Federal Council (Switzerland)
The Federal Council is the seven-member executive council which constitutes the federal government of Switzerland and serves as the Swiss collective head of state.
While the entire council is responsible for leading the federal administration of Switzerland, each Councillor heads one of the seven federal executive departments. The current members of the Federal Council are, in order of seniority:
| Member of Council | Joined Council | Party | Canton | Function | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doris Leuthard | 1 August 2006 | Christian Democrats | Aargau | Head of Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications | ||
| Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf | 1 January 2008 | Conservative Democrats | Graubünden | President for 2012; Head of Federal Department of Finance | ||
| Ueli Maurer | 1 January 2009 | Swiss People's Party | Zurich | Vice President for 2012; Head of Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports | ||
| Didier Burkhalter | 1 November 2009 | FDP.The Liberals | Neuchâtel | Head of Federal Department of Foreign Affairs | ||
| Simonetta Sommaruga | 1 November 2010 | Social Democrats | Bern | Head of Federal Department of Justice and Police | ||
| Johann Schneider-Ammann | 1 November 2010 | FDP.The Liberals | Bern | Head of Federal Department of Economic Affairs | ||
| Alain Berset | 1 January 2012 | Social Democrats | Fribourg | Head of Federal Department of Home Affairs | ||
Read more about Federal Council (Switzerland): Assessment and Calls For Change, List of "firsts" in The Federal Council
Famous quotes containing the words federal and/or council:
“Goodbye, boys; I’m under arrest. I may have to go to jail. I may not see you for a long time. Keep up the fight! Don’t surrender! Pay no attention to the injunction machine at Parkersburg. The Federal judge is a scab anyhow. While you starve he plays golf. While you serve humanity, he serves injunctions for the money powers.”
—Mother Jones (1830–1930)
“I haven’t seen so much tippy-toeing around since the last time I went to the ballet. When members of the arts community were asked this week about one of their biggest benefactors, Philip Morris, and its requests that they lobby the New York City Council on the company’s behalf, the pas de deux of self- justification was so painstakingly choreographed that it constituted a performance all by itself.”
—Anna Quindlen (b. 1952)