
rotating yearly and gives opportunities to
hold speeches rather than special
powers. [Note: the German word
"Bundesrat" is also used to denote the
German and Austrian equivalent of the
senate, therefore some dictionaries will
translate Bundesrat = Upper House of
Parliament]

• A federal court of justice should
settle disputes between the cantons
(today the cantons always solve their
problems in negotiations, but individuals
and companies appeal to the federal
court, if they are not willing to accept
judgement of cantonal courts - so it's
judgements help to unify the
interpretation of laws by cantonal
courts).

• Alliances with foreign powers,
decisions on war and peace, customs,
postal services and coinage became
federal responsibilities. Local toll station
on some 400 roads and bridges within
Switzerland were closed in 1849, the
Swiss Franc was reestablished as
common currency in 1850.

AAFI-AFICS BULLETIN, Vol. 82 No.3, 2023-12 39

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