History
- 01/08/1291 creation of the confederation of 4 cantons
- 1798 invasion by French newly formed republic
- 1848 first confederation constitution
- Since defeat in Marignano (1515), the country is neutral. Not occupied under the 2 world wars
Demographics
- 8 million inhabitants
Geography
- Highest peaks : Matterhorn (4400) and Monte Rosa (4600)
Economy
Companies
- Glencore, gunvor = commodity trading
- Nestle = food
- Novartis = pharmaceutical
Government
Federal republic composed of 26 cantons. Each canton is autonomous in health care, education and public order.
Federal state
- Federal assembly (legislative) elects the 7 members of the executive federal council (4 year period)
- Each council member heads a department (equivalent a ministry but with a broader scope)
- Honorary title of president of the council shared amongs council members for 1 year
Direct democracy
- A lot more referendums to decide on constitutions amendements or laws
- Flexible voting system using the post services
Military service
- Compulsory for all men. Voluntary for women.
- Each valid citizen must spend some amount of time each year in service.
Cool stuff
- Leonard Euler (Basel)
- Bernoulli family (Basel)
- William Tell (Uri canton), symbol of the confederation against Habsburg
- Uri canton coat of arms
- Swiss mercenary pikemen
- Saint-Bernard dogs and the famous rescue dog Barry
- Voltaire was living in Geneva and Ferney when he wrote “Candide, ou l’Optimisme”
Ticino canton
- Annexed to the confederation in the expansion wars beginning of the XVI century
- Lugano third financial capital in Switzerland
- Bellinzona is the canton capital
- A quarter of the population is not Swiss