Government
The constitution of the canton was established in 1847; and has, since then, been amended several times. The cantonal government (Council of State) has seven members who are elected for four years.
The legislature, the Grand Council, has 100 seats, with deputies elected for four years at a time. In the most recent election, on 11 October 2009, the classical liberal Liberal Party was the largest party, with 20 seats, followed by the Green Party and the populist Geneva Citizens' Movement, with 17 seats each.
In a similar way to what happens at the Federal level, any change to the Constitution is subject to compulsory referendum. In addition, any law can be subject to a referendum if it is demanded by 7,000 persons entitled to vote, and 10,000 persons may also propose a new law.
Read more about this topic: Canton Of Geneva
Famous quotes containing the word government:
“Good government is known from bad government by this infallible test: that under the former the labouring people are well fed and well clothed, and under the latter, they are badly fed and badly clothed.”
—William Cobbett (1762–1835)
“The dignity and stability of government in all its branches, the morals of the people, and every blessing of society, depend so much upon an upright and skilful administration of justice, that the judicial power ought to be distinct from both the legislative and executive, and independent upon both, that so it may be a check upon both, as both should be checks upon that.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)
“The government does not concern me much, and I shall bestow the fewest possible thoughts on it. It is not many moments that I live under a government, even in this world. If a man is thought- free, fancy-free, imagination-free ... unwise rulers or reformers cannot fatally interrupt him.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)