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.

At federal level: the legislative power (legislature) lies with the Federal Parliament, made up of the National Council and the Council of States. It makes the laws. The executive power (executive) lies with the Federal Council, that is the government. It implements the laws. The judicial power (judiciary) lies with the Federal Supreme Court in Lausanne. It decides disputes and judges according to the law.

The media, that is newspapers, radio, television and online media, are often called the «fourth power». They are not part of the state. But they inform the population and criticise politics and the authorities. In this way they also control power. The separation of powers does not mean the separation of state and church or the division of Parliament into two chambers.

Memory aid: Legislature = make laws (legislate), executive = carry out (execute), judiciary = judge (judge).