Switzerland

The three branches

Head of State — Federal Council (collegial, seven members)

No single head of state; the presidency rotates annually among the seven councillors.

Executive — Federal Council and federal departments

Governs by consensus across parties rather than by government-versus-opposition.

Legislative — Federal Assembly: National Council and Council of States

200 members by population; 46 representing the cantons, two per full canton.

Judicial — Federal courts and cantonal judiciaries

Federal judges are elected by the Federal Assembly for renewable six-year terms.

The electorate — Referendums and popular initiatives

A genuine fourth organ: the people vote on legislation several times a year.

How legislation is made

A draft goes through a formal consultation procedure (Vernehmlassung) with cantons and interest groups, then must be adopted in identical terms by both chambers, with a conciliation procedure to resolve differences. It then faces a hundred-day window in which 50,000 citizens can demand an optional referendum; only after that period, or a favourable vote, does it enter into force.

Enforcement institutions

Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland

Prosecutes offences falling under federal jurisdiction.

Cantonal prosecution services

Handle the great majority of criminal cases under the unified 2011 procedure code.

Cantonal and municipal police

Policing is a cantonal competence; fedpol coordinates rather than replaces it.