Switzerland's Municipalities: A Deeper Look at Subsidiarity in Action

Definitions:: A canton in Switzerland is a larger administrative region, akin to a state, while a municipality is a smaller local government unit within a canton, comparable to a city or town. (Link to an excellent article at end of this post).

The Backbone of Local Governance

In Switzerland, municipalities are the backbone of local governance, known as Gemeinde (in German), Communes (in French), Communi (in Italian), and vischnancas (in Romanche), reflecting the linguistic diversity of the nation. These municipalities hold a special place in Swiss political life, often predating the cantons themselves. Despite their varying names and origins, they share a common purpose: to provide a sense of identity and belonging for Swiss citizens. Semi-Sovereignty even at Municipal Level Over the years, the number of municipalities has fluctuated.

In 2000, there were over 3,000, but by 2019, this number decreased to 2,212, mainly due to merger projects in 14 out of Switzerland's 26 cantons. Despite these changes, municipalities continue to maintain clear territorial and legal boundaries, enjoying a degree of semi-sovereignty within their cantons.

Mini-government Accountable to the Local Population

Each municipality operates its own mini-government, consisting of executive, legislative, and audit branches. These branches work together to make decisions and ensure accountability to the local population. There are two main types of municipalities: bipartite, with two branches, and tripartite, with three. Swiss municipalities vary widely in size and political orientation. While some have fewer than 100 inhabitants, others boast populations exceeding 400,000. Moreover, political leanings differ between rural, peri-urban, and urban areas, reflecting diverse cultural and historical contexts.

Remarkable Freedom in Organizing

Despite these differences, Swiss municipalities share a common trait: remarkable freedom in organizing their political and administrative structures. This autonomy has led to diverse local political systems across the country. For instance, French-speaking cantons tend to have less decentralized power, while German-speaking cantons like Bern offer municipalities greater freedom in governance.

Tailoring to Local Needs and Preferences

In Bern, for example, municipalities can choose between different decision-making models, ranging from assemblies of electors to directly elected parliaments. This flexibility allows municipalities to tailor their governance to local needs and preferences.

Accountable and Responsive to the Needs of their Communities.

Citizen participation is at the heart of municipal governance in Switzerland. In Bern, citizens have numerous avenues for engagement, including voting for local leaders, proposing initiatives, and challenging decisions through referendums and petitions. This emphasis on citizen involvement ensures that municipal governments remain accountable and responsive to the needs of their communities. To address local governance issues, Switzerland employs two key mechanisms: granting municipal autonomy and fostering intergovernmental cooperation. These approaches aim to balance local control with broader collaboration, ensuring effective governance at both the municipal and national levels.

The effectiveness of local governance in Switzerland can be primarily attributed to sufficient municipal autonomy and elaborate intergovernmental cooperation mechanisms. Local governments enjoy significant autonomy, as guaranteed by constitutional provisions.

They have the freedom to determine their political and administrative frameworks, elect local leaders independently of external pressures, and demonstrate a strong commitment to decentralized governance. Moreover, the alignment of local spending responsibilities with locally generated revenues further enhances their autonomy. #DirectDemocracy

Link to a substantial article explaining the position of Municipalities in Switzerland, Relationship to Federal and Cantonal Governments: Link here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311886.2020.1763889