National_Council_of_Switzerland National_Council_of_Switzerland

National Council of Switzerland - Definition and Overview

The National Council of Switzerland is the large Chamber of the parliament and has 200 seats. Each canton is a constituency. The number of deputies of each constituency depends on the population of the canton. Zürich, which is the largest canton of Switzerland, has 34 seats. Uri, Glarus, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Appenzell Innerrhoden, on the other hand, each have only one seat. For cantons with more than one seat proportional representation is used.

There are currently (2002) 47 women in the National Council (23.5%).

The National Council is elected by the Swiss citizens, as is most of the Swiss Council of States. There were 4.6 million citizens in 2002.

Abbr Canton Number of Seats
ZHZurich34
BEBern26
LULucerne10
URUri1
SZSchwyz4
OWObwalden (Obwald)1
NWNidwalden (Nidwald)1
GLGlarus1
ZGZug3
FRFribourg7
SOSolothurn7
BSBasel-Stadt (Basel-City)5
BLBasel-Landschaft (Basel-Country)7
SHSchaffhausen2
ARAppenzell Ausserrhoden (Appenzell Inner Rhodes)1
AIAppenzell Innerrhoden (Appenzell Outer Rhodes)1
SGSt. Gallen (St. Gall)12
GRGraubünden (Grisons)5
AGAargau (Argovia)15
TGThurgau (Thurgovia)6
TITicino8
VDVaud18
VSValais7
NENeuchâtel5
GEGeneva11
JUJura2

See also: Presidents of the National Council of Switzerland.

Example Usage of Switzerland
oxchris: "[Mussolini] feared that Italy would only ever be a country for tourists - a large Switzerland"
noaddedwater: @rossgarfitt mate, last 5 customs - US / France / Switzerland. Think I need to re-think my dress sense. Bet you don't get pulled out!
MiChiamoElle: I don't believe in Team Switzerland, you have to choose a side no matter how much it hurts! I'm Team Carlisle/Charlie/Bella/Edward/Seth :).
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