Swiss Passport

Who elects the seven members of the Federal Council?

Wer wählt die sieben Mitglieder des Bundesrats?

Correct answer: D

  1. A the party presidentsdie Parteipräsidentinnen und Parteipräsidenten
  2. B the voters by direct electiondie Stimmbürgerinnen und Stimmbürger in direkter Wahl
  3. C the Council of Eldersder Rat der Ältesten
  4. D the National Council and the Council of StatesNationalrat und Ständerat

Why

The members of the Federal Council are elected by the United Federal Assembly, that is, by the National Council and the Council of States together.

Common mistakes

B: the voters by direct election
The people do not elect the Federal Council directly. They elect Parliament, and Parliament elects the Federal Council.
A: the party presidents
The parties propose candidates. But the election takes place in Parliament.

Topic

Federal Council and the principle of collegiality

The Federal Council is the government of Switzerland. It holds executive power (the executive) at federal level. It runs the government business: it implements the laws, plans policy and represents Switzerland in relation to other states. In the cantons the government has a different name, for example Cantonal Government (Regierungsrat). In some cantons the Grand Council or the Landrat is the cantonal parliament.

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

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