Switzerland
The Swiss Confederation is a small landlocked federal state in central
Europe, with neighbours Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein.
The country has a strong tradition of political and military neutrality, but
also of international co-operation, as it is home to many international
organisations. It is also known as Confoederatio Helvetica (CH), Latin for
Swiss Confederation.
Official languages German, French,
History Italian, Romansh
Capital Berne
Largest City Zurich
In 1291, representatives of the three President of the
forest cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Confederation2003:
Unterwalden signed the Eternal Alliance. Pascal Couchepin
This united them in the struggle against
"foreign" rule by the Habsburgs, who Federal Council Kaspar Villiger
then held the German imperial throne of Moritz Leuenberger
the Holy Roman Empire. At the Battle of Pascal Couchepin
Morgarten in 1315, the Swiss defeated Ruth Metzler-Arnold
the Habsburg army and secured Joseph Deiss
quasi-independence as the Swiss Samuel Schmid
Confederation. Micheline Calmy-Rey
Area
Under the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, - Total
European countries recognised - % waterRanked 132nd
Switzerland's independence from the Holy 41'285 km2
Roman Empire and its neutrality. In 3.7%
1798, armies of the French Revolution
conquered Switzerland. The Congress of Population
Vienna of 1815 re-established Swiss - Total (2001)
independence and the European powers - DensityRanked 92nd
agreed to permanently recognise Swiss 7'261'200
neutrality. 176/km2
Independence
Switzerland adopted a federal - Declared
constitution in 1848, amending it - Recognised
extensively in 1874 and establishing Federal state Eternal Alliance
federal responsibility for defense, August 1, 1291
trade, and legal matters. Since then, October 24, 1648
continued political, economic, and 1848
social improvement has characterised Currency Swiss Franc (CHF)
Swiss history. The Swiss are known for
their historic neutrality and did not Time zone UTC +1
participate in either world war. In 2002 National anthem Swiss Psalm
Switzerland finally became a full member Internet TLD.CH
of the United Nations.
Calling Code41
Politics
Under the 1999 constitution, cantons hold all powers not specifically
delegated to the federation. The bicameral Swiss parliament, the Federal
Assembly, is the primary seat of power. Both houses, the Council of States
and the National Council, have equal powers in all respects, including the
right to introduce legislation. The 46 members of the Council of States (two
from each canton and one from former half cantons) are directly elected in
each canton, whereas the 200 members of the National Council are elected
directly under a system of proportional representation. Members of both
houses serve for 4 years. Through referenda people may challenge any law
voted by federal parliament and through initiatives introduce amendments of
the federal constitution, making Switzerland a semi-direct democracy.
The top executive body is the Federal Council, a collegial body of seven
members. Although the constitution provides that the Assembly elects and
supervises the members of the Council, the latter has gradually assumed a
preeminent role in directing the legislative process as well as executing
federal laws. The President of the Confederation is elected from the seven.
During a one year term, he assumes special representative functions.
Since 1959, the four major parties are represented in the Federal Council
according to the "magic formula": 2 Christian Democrats, 2 from the Social
Democrats, 2 Free Democrats, and 1 from the People's Party.
The function of the Federal Supreme Courts is to hear appeals of cantonal
courts or the administrative rulings of the federal administration. The
judges are elected by the Federal Assembly for 6-year terms.
Cantons
The Swiss Confederation consists of 26 cantons:
* Aargau (Argovia) * Nidwalden *
* Appenzell Inner Rhodes (Innerrhoden) * * Obwalden *
* Appenzell Outer Rhodes (Ausserrhoden) * * Schaffhausen
* Basel-City (Basel-Stadt) * * Schwyz
* Basel-Country (Basel-Landschaft) * * Solothurn (Soleure)
* Berne (Bern) * St. Gallen (Sankt
* Fribourg (Freiburg) Gallen)
* Geneva (Genve) * Thurgau (Thurgovia)
* Glarus * Ticino
* Grisons (Graubnden/Grischun/Grigioni) * Uri
* Jura * Valais (Wallis)
* Lucerne (Luzern) * Vaud
* Neuchtel * Zug
* Zurich
Cantons marked by a * are represented by only one councilor in the Council
of States
Cantons are divided in a total of 2,889 municipalities.
Geography
The Swiss landscape is characterised by the Alps, a high mountain range
running across the central-south of the country. Amongst the high peaks of
the Swiss Alps, the highest of which is the Dufour Peak at 4'634 m, are
found countless valleys, some with glaciers. From these the headwaters of
several major European rivers such as the Rhine, the Rhne, the Inn, the
Aare or the Ticino, flow down into lakes such as Lake Geneva, Lake Zurich,
Lake Neuchtel, and Lake Constance and farther down.
The northern, more populous part of the country is more open, but can still
be fairly mountainous such as with the Jura Mountains, a smaller range in
the northwest. The Swiss climate is generally temperate, but it can vary
greatly locally, from the harsh conditions on the high mountains to the
pleasant mediterranean clime at Switzerland's southern tip.
Economy
Switzerland is a prosperous and stable modern market economy with a per
capita GDP higher than that of the big western European economies. The Swiss
in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into
conformity with the European Union's to enhance their international
competitiveness. Although the Swiss are not pursuing full EU membership in
the near term, in 1999 Bern and Brussels signed agreements to further
liberalise trade ties. They continue to discuss further areas for
cooperation. Switzerland is however a member of the European Free Trade
Association.
Switzerland remains a safe haven for investors, because it has maintained a
degree of bank secrecy and has kept up the franc's long-term external value.
The GDP growth rate dipped to 1.6% in 2001, and the government projects that
it will slow further to 1.3% in 2002.
Demographics
Switzerland sits at the crossroads of several major European cultures, which
have heavily influenced the country's languages and cultural practices.
Switzerland has four official languages: German (64%) in the north and
centre, French (19%) to the west, Italian (8%) in the south, and finally
Romansh, a Romance language spoken by a small minority (<1%) in the
southeastern canton Grisons. The German spoken here is predominantly a Swiss
dialect known as Swiss German, but newspapers and some broadcasts use High
German. Many Swiss speak more than one language and resident foreigners and
temporary foreign workers make up about 20% of the population.
The largest religion in Switzerland is Roman Catholicism, to which some 43%
of the population adhere. Various Protestant faiths number some 35% of the
population, and immigration has established Islam (4%) and Eastern Orthodoxy
(2%) as sizable minority religions. The remainder belongs to very small
minorities or is unaffiliated. The stability and prosperity of Switzerland,
combined with a linguistically and religiously diverse population has led
some to describe the country as a consociational state.
Culture
The Swiss are noted for their banks, their chocolate, their cheese, their
watches, and their private boarding schools.
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