Teachers Paradise School Supplies Teacher Resources Free Encyclopedia
Teachers Paradise FREE Teaching Resources
Home Arts Crafts Audio Visual Equipment Office Supplies Teacher Resources
Main Page | Edit this page

Swiss Council of States

The Council of States of Switzerland (German: Ständerat, French Conseil des Etats, Italian Consiglio degli Stati) is the upper house of the parliament (Senate) and has 46 seats.

20 cantons send two members, whereas the cantons of Obwalden, Nidwalden, Basel-City, Basel-Country, Appenzell Outer Rhodes and Appenzell Inner Rhodes only one.

41 member of the Council of States are elected at the same time. The representatives of the cantons of Zug and Grisons are elected one year early. In the canton of Appenzell Inner Rhodes the representatives are elected by the general assembly (Landsgemeinde). With the exception of the Canton of Jura, the representatives are elected by majority vote. In the canton of Jura, a proportional representation election system is used.

There are currently (2002) 9 women in the Council of States (19.5%).

The Swiss Council of States, is elected by the Swiss citizens as is the National Council.

Number of seats and population

AbbrCanton Seats Population ¹per seat 

ZHZurich 21'228'6006143001.0
BEBerne 29471004735501.3
VDVaud 26262003131002.0
AGAargau 25509002754502.2
BLBasel-Country 12614002614002.4
SGSt. Gallen 24526002263002.7
GEGeneva 24143002071503.0
BSBasel-City 11867001867003.3
LULucerne 23506001753003.5
TITicino 23119001559503.9
VSValais 22782001391004.4
SOSolothurn 22455001227505.0
FRFribourg 22391001195505.1
TGThurgau 22282001141005.4
GRGraubünden 2185700928506.6
NENeuchâtel 2166500832507.4
SZSchwyz 2131400657009.4
ARAppenzell Outer Rhodes 1532005320011.5
ZGZug 21009005045012.2
NWNidwalden 1386003860015.9
SHSchaffhausen 2734003670016.7
JUJura 2691003455017.8
OWObwalden 1327003270018.8
GLGlarus 2383001915032.1
URUri 2350001750035.1
AIAppenzell Inner Rhodes 1150001500041.0
Overall 467'261'2001578523.9
Notes: ¹ Population data from
Cantons of Switzerland (2001)

External link

See also: Presidents of the Council of States



Pay for Educational Supplies & Teaching Supplies with Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover or Paypal.
TeachersParadise.com HOME | Safe Shopping Guarantee | Help Desk
All trademarks & brands are the property of their respective owners.
Legal Notice 2000-2007 TeachersParadise.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved