Who holds executive power (the executive) at federal level?

The Federal Council is the government of Switzerland. It implements the laws that Parliament has passed.

Common mistakes

C: the Federal Parliament (National Council and Council of States)

The Federal Parliament is the legislative power (legislature), not the executive power.

D: the Federal Administrative Court

The Federal Administrative Court is a court and belongs to the judicial power (judiciary).

Legislature, executive, judiciary (and the media)

In Switzerland the power of the state is divided among three branches. This is called the separation of powers. In German the word «Gewalt» here does not mean violence but power. No person and no authority should have all the power. The branches control each other. This prevents abuse of power. The separation of powers exists at all three levels of government: in the Confederation, in the cantons and in the municipalities.

How the state works
Separation of powers

Sources

• stadt-zuerich.ch
• ch.ch

Last checked: September 2026

Question 70 of the official question list of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.

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