Swiss Federal Council

Categories: Government of Switzerland | Heads of state | Heads of government

The Swiss Federal Council (in German, Schweizerische Bundesrat; in French, Conseil fédéral suisse; in Italian, Consiglio federale svizzero; in Romansh, Cussegl federal svizzer) is the seven-member executive council which constitutes the government of Switzerland, as well as assuming functions corresponding to those of the head of state of other nations.

Image:Federalcouncil.jpg
The members of the Swiss Federal Council, and at the far right the Federal Chancellor Annemarie Huber-Hotz (as of January 2005)

Each of the seven Federal Councillors heads a department. Following the elections of 10 December 2003, they are:

One of the seven is elected to be president of the Federal Council (President of the Confederation) for a term of one year: he or she has no power above and beyond the other six, but assumes special representative functions (primus inter pares). The president of the confederation is thus not in the position of a head of state, though he or she may act and be recognized as one welcoming visiting heads of state of foreign nations. Official visits abroad are usually carried out by the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

See also:

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External links

es:Consejo Federal fr:Conseil fédéral ro:Consiliul Federal Elveţian sv:Förbundsrådet (Schweiz)