Against what can a referendum be requested?
Gegen was kann man das Referendum ergreifen?
Correct answer: C
- A against decisions of the Federal Councilgegen Beschlüsse des Bundesrats
- B against judgments of the Federal Supreme Courtgegen Urteile des Bundesgerichts
- C against bills passed by the National Council and the Council of Statesgegen Gesetzesvorlagen von Nationalrat und Ständerat
- D against measures of the Federal Administrationgegen Massnahmen der Bundesverwaltung
Why
A referendum is directed against decisions of Parliament, above all against new laws passed by the National Council and the Council of States.
Common mistakes
- A: against decisions of the Federal Council
- There is no referendum against decisions and ordinances of the Federal Council.
- B: against judgments of the Federal Supreme Court
- The people cannot challenge judgments of the Federal Supreme Court with a referendum. The courts are independent.
- D: against measures of the Federal Administration
- You can defend yourself against measures of the administration with appeals, not with a referendum.
Topic
The referendum: stopping a law
Parliament makes the laws. The National Council and the Council of States pass them together. But the people can stop a new law. The tool for this is called a referendum. In a referendum the people say yes or no to a decision that Parliament has already made.
Having a say: rights and obligations
Initiative and referendum
Sources
Last checked: September 2026
Question 32 of the official question list of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.