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List of cantonal legislatures of Switzerland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cantons shaded by the largest party in the cantonal parliament:
  The Centre (DM/LC)
  Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC)
  FDP.The Liberals (FDP/PLR)

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 Landsgemeinden 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 Landsgemeinden. For the purpose of this article, the permanent legislature is considered the cantonal legislature.

Terminology

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

List

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Canton Legislature
Official name(s)
Members Largest party Last
election
Next
election
Aargau AG Aargau Grand Council
Grosser Rat (German)
140 SVP (43) 2020 2024
Appenzell Ausserrhoden AR Appenzell Ausserrhoden Cantonal Council
Kantonsrat (German)
65 FDP (22) 2023 2027
Appenzell Innerrhoden AI Appenzell Innerrhoden Grand Council[Note 1]
Grosser Rat (German)
49 Non-partisan 2023 2027
Basel-City BS Basel-Stadt Grand Council
Grosser Rat (German)
100 SP (30) 2020 2024
Basel-Country BL Basel-Landschaft Landrat (German) 90 SVP (21) 2023 2027
Berne BE Bern Grand Council
Grosser Rat (German)
Grand Conseil (French)
160 SVP (44) 2022 2026
Fribourg FR Fribourg Grand Council
Grand Conseil (French)
Grosser Rat (German)
110 DM (26) 2021 2026
Geneva GE Geneva Grand Council
Grand Conseil (French)
100 FDP (28) 2023 2028
Glarus GL Glarus Landrat (German)[Note 1] 60 SVP (18) 2022 2026
Grisons GR Grisons Grand Council
Grosser Rat (German)
Cusegl grond (Romansh)
Gran Consiglio (Italian)
120 DM (34) 2022 2026
Jura JU Jura Parliament
Parlement (French)
60 DM (15) 2020 2025
Lucerne LU Lucerne Cantonal Council
Kantonsrat (German)
120 DM (34) 2023 2027
Neuchâtel NE Neuchâtel Grand Council
Grand Conseil (French)
115 FDP (32) 2021 2025
Nidwalden NW Nidwalden Landrat (German) 60 FDP (16) 2022 2026
Obwalden OW Obwalden Cantonal Council
Kantonsrat (German)
55 DM (19) 2022 2026
Schaffhausen SH Schaffhausen Cantonal Council
Kantonsrat (German)
60 SVP (16) 2020 2024
Schwyz SZ Schwyz Cantonal Council
Kantonsrat (German)
100 SVP (33) 2020 2024
Solothurn SO Solothurn Cantonal Council
Kantonsrat (German)
100 FDP (22) 2021 2025
St. Gallen SG St. Gallen Cantonal Council
Kantonsrat (German)
120 SVP (35) 2020 2024
Thurgau TG Thurgau Grand Council
Grosser Rat (German)
130 SVP (46) 2020 2024
Ticino TI Ticino Grand Council
Gran Consiglio (Italian)
90 FDP (23) 2023 2027
Uri UR Uri Landrat (German) 64 DM (24) 2020 2024
Valais VS Valais Grand Council
Grand Conseil (French)
Grosser Rat (German)
130 DM (48) 2021 2025
Vaud VD Vaud Grand Council
Grand Conseil (French)
150 FDP (50) 2022 2027
Zug ZG Zug Cantonal Council
Kantonsrat (German)
80 DM (21) 2022 2026
Zurich ZH Zürich Cantonal Council
Kantonsrat (German)
180 SVP (45) 2023 2027

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b The ultimate legislative body is the annual Landsgemeinde.