The Council of States^[1] is the upper house of the Federal Assembly, and the lower house being the National Council. It comprises 46 members.^[2]

Quick Facts Type, History ...

Council of States Ständerat (German) Conseil des États (French) Consiglio degli Stati (Italian) Cussegl dals Stadis (Romansh)
Type
Type	Upper house
History
New session started	List of members of the Swiss Council of States (2023–2027)
Leadership
President	Eva Herzog, SP/PS since 4 December 2023
First Vice President	Andrea Caroni, FDP/PLR since 4 December 2023
Second Vice President	Stefan Engler, The Centre since 4 December 2023
Structure
Seats	46
Political groups	The Centre (15)   FDP/PLR (11)   SP/PS (9)   SVP/UDC (6)   GPS/PES (3)   GLP/PVL (1)   MCG (1)
Elections
Voting system	Two-round system (42 seats) Proportional representation (4 seats: Neuchâtel and Jura)
Last election	October–November 2023
Meeting place
Federal Palace of Switzerland, Bern
Website
http://www.parliament.ch/

Close

Twenty of the country's cantons are represented by two Councillors each. Six cantons, traditionally called "half cantons", are represented by one Councillor each for historical reasons. These are Obwalden, Nidwalden, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden.^[3] The Councillors serve for four years, and are not bound in their vote to instructions from the cantonal authorities.

Under the Swiss Federal Constitution, the mode of election to the Council of States is left to the cantons, the provision being that it must be a democratic method. All cantons now provide for the councilors to be chosen by popular election, although historically it was typically the cantons' legislatures that elected representatives to Bern.

Despite this freedom that the Constitution provides, all cantons except Neuchâtel and Jura (which use proportional representation to elect their councilors) elect councilors through an up to two-round system of voting. In the first round of voting, candidates must obtain an absolute majority of the vote in order to be elected. If no candidate receives an absolute majority in the first round of voting then a second round is held in which a simple plurality is sufficient to be elected. The two candidates with the most votes in the second round are elected.^[4]

However, eligibility to vote varies according to the applicable cantonal law. Two notable variations are that qualified foreigners may vote in Neuchâtel and Jura,^[5] and the minimum voting age is 16 in Glarus.^{[compared to what age in the other cantons?]}

In all the cantons except Appenzell Innerrhoden the councillors are elected concurrently with the members of the National Council. In Appenzell Innerrhoden the representative is elected by the popular assembly (Landsgemeinde) during the April before the national vote.

In debates, councilors can choose any of the federal languages, usually the one they are most proficient in: German, French, Italian, or Romansh.^[6] German (High German) and French are the most frequently used. While the National Council offers simultaneous interpretation for German and French (since 1960) and Italian (since about 2000), the Council of States offers none. Councilors are expected to understand at least two languages, German and French.^[7]

Issues before the council pass with a majority of the votes cast. The president of the council typically does not vote, unless there is a tie. In three^{[clarification needed]} cases, votes require a majority in both councils in order to pass: emergency legislation, votes on subsidies, guarantees, or any expenditure of more than 20 million CHF on a non-recurring basis, or 2 million CHF on a recurring basis. In any case where a majority of the council is required, the president of the council will vote.^[8]

Until 2014, votes in the chamber were conducted with members raising their hands to be counted. After Politnetz, a Swiss political information platform, recorded a 2012 vote regarding an import ban on reptile skins, it found that the official vote count differed from what was shown in the video.^[9] In what was called "Stöckligate", Politnetz showed that several votes on the matter all resulted in miscounts.^[10] (The name Stöckligate refers to a colloquial name for the Council of States. A Stöckli is a second home built on a farm for the elder farmer after the property has been deeded^{[clarification needed]} to the heirs. The name is applied to the chamber as it is viewed as having older members than the National Council.).^[11] As a result of the affair, council member This Jenny introduced a bill to require electronic voting.^[9]

Since 1 March 2014, votes in the Council of States have been conducted electronically, with a tally shown on electronic display boards. The rule changes also allowed for disclosure of how members voted. The recorded votes are made public for votes on overall bills, final votes, and votes that require a qualified majority. Names and votes will be published if 10 members request this.^[12]

Council members earn a base salary of 26,000 CHF per year plus a 440 CHF per diem for attending sessions of the council or the committees. Members also receive 33,000 CHF per year for staff and material expenses. Members also receive food, travel and hotel allowances and a pension contribution. The Swiss government estimates that a member typically receives 130,000 to 150,000 CHF per year.^[13]

The Council of States reflects the federal nature of Switzerland: seats are distributed by state (canton), not by population. Most cantons send two representatives, but the historic half-cantons (Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landshaft) each send one.^[3] Consequently, the number of people represented by a single seat in the Council of State varies by a factor of 45.8, from 16,000 for the half-canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden to 733,050 for each of the two seats for the canton of Zurich.

Notes:

¹ Population data from 2015 (^[14]).

² Relative representation compared to Zürich.