What do the National Council and the Council of States do together?
Was machen Nationalrat und Ständerat gemeinsam?
Correct answer: B
- A They decide on international treaties.Sie entscheiden über internationale Verträge.
- B They elect the members of the Federal Council and the Federal Supreme Court.Sie wählen die Mitglieder des Bundesrats und des Bundesgerichts.
- C They draft the federal budget.Sie entwerfen das Bundesbudget.
- D They deliver judgments in the Federal Supreme Court.Sie fällen im Bundesgericht Urteile.
Why
For certain elections, both chambers meet as the United Federal Assembly. There they elect the Federal Council and the federal judges.
Common mistakes
- A: They decide on international treaties.
- Both chambers decide on important treaties, but each one separately, not together in one sitting.
- C: They draft the federal budget.
- The budget is drafted by the Federal Council. Parliament then approves it, in separate chambers.
- D: They deliver judgments in the Federal Supreme Court.
- Judgments are delivered by judges, not by members of Parliament.
Topic
The most important task of the Federal Assembly is legislation. The National Council and the Council of States debate and pass the federal laws. Both chambers must approve a law. In this way Parliament decides on most new laws. The Federal Council proposes laws, but it does not pass them. The Federal Supreme Court applies laws, but it does not make them.
200
Nationalrat
National Council: the large chamber with 200 members. It represents the people.
46
Ständerat
Council of States: the small chamber with 46 members. It represents the cantons.
- Cantons: 2 seats each
- Former half-cantons: 1 seat each
200 + 46 = 246
Vereinigte Bundesversammlung
United Federal Assembly: the National Council and the Council of States in a joint session. Parliament makes laws. Together it elects the Federal Council and the Federal Supreme Court.
How the state works
The Federal Parliament
Sources
Last checked: September 2026
Question 45 of the official question list of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.