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| (keywords: Switzerland Swiss politics political system government parliament political structure Swiss social system Swiss words Helvetisms) |
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| German | English | Italian | French | Definition | |||||
| Bundesverwaltung | 12 | Federal Administration | 12 | Amministrazione Federale | 12 | Administration fédérale | 12 | ||
| Krankentaggeldversicherung | 10 | daily benefits insurance | 10 | ||||||
| Krankentaggeld | 10 | daily benefits under health insurance sickness benefit |
10
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| Invalidenversicherung (IV) | 4 | (Swiss Federal) Disability Insurance (DI) Invalidity Insurance (DI) |
9, 4
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Assicurazione Invaliditŕ (AI) | 4 | Assurance Invalidité (AI) | 4 | A component of the Swiss social security system | |
| Eidgenössische Alters- und Hinterlassenenver-sicherung (AHV) | (Swiss) Old Age and Survivors' Insurance (OASI) | 9 | Assicurazione Vecchiaia e Superstiti (AVS) | Assurance Vieillesse et Survivants fédérale (AVS) | A component of the Swiss social security system | ||||
| AHV-Nummer | social security number | numero AVS | A number unique to every person | ||||||
| KVG | 9 | Swiss Federal Law on Health Insurance | 9 | ||||||
| UVG | 9 | Swiss Federal Law on Accident Insurance | 9 | ||||||
| BVG | 9 | Swiss Federal Law on Occupational Retirement, Survivors' and Disability Pension Plans | 9 | ||||||
| Obligationenrecht | Code of Obligations | Codice delle obbligazioni | Code des obligations | ||||||
| Vernehmlassung (Vollzug von Bundespolitiken und Vernehmlassung der Kantone) |
6 | consultation --- consultation on government bills |
7 | consultazione (Attuazione delle politiche federali e consultazione dei Cantoni) |
6 | consultation (Mise en oeuvre des politiques fédérales et consultations des cantons) |
6 | A decision-making procedure in the Swiss federal system. Context: The federal government is obliged to involve the cantons as well as interested groups in the legislative process by consultation. | |
| Konkordanz | 7 | consotiationalism | 7 | Context: Swiss federal system | |||||
| Bundesverfassung | 7 | Swiss Federal Constitution | 7 | ||||||
| Zauberformel | 7 | magica formula --- four-party-coalition government |
Context: Swiss federal system | ||||||
| Standesinitiative | 7 | cantons' initiative | 7 | Context: Swiss federal system | |||||
| Bundesamt - Bundesämter | 7 | federal office - federal offices | 7 | Context: Swiss federal system | |||||
| Vorstoss | 7 | initiative | 7 | Context: Swiss federal system | |||||
| Erstrat | 7 | primal council | 7 | Context: Swiss federal system | |||||
| Botschaft | 7 | report | 7 | Context: Swiss federal system | |||||
| Aktiengesellschaft (AG) | corporation [US] | societŕ anonima (SA) | société anonyme (SA) | A company with a predetermined capital that is divided into bearer or registered shares. The shareholders' liability is limited to the nominal capital invested in the corporation. | |||||
| Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH) | limited liability company | societŕ a responsibilitŕ limitata (Sarl) | société ŕ responsabilité limitée (Sŕrl) | A company with a limited capital divided into quotas. Any change in or transfer of quotas requires an amendment of the statutes. The quotaholders' liability is limited to the company's registered capital. | |||||
| Familienbüchlein | Family Record Book | Libretto di famiglia | Livret de famille | A booklet issued to a couple when they get married. All family details are entered here, including births and deaths. | |||||
| Fähigkeitszeugnis | Certificate of Qualification | Attestato di capacitŕ | Certificat de capacité | Certificate issued by the Swiss confederation to people who have passed their final apprenticeship examination. | |||||
| Einschreibebrief eingeschriebener Brief |
registered letter | lettera raccomandata | lettre signature | A letter registered in the post offices register. System used for letters of an official nature. Sending a letter this way costs SFr. 5. | |||||
| Schweizerische Eidgenossen- schaft |
2 | Swiss Confederation | 2 | Confederazione Svizzera | Confederation Suisse | Refers to the Federal State of Switzerland. Confederation of states composed of 23 cantons, or 26 cantons and half-cantons | 1 | ||
| Kanton | canton | 1 | cantone | canton | The intermediate level between the federal government and the
municipalities. Each canton has its own constitution, parliament, government, administration, courts and regulations. |
2 | |||
| half-canton demi-canton |
1 | Unterwalden, Basel and Appenzell are each divided into 2 half-cantons, each of which has its own government. | |||||||
| Kreis Bezirk |
2 | district | 1 | arrondissement | 2 | A district within a canton. Political body forming an intermediate level between the canton and the municipalities. Iimmediately above the municipality, but with a minor role. A district covers several municipalities. Each district has a "prefect". | 1 | ||
| federal | 1 | federale | One of the country's 3 levels of administration, autonomous
and independent Related words: |
1 | |||||
| cantonal | 1 | cantonale | One of the country's 3 levels of administration, autonomous
and independent Usage: cantonal administration Related words: sub-national government |
1 | |||||
| municipal local |
2 | municipale | One of the country's 3 levels of administration, autonomous and independent | 1 | |||||
| Gemeinde | municipality | 1 | comune | (3201 in the whole of Switzerland) Fulfilling a double
administrative function, municipalities are the bodies of politically autonomous
communities and the local executive organs of cantonal governments. Subject only to the law of the cantons, municipalities are autonomous in the organization of local authorities, local landuse planning and local police. Most have a regular community assembly or open meeting of all citizens. Usage: cantons and their constituent municipalities |
1
? |
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| Gemeindekom- mission |
2 | Municipal Commission | |||||||
| Gemeinderats- kommission |
2 | extended executive body | 2 | ||||||
| municipal council | 1 | Executive authority of the municipalities;
elected by the citizens and headed by the president of the municipality. Related words: district |
1 | ||||||
| Federal Parliament? | 1 | Consists of the Federal Assembly | 1 | ||||||
| Bundesversam- mlung |
1 | Federal Assembly --- also referred to as: |
1 | Assemblea federale | Assemblee Federale | Federal Parliament; Supreme authority of the Confederation, composed of 2 chambers: National Council (composed of 200 National Councillors) & Council of States (consisting of 46 deputies). | 1 | ||
| Nationalrat | 1 | National Council --- lower chamber --- also referred to as: House of Representatives? |
1 | Consiglio Nazionale | Conseil National | Context: Swiss federal system Lower chamber of the Federal Assembly. It consists of 200 deputies (called National Councillors) |
1 | ||
| Ständerat | 1 | Council of States --- upper chamber --- also referred to as: Senate? |
1 | Consiglio degli Stati | Conseil des Etats | Context: Swiss federal system. Upper chamber of the Federal Assembly. There are 46 deputies in the Council fo States. |
1 | ||
| Council of State | 1 | The body, elected by the people, that holds executive and administrative power in the individual cantons. It has a president, elected every year by the citizens or, in some cantons, by cantonal parliament, cantonal government or the Landesgemeinde. The Council acts as a collegiate body. The Councils of State comprise 5-9 members (councillors), each presiding over 1 cantonal department. | 1 | ||||||
| councillor | 1 | In most cantons, councillors are full-time politicians | 1 | ||||||
| National Councillor | 1 | Member of the Federal Assembly.
There are 200 National Councillors, which are elected directly every 4 years. Compare: Federal Councillor |
1 | ||||||
| Federal Councillor | 1 | Member of Federal Government.
Compare: National Councillor |
1 | ||||||
| Bundesrat | 1 | Federal Council | 1 ? |
Consiglio federale | Conseil Federal | Federal Government, Head of
State. A collegiate body that is elected by the Federal
Assembly and has the supreme directive and executive power of the Confederation. The Federal Council is presided by the President of the Confederation. source: CH constitution |
1 | ||
| Head of State | 1 | The Head of State is the Federal Council. | 1 | ||||||
| 1 | President of the Confederation | Head of State. Person elected
once a year by the Federal Assembly from the members of
the Federal Council to serve as president. The same
president cannot be re-elected for 2 years in succession. The President's powers are nominal. The President chairs the Federal Council and acts as the titular Head of State at home and abroad. |
1 | ||||||
| 1 | Vice-President | Person elected once a year by the Federal Assembly from the members of the Federal Council to serve as vice-president. The same vice-president cannot be re-elected for 2 years in succession. | 1 | ||||||
| Federal Government Central Government |
1 | Federal Council, composed of 7
Federal Councillors Related words: |
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| federal department | 1 | Department (7 in total) at the core of federal administration | 1 | ||||||
| Department of Foreign Affairs | 1 | One of 7 federal departments | |||||||
| Department of the Interior | 1 | One of 7 federal departments | |||||||
| Department of Justice and Police | 1 | One of 7 federal departments | |||||||
| Department of the Military | 1 | One of 7 federal departments | |||||||
| Department of Finance | 1 | One of 7 federal departments | |||||||
| Department of Public Economy | 1 | One of 7 federal departments | |||||||
| Department of Transport, Communications and Energy | 1 | One of 7 federal departments | |||||||
| referendum | 1 | Instrument of direct democracy at federal level. Two types: obligatory and optional.
Compare: popular initiative |
1 | ||||||
| obligatory referendum | 1 | Referendum held for all constitutional amendments decided by the government, certain categories of treaty, the entry of Switzerland into a supranational organization etc. | 1 | ||||||
| optional referendum | 1 | Referendum by which 50'000 Swiss citizens or 8 cantons can demand a national ballot (votation) on a legislative amendment or on the adoption of a general federal decree | 1 | ||||||
| popular initiative | 1 | Instrument of direct democracy at federal level by which 100'000 Swiss citizens may demand changes in the Constitution. | 1 | ||||||
| direct ballot | 1 | ||||||||
| Grosser Rat Kantonsrat * Landrat * Parlement ** |
2 | Grand Council cantonal council great council canton parliament cantonal parliament |
2 | Gran Consiglio | 2 | Grand Conseil | 2 | Canton parliament, a single-chamber assembly. The highest
organ (organ with supreme legislature) of most of the cantons. Elected for 4 years. * Name given in some German-speaking cantons ** Name given in canton Jura |
1 |
| cantonal parliament | 1 | The highest organ of most of the cantons. It is called cantonal council or great council. Note: in Appenzell Inner Rhodes, Appenzell Outer Rhodes, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Glarus, legislative functions are fulfilled by the Landesgemeinde. |
1 | ||||||
| Landesgemeinde | 1 | 1 | The open assembly (meeting) of all cantonal voters. Compare: cantonal council |
1 | |||||
| Bundeskanzlei | 1 | Federal Chancellery | 1 | Under the authority of the Federal
Council, the Federal Chancellery is entrusted with being the secretariat of the Federal Assembly and the Federal
Council. It provides staff for the Federal Council in
addition to undertaking its own tasks. It is headed by the Federal Chancellor. The Federal Chancellery prepares the subjects to be discussed by the Federal Council. |
1 | ||||
| Bundeskanzler | Federal Chancellor | 1 | Person who heads the Federal
Chancellery. Elected by the Federal Assembly for a
4-year term. Takes part in the meetings of the Federal Council
but is not entitled to vote. The Federal Chancellor is also in charge of the secretariat of the Federal Assembly, therefore he is considered the liaison office between the legislative and the exective authorities. |
1 | |||||
| Chancellor of the Confederation | 1 | The Chancellor of the Confederation convenes the Federal Council on behalf of the President of the Confederation. | |||||||
| Vice-Chancellor | 1 | (Currently two) Person who assists the Federal Chancellor in his duties. Unlike the Federal Chancellor, they have the status of civil servants. | 1 | ||||||
| administrative act | 1 | ||||||||
| Regierungsrat Staatsrat Standeskommission |
2 | State Council | 2 | Consiglio di Stato | 2 | Conseil d’Etat Conseil-executif Gouvernement |
2 | Body in which the executive and administrative powers in the
cantons are vested. Its president changes every year, and collegiality is the rule. |
2 |
| President of the State Council | 2 | Presidente del Consiglio di Stato | 2 | ||||||
| Gemeindekom- mission |
Municipal Commission | ||||||||
| Gemeinderat Stadtrat |
2 | council | 2 | municipio | 2 | municipalité conseil municipal conseil communal conseil administratif |
2 | Executive body of a municipality, it consistes of 3-9 members elected by universal suffrage, usually for 4 years. | 2 |
| Syndic? Gemeindepräsident Stadtpräsident Stadtammann |
2 | mayor | 2 | sindaco | 2 | syndic? | 2 | Has special administrative and decision-making powers. Even in small municipalities this is often a full-time job. | 2 |
| House of Representatives | Consiglio nazionale | CH constitution | CH constitution | ||||||
| Federal Supreme Court | Tribunale federale | CH constitution | CH constitution | ||||||
| canton | cantone | CH constitution | CH constitution | ||||||
| Volksschule | elementary school | ||||||||
| Gymnasium | secondary school | ||||||||
| Fachhochschule | technical college | ||||||||
| Berufslehre | apprenticeship | ||||||||
| Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule | Swiss Federal Institute of Technology | École Polytechnique Fédérale | |||||||
| Ingenieurschule | school for engineers | ||||||||
| Abendtechnikum | evening college | ||||||||
| Bundesgesetz | federal law | ||||||||
| Facharzt für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie FMH | 5 | specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy, FMH | 5 | ||||||
