Federal Chancellor of Switzerland - Definition and Overview

In Switzerland, the Federal Chancellor of Switzerland (Bundeskanzler, Chancelier fédéral, Cancelliere della Confederazione) is elected by the Swiss parliament. One or two Vice-Chancellors are also chosen (before 1862 as State Secretary of the Confederation).

Although the appointment is political, the duties are technocratic; he or she heads the Federal Chancellery, the general staff of the seven-member executive Federal Council which is the Swiss government. The Chancellor attends meetings of the seven Federal Councilors, though without a vote, and prepares the reports on policy and activities of the council to parliament. The chancellery is responsible for the publication of all federal laws.

Prior to 1848

Prior to the established of the federal state in 1848, the Chancellor's office was one of the few permanent ones of the Swiss Confederation.

External links

• Official site (http://www.admin.ch/ch/e/bk/chanc/index.html)
• Biographies of the Federal Chancellors (http://www.admin.ch/ch/i/bk/rundgang/index.html) - only in Italian, German, French

See also: Politics of Switzerland - Presidents of the Confederation - Members of the Federal Council - Lists of incumbents