Swiss Passport

Question 5 of 350 · The Federal Council

The members of the Federal Council are bound by the principle of collegiality. What does that mean?

Zwischen den Mitgliedern des Bundesrats gilt das Kollegialitätsprinzip. Was heisst das?

Correct answer: C

  1. AThe members of the Federal Council must know each other well.Die Mitglieder des Bundesrates müssen sich gut kennen.
  2. BEach Federal Councillor represents their own political opinions.Jeder Bundesrat vertritt seine eigenen politischen Meinungen.
  3. CAll members must represent the decisions of the Federal Council in the same way in public.Alle Mitglieder müssen Entscheide des Bundesrates nach aussen gleich vertreten.
  4. DThe Federal Council makes decisions by vote.Der Bundesrat Entscheidungen mit Abstimmung.

Why

The Federal Council makes decisions as a body. After that, all seven members represent the decision in the same way in public, even if they personally think differently.

Common mistakes

B: Each Federal Councillor represents their own political opinions.
Within the body, the members may say what they think. In public, however, they must represent the joint decision.
D: The Federal Council makes decisions by vote.
The Federal Council does sometimes vote. But the principle of collegiality means that afterwards all members represent the decision together.
A: The members of the Federal Council must know each other well.
Whether the members know each other well does not matter. It is about appearing united in public.

Topic

Federal Council and the principle of collegiality

The Federal Council is the government of Switzerland. It holds executive power (the executive) at federal level. It runs the government business: it implements the laws, plans policy and represents Switzerland in relation to other states. In the cantons the government has a different name, for example Cantonal Government (Regierungsrat). In some cantons the Grand Council or the Landrat is the cantonal parliament.

How the state works · The Federal Council

Sources

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