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:
“There are always those who are willing to surrender local self-government and turn over their affairs to some national authority in exchange for a payment of money out of the Federal Treasury. Whenever they find some abuse needs correction in their neighborhood, instead of applying the remedy themselves they seek to have a tribunal sent on from Washington to discharge their duties for them, regardless of the fact that in accepting such supervision they are bartering away their freedom.”
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“There by some wrinkled stones round a leafless tree
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