Swiss Passport

What is an important task of the federal state?

Was ist eine wichtige Aufgabe des Bundesstaats?

Correct answer: A

  1. A It ensures social security.Er sorgt für soziale Sicherheit.
  2. B It organises the work in factories and businesses.Er organisiert die Arbeit in Fabriken und Betrieben.
  3. C It guarantees affordable housing for everyone.Er garantiert günstigen Wohnraum für alle.
  4. D It publishes various daily newspapers in all national languages.Er gibt verschiedene Tageszeitungen in allen Landessprachen heraus.

Why

The important social insurances such as AHV, IV and unemployment insurance are the same throughout the country. The Confederation regulates them and so ensures social security.

Common mistakes

C: It guarantees affordable housing for everyone.
The Confederation does not guarantee affordable housing for everyone. Flats are mainly rented out on the free market.
B: It organises the work in factories and businesses.
Companies organise the work in factories and businesses themselves. The Confederation only makes rules, for example to protect employees.

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

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