Swiss Passport

Question 37 of 350 · The Federal Parliament

What is the central task of the Federal Assembly (Federal Parliament)?

Was ist die zentrale Aufgabe der Bundesversammlung (Bundesparlament)?

Correct answer: B

  1. AIt organises elections and popular votes.Sie organisiert Wahlen und Abstimmungen.
  2. BIt debates and passes laws.Sie berät und beschliesst Gesetze.
  3. CIt runs the government business of Switzerland.Sie führt die Regierungsgeschäfte in der Schweiz.
  4. DIt delivers court judgments at last instance.Sie fällt Gerichtsurteile in letzter Instanz.

Why

Parliament is the legislative power (legislature). Its main task is to debate and pass laws.

Common mistakes

C: It runs the government business of Switzerland.
Government business is run by the Federal Council, not by Parliament.
D: It delivers court judgments at last instance.
Judgments at last instance are delivered by the Federal Supreme Court.
A: It organises elections and popular votes.
Elections and popular votes are organised by the Federal Chancellery, the cantons and the municipalities, not by Parliament.

Topic

What Parliament does

The most important task of the Federal Assembly is legislation. The National Council and the Council of States debate and pass the federal laws. Both chambers must approve a law. In this way Parliament decides on most new laws. The Federal Council proposes laws, but it does not pass them. The Federal Supreme Court applies laws, but it does not make them.

How the state works · The Federal Parliament

Sources

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