Swiss Passport

Which of these is a task of the Confederation?

Was ist eine Aufgabe des Bundes?

Correct answer: C

  1. A fire serviceFeuerwehr
  2. B planting greenery in parksBegrünung von Parks
  3. C customsZoll
  4. D hospitalsSpitäler

Why

Customs checks the border of all of Switzerland. That is why it is a task of the Confederation.

Common mistakes

D: hospitals
Hospitals are a matter for the cantons, not for the Confederation.
A: fire service
The fire service is organised by the municipalities.

Topic

Tasks of the Confederation

In federalism each level has its own tasks. The Confederation only does what the Federal Constitution expressly allows it to do. These are mainly tasks that must be the same for the whole country. All other tasks belong to the cantons. The cantons pass some tasks on to the municipalities.

Three levels of government

Confederation

1

Foreign policy · Monetary policy · Customs · Social security

Canton

26 = 20 + 6

Halbkanton: former name for the 6 cantons with only half a cantonal vote, for example Basel-Stadt.

Municipality

≈ 2,200 (2021)

What happens at the border or applies to the whole country (army, customs, foreign policy, franc) is done by the Confederation. What happens on your doorstep (school, police, water, fire service) is done by the canton and the municipality.

How the state works
Federalism: Confederation, cantons, municipalities

Sources

Last checked: September 2026

Question 13 of the official question list of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.

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