What does separation of powers mean?
Was bedeutet Gewaltenteilung?
Correct answer: C
- A The police and the military may both use force.Polizei und Militär dürfen beide Gewalt anwenden.
- B The distribution of power between state and church.Die Verteilung der Macht auf Staat und Kirche.
- C The distribution of state power among different state bodies such as the government, parliament and the courts.Die Verteilung der Staatsgewalt auf verschiedene Staatsorgane wie Regierung, Parlament und Gerichte.
- D The distribution of power between the National Council and the Council of States.Die Verteilung der Macht auf den Nationalrat und den Ständerat.
Why
Separation of powers means that state power is divided among parliament, government and the courts. This way no single body can have all the power.
Common mistakes
- A: The police and the military may both use force.
- Here «power» (Gewalt) does not mean physical force, but state power.
- D: The distribution of power between the National Council and the Council of States.
- The National Council and the Council of States are both part of the same power, the legislature.
- B: The distribution of power between state and church.
- The separation of state and church is a different topic. Separation of powers concerns the state bodies.
Topic
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.
The three powers control each other.
Legislature
Legislative
makes the laws
Confederation
Federal Assembly
Bundesversammlung
National Council 200 + Council of States 46
Canton of Zurich
Cantonal Council
Kantonsrat
180 members
Executive
Exekutive
carries out the laws
Confederation
Federal Council
Bundesrat
7 members
Canton of Zurich
Cantonal Government
Regierungsrat
7 members
Judiciary
Judikative
judges according to the law
Confederation
Federal Supreme Court
Bundesgericht
Lausanne
Canton of Zurich
Courts
Fourth power the media, which observe politics and the authorities critically.
How the state works
Separation of powers
Sources
Last checked: September 2026
Question 75 of the official question list of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.