Swiss Passport

What does the Federal Chancellor of Switzerland do?

Was macht der Bundeskanzler oder die Bundeskanzlerin der Schweiz?

Correct answer: A

  1. A supports the Federal Councilden Bundesrat unterstützen
  2. B governs Switzerlanddie Schweiz regieren
  3. C elects the Federal Councilden Bundesrat wählen
  4. D makes lawsGesetze machen

Why

The Federal Chancellor heads the Federal Chancellery. It is the staff office of the Federal Council and supports it in its work.

Common mistakes

B: governs Switzerland
Unlike in Germany, the Federal Chancellor does not govern in Switzerland. The government is the Federal Council.
C: elects the Federal Council
The Federal Council is elected by the United Federal Assembly, not by the Federal Chancellor.
D: makes laws
Laws are made by Parliament.

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

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