Swiss Passport

Which of these is a department of the Federal Administration?

Was ist ein Departement der Bundesverwaltung?

Correct answer: D

  1. A Department of FoodErnährungsdepartement
  2. B Department of Nature and ClimateNatur- und Klimadepartement
  3. C Department of Schools and Continuing EducationSchul- und Weiterbildungsdepartement
  4. D Department of Justice and PoliceJustiz- und Polizeidepartement

Why

The Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) is one of the seven departments. Among other things, it is responsible for migration, naturalisation and internal security.

Common mistakes

C: Department of Schools and Continuing Education
Schools are a matter for the cantons. At federal level, education and research belong to the department EAER (WBF).
B: Department of Nature and Climate
Environment and climate belong to DETEC (UVEK). There is no department with this name.
A: Department of Food
There is no separate food department. Agriculture belongs to the EAER (WBF).

Topic

Departments and the Federal Chancellery

The Federal Council needs many employees to do its work. They work in the Federal Administration. It is divided into seven departments, one for each member of the Federal Council. A department is similar to a ministry in other countries. Each Federal Councillor heads a department.

The Federal Council

Bundesrat

Federal Council: the government of Switzerland with seven members. Seven heads, one voice: that is the principle of collegiality.

Bundespräsident/in: President of the Confederation: a member of the Federal Council who chairs the meetings and represents Switzerland for one year.

Department: one of the seven large areas of the Federal Administration, headed by a member of the Federal Council.

  1. EDAFederal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)
  2. EDIFederal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA)
  3. EJPDFederal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP)
  4. VBSFederal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS)
  5. EFDFederal Department of Finance (FDF)
  6. WBFFederal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER)
  7. UVEKFederal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC)

BundeskanzleiFederal Chancellery: the staff office that supports the Federal Council in its work. Seven Federal Councillors, seven departments. Unlike in Germany, the Chancellor in Switzerland does not govern, but only supports.

How the state works
The Federal Council

Sources

Last checked: September 2026

Question 4 of the official question list of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.

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