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SWITZERLAND
Switzerland is a federal state composed of 26 cantons (20 are "full" cantons and six "half" cantons for purposes of representation in the federal legislature) that retain attributes of sovereignty, such as fiscal autonomy and the right to manage internal cantonal affairs. Under the 1874 constitution, cantons hold all powers not specifically delegated to the federation. Switzerland's federal institutions are:
A bicameral legislature -- the Federal Assembly; A collegial executive of seven members -- the Federal Council; and A judiciary consisting of a single, regular court, the Federal Tribunal, in Lausanne and special military and administrative courts. The Federal Insurance Tribunal is an independent division for social security. |
| CURRENT GOVERNMENT |
| President |
Couchepin, Pascal |
| Vice President |
Metzler-Arnold, Ruth |
| Chief, Federal Dept. of Defense, Civil Protection, & Sports |
Schmid, Samuel |
| Chief, Federal Dept. of Economic Affairs |
Deiss, Joseph |
| Chief, Federal Dept. of Finance |
Villiger, Kasper |
| Chief, Federal Dept. of Foreign Affairs |
Calmy-Rey, Micheline |
| Chief, Federal Dept. of Home Affairs |
Couchepin, Pascal |
| Chief, Federal Dept. of Justice & Police |
Metzler-Arnold, Ruth |
| Chief, Federal Dept. of Transportation, Communications, & Energy |
Leuenberger, Moritz |
| Federal Chancellor |
Huber-Hotz, Annemarie |
| Chmn., Swiss National Bank |
Roth, Jean-Pierre |
| Ambassador to the US |
Blickenstorfer, Christian |
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