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Subdivisions of Switzerland
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Subdivisions of Switzerland
The Swiss Confederation comprises the 26 cantons of Switzerland.
Each canton has its individual structure for further subdivisions.
For statistical purposes, Switzerland is subdivided into seven regions at the NUTS-2 level:
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton except for Aargau, Jura, Thurgau, Ticino, Vaud, and Valais was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia (1648) until the establishment of the Helvetic Republic in 1798. The current cantons except for Jura were established with the Swiss federal state in 1848.
Each canton has its own constitution, legislature, government and courts. Most of the cantons' legislatures are unicameral parliaments, their size varying between fifty-eight and two hundred seats. A few legislatures are general assemblies known as Landsgemeinden. The cantonal governments consist of either five or seven members, depending on the canton. For the names of the institutions, see List of legislative and executive councils of the Cantons of Switzerland.
The Swiss Federal Constitution declares the cantons to be sovereign to the extent their sovereignty is not limited by federal law. The cantons also retain all powers and competencies not delegated to the Confederation by the Constitution. Most significantly, the cantons are responsible for healthcare, welfare, law enforcement and public education; they also retain the power of taxation. The cantonal constitutions determine the degree of autonomy accorded to the municipalities, which varies but almost always includes the power to levy taxes and pass municipal laws. The sizes of the cantons vary from 37 km² to 7,105 km²; the populations vary from 16,000 (Appenzell Innerrhoden) to 1,600,000 (Zurich).
In contrast to centrally organised states, in the federally constituted Switzerland each Canton is completely free to decide its own internal organisation. Therefore, there exists a variety of structures and terminology for the subnational entities between Canton and Municipality, loosely termed districts (i.e. Urban Administration Districts).
Most Cantons are divided into Bezirke (German for districts). They are also termed Ämter (Lucerne), Amtsbezirke (Bern), district (in French) or distretto (Ticino and part of Graubünden). The Bezirke generally provide only administration and court organization. However, for historical reasons districts in cantons Graubünden and Schwyz are their own legal entities with jurisdiction over tax and often have their own Landsgemeinde.
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Subdivisions of Switzerland
The Swiss Confederation comprises the 26 cantons of Switzerland.
Each canton has its individual structure for further subdivisions.
For statistical purposes, Switzerland is subdivided into seven regions at the NUTS-2 level:
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton except for Aargau, Jura, Thurgau, Ticino, Vaud, and Valais was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia (1648) until the establishment of the Helvetic Republic in 1798. The current cantons except for Jura were established with the Swiss federal state in 1848.
Each canton has its own constitution, legislature, government and courts. Most of the cantons' legislatures are unicameral parliaments, their size varying between fifty-eight and two hundred seats. A few legislatures are general assemblies known as Landsgemeinden. The cantonal governments consist of either five or seven members, depending on the canton. For the names of the institutions, see List of legislative and executive councils of the Cantons of Switzerland.
The Swiss Federal Constitution declares the cantons to be sovereign to the extent their sovereignty is not limited by federal law. The cantons also retain all powers and competencies not delegated to the Confederation by the Constitution. Most significantly, the cantons are responsible for healthcare, welfare, law enforcement and public education; they also retain the power of taxation. The cantonal constitutions determine the degree of autonomy accorded to the municipalities, which varies but almost always includes the power to levy taxes and pass municipal laws. The sizes of the cantons vary from 37 km² to 7,105 km²; the populations vary from 16,000 (Appenzell Innerrhoden) to 1,600,000 (Zurich).
In contrast to centrally organised states, in the federally constituted Switzerland each Canton is completely free to decide its own internal organisation. Therefore, there exists a variety of structures and terminology for the subnational entities between Canton and Municipality, loosely termed districts (i.e. Urban Administration Districts).
Most Cantons are divided into Bezirke (German for districts). They are also termed Ämter (Lucerne), Amtsbezirke (Bern), district (in French) or distretto (Ticino and part of Graubünden). The Bezirke generally provide only administration and court organization. However, for historical reasons districts in cantons Graubünden and Schwyz are their own legal entities with jurisdiction over tax and often have their own Landsgemeinde.