Federalism

Federalism is a constitutional arrangement in which public powers are divided between a central authority and constituent units. It seeks to combine unity with diversity, enabling common rules where necessary while preserving regional self-government. In Switzerland, federalism is foundational: the Confederation, cantons and communes each perform public tasks, with cantons retaining significant autonomy unless federal law assigns competence to the federal level. Federalism shapes legislation, administration, finance, education, policing, taxation and political participation. It also supports linguistic, cultural and regional diversity. Conflicts require rules on competence, supremacy and cooperation. Swiss federalism is closely linked to direct democracy and bicameral representation, and it differs from unitary decentralisation because cantonal autonomy has constitutional status.