Swiss Passport

Question 23 of 350 · Democracy and the rule of law

Why are there regular elections in a democracy?

Warum gibt es in einer Demokratie regelmässig Wahlen?

Correct answer: B

  1. ASo that interest in politics is awakened.Damit das Interesse für Politik geweckt wird.
  2. BSo that the people can decide who represents them.Damit das Volk die Volksvertretung bestimmen kann.
  3. CSo that the poor get more power.Damit die Armen mehr Macht bekommen.
  4. DSo that women and men are equally represented.Damit Frauen und Männer gleichmässig vertreten sind.

Why

Through elections, the people pass on their power to representatives. Because elections are regular, the people can choose these representatives again and again.

Common mistakes

A: So that interest in politics is awakened.
Elections can awaken interest in politics. But their purpose is to choose the people's representatives.
D: So that women and men are equally represented.
Elections do not guarantee equal representation of women and men. Whoever gets the most votes is elected.

Topic

What is a democracy?

Switzerland is a democracy. The word comes from Greek and means «rule of the people». In a democracy, power is not held by a king, a prince or a dictator. Power lies with the people. The opposite is, for example, a dictatorship, a principality or an absolutist state. There a single person or a small group decides, and the people have no say.

How the state works · Democracy and the rule of law

Sources

Official question of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.