Swiss Federal Council

The Swiss Federal Council (in German: Bundesrat, in French: Conseil fédéral, in Italian: Consiglio federale, in Romansh: Cussegl Federal) 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.

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

• Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (Micheline Calmy-Rey)
• Federal Department of Home Affairs (Pascal Couchepin)
• Federal Department of Justice and Police (Christoph Blocher)
• Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports (Samuel Schmid) [Pres.]
• Federal Department of Finance (Hans-Rudolf Merz)
• Federal Department of Economic Affairs (Joseph Deiss)
• Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (Moritz Leuenberger) [VP]

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:

• List of members of the Swiss Federal Council (chronological)
• Category:Members of the Swiss Federal Council (alphabetical list)
• List of Presidents of the Swiss Confederation

External links

• Swiss Federal Council – Official site.