Switzerland is a federal state with three levels of government. What is the highest level?
Die Schweiz ist ein föderalistischer Staat mit drei Staatsebenen. Was ist die oberste Ebene?
Correct answer: C
- A the municipalitydie Gemeinde
- B the cantonder Kanton
- C the Confederationder Bund
- D the regiondie Region
Why
The Confederation covers all of Switzerland. That is why it is the highest level of government, above the cantons and municipalities.
Common mistakes
- B: the canton
- The canton is the middle level. The Confederation is above the cantons.
- D: the region
- Regions are not a level of government in Switzerland. The three levels are Confederation, canton and municipality.
Topic
Three levels of government and 26 cantons
Switzerland is a federal state. Federalism means: power is distributed across several levels. Switzerland has three levels of government. The highest level is the Confederation, that is the whole of Switzerland. The middle level is the cantons. The lowest level is the municipalities. Each level has its own tasks, its own authorities and levies its own taxes.
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 60 of the official question list of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.