List of cantonal legislatures of Switzerland explained

This is a list of cantonal legislatures of Switzerland. Each canton has a democratically elected cantonal legislature, as well as elected members of the Federal Assembly. The cantonal legislatures are elected for four years, except in Fribourg, Vaud, Geneva and Jura, which elect their legislatures for five years.

The largest legislature, in Zürich, has 180 members, whilst the smallest, in less-populous Appenzell Innerrhoden, has only 49 members. Appenzell Innerrhoden is also the only legislature that is non-partisan. All other legislatures operate party political systems. The Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) is the largest party in nine legislatures, The Centre (DM/LC) is the largest in eight, the FDP.The Liberals (FDP/PLR) is the largest in seven and the Social Democratic Party (SP/PS) is the largest in one.

Two cantons, Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus, hold German: [[Landsgemeinde]]n as their highest legislative body. Under this system, a form of direct democracy, all adult citizens may attend an annual general assembly, where they may vote on laws. A permanent legislature also sits more frequently, but sovereignty resides with the German: Landsgemeinden. For the purpose of this article, the permanent legislature is considered the cantonal legislature.

Terminology

The legislatures of the cantons have various names in different cantons and in the four official languages of Switzerland:

List

CantonLegislature
Official name(s)		MembersLargest partyLast
election		Next
election
AGAargauGrand Council
140SVP (43)20202024
ARAppenzell AusserrhodenCantonal Council
65FDP (22)20232027
AIAppenzell InnerrhodenGrand Council[1]
49Non-partisan20232027
BSBasel-StadtGrand Council
100SP (30)20202024
BLBasel-Landschaft90SVP (21)20232027
BEBernGrand Council

160SVP (44)20222026
FRFribourgGrand Council

110DM (26)20212026
GEGenevaGrand Council
100FDP (28)20232028
GLGlarus60SVP (18)20222026
GRGrisonsGrand Council


120DM (34)20222026
JUJuraParliament
60DM (15)20202025
LULucerneCantonal Council
120DM (34)20232027
NENeuchâtelGrand Council
115FDP (32)20212025
NWNidwalden60FDP (16)20222026
OWObwaldenCantonal Council
55DM (19)20222026
SHSchaffhausenCantonal Council
60SVP (16)20202024
SZSchwyzCantonal Council
100SVP (33)20202024
SOSolothurnCantonal Council
100FDP (22)20212025
SGSt. GallenCantonal Council
120SVP (35)20202024
TGThurgauGrand Council
130SVP (46)20202024
TITicinoGrand Council
90FDP (23)20232027
URUri64DM (24)20202024
VSValaisGrand Council

130DM (48)20212025
VDVaudGrand Council
150FDP (50)20222027
ZGZugCantonal Council
80DM (21)20222026
ZHZürichCantonal Council
180SVP (45)20232027

See also

Notes

  1. The ultimate legislative body is the annual German: [[Landsgemeinde]].

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