My Swiss Web Page

This is Urs Mueller, who is visiting my class, with Larry Bird

Switzerland's official name is the "Swiss Confederation"

It is a Federal Republic

1. The Swiss President is elected by the Parliament for a 1 year term.
2. There are 7 Presidents who alternate terms each year.
3. They are elected and reelected each year by the Federal Assrmbly.
4. There is a Nationalrat, which is modeled after the US House of Representatives and holds 200 members.
5. The Staenderat holds 46 members, 40 from full cantons and 6 from half cantons.

• There are 3400 active troops in Switzerland.
• However, there is an enourmous army reserve, so that the Swiss government could call up to 500000 troops at a time.
• Each Swiss does military service of 1 year spread over 20.

Switzerland has 20 cantons and 6 full cantons