Switzerland's Political Institutions [antikvár]

1. Historical Aspects of Political Rights in Switzerland The Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation came into being in 1848. Its basic features are still valid today. The democratic movement in the cantons fought for major advances in the people's right to a voice in political affairs in the mid-nineteenth century. The Federal Constitution, which was revised in 1874, led to standardisation of Swiss Law, and the introduction of the referendum. The initiative was introduced later. On September 12, 1848, the Diet, the Parliament of the day, announced that the Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation had been approved by 15 cantons and one half-canton. Switzerland thus became a Federal State. The sovereignty of the cantons was recognised in the Constitution but was now more restricted than before, in favour of greater centralisation in various fields. The Confederation, which had already been responsible for defence and internal security, untertook to protect the rights and liberties of the people and to promote social welfare. However, there were now other duties involved, including external relations, foreign policy, levying of customs duties, the postal service, minting of currency, definition of weights and measures and even the manufacture and sale of gunpowder. A few years after the Confederation had taken over the postal service, it also assumed control of the telegraph system. For the time being, the railways were left in the hands of the cantons and private companies. The new Constitution also authorised the Confederation to establish a Federal university and polytechnic school.