177:
157:
33:
758:
746:
288:, an integrating avowal of the Swiss people's fundamental values, and a binding mandate to the State's authorities. It was among the most contested provisions in the course of the 1999 constitutional revision.
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in their own right. Much like U.S. states, the cantons are autonomous in their organisation and in their actions as states, although in principle the
Confederation alone is a subject of
315:, as consisting of the people and the 26 coëqual cantons listed in their traditional order of precedence. Article 2 enumerates the purposes of the state, which include protecting the
143:
717:
350:, although in practice federal authority is construed and exercised extensively. Also, federal and cantonal competencies often overlap and interlock in complex ways.
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is understood to be a reference to transcendental values underlying society, putting into perspective any claims to authority by the State – a merely human creation.
300:. They are addressed to the state authorities, programmatic in scope and not directly enforceable. Notably, provisions about the symbols of the state such as the
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and in the knowledge that only those who use their freedom remain free, and that the strength of a people is measured by the well-being of its weakest members;
778:
296:
The general provisions (articles 1–6) define the characteristic traits of the Swiss state on all of its three levels of authority: federal, cantonal and
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resolved to renew their alliance so as to strengthen liberty, democracy, independence and peace in a spirit of solidarity and openness towards the world,
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insofar as their sovereignty is not limited by the
Federal Constitution; they shall exercise all rights which are not transferred to the Confederation."
410:
60:
136:
129:
165:
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32:
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Article 6, another preamble-like provision indicative of the Swiss' perception of themselves, counterbalances the "social goals"
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and security of the country. Like the preamble, this provision is of symbolic, historical, political and normative value.
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284:. It is a symbolic summation of the will to and purpose of statehood, a declaration of intent by the popular
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729:
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338:" Swiss constitutional tradition according to which both the whole Confederation and the cantons are
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Bernhard
Ehrenzeller, Philipp Mastronardi, Rainer J. Schweizer, Klaus A. Vallender (eds.) (2002).
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conscious of their common achievements and their responsibility towards future generations,
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The extent to which the preamble is legally binding is contested; it is certainly not
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determined to live together with mutual consideration and respect for their diversity,
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which the state is bound to observe, including the principles of obedience to law,
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346:. As in the U.S., the powers delegated by the cantons to the Confederation are
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116:
590:, Art. 1 N 13; Art. 3 N 7. Notably, the same holds true in the United States.
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329:
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263:, except for the constitutions adopted under French sway in the time of the
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is in line with all preceding Swiss constitutional documents, back to the
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and thus directly enforceable in
Switzerland, with important exceptions.
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189:
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Preamble and beginning of the title 1 of the German edition of the
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Revision of the
Federal Constitution and Transitional Provisions
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380:
Article 5 lists some of the fundamental aspects of the
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as an integral part of the country's self-conception.
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196:of 18 April 1999 determine the general outlines of
168:publishes translations in German, French, Italian,
223:The preamble to the Constitution states, in full:
280:, and inspired in part by a 1977 draft by writer
234:mindful of their responsibility towards creation,
65:Fundamental Rights, Citizenship and Social Goals
319:and the rights of the people, and ensuring the
225:
681:Die schweizerische Bundesverfassung, Kommentar
311:Article 1 constitutes the federal state, the
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8:
415:all persons are responsible for themselves
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130:
15:
716:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
373:", highlighting the prominence of Swiss
276:The preamble was authored by journalist
741:
730:English translation of the constitution
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402:. The latter is customarily held to be
267:. Apart from continuing tradition, the
160:The cover of the German edition of the
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23:
706:
696:
574:Felix Hafner / Rainer J. Schweizer in
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74:Confederation, Cantons and Communes
19:This article is part of the series:
166:Federal Chancellery of Switzerland
162:Swiss Federal Constitution of 1999
14:
779:Swiss Federal Constitution (1999)
553:, Preliminaries to Art. 1–6, N 2.
756:
744:
245:adopt the following Constitution
230:The Swiss People and the Cantons
348:enumerated in the Constitution
1:
433:Official English Translation
227:In the name of Almighty God!
292:Title 1: General Provisions
192:and the first title of the
36:Coat of arms of Switzerland
800:
194:Swiss Federal Constitution
182:Swiss Federal Constitution
83:The People and The Cantons
25:Swiss Federal Constitution
251:By opening with a solemn
549:Bernhard Ehrenzeller in
444:Bernhard Ehrenzeller in
326:Article 3 provides that
43:Text of the Constitution
611:Rainer J. Schweizer in
411:set forth in article 41
261:Federal Charter of 1291
636:Regula Kägi-Diener in
249:
185:
173:
37:
179:
159:
35:
421:Notes and references
334:This maintains the "
52:Preamble and Title 1
395:pacta sunt servanda
353:Article 4 declares
92:Federal Authorities
709:has generic name (
649:Yvo Hangartner in
371:national languages
278:Daniel S. Miéville
186:
174:
56:General Provisions
38:
662:Peter Häberle in
448:, Preamble, N 14.
413:by stating that "
400:international law
344:international law
328:"the Cantons are
265:Helvetic Republic
253:invocation of God
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205:federal republic
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456:
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435:on www.admin.ch
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386:proportionality
375:multilingualism
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117:Law portal
112:Other countries
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12:
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689:
674:
671:
669:
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653:, Art. 5 N 41.
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629:
627:, N 15 et seq.
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615:, Art. 3 N 10.
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555:
542:
530:
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404:self-executing
398:, respect for
308:are left out.
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690:3-905455-70-6
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683:(in German).
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677:
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672:
666:, Art. 6 N 4.
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643:
640:, Art. 4 N 5.
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633:
630:
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621:
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614:
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605:
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578:, Art. 2 N 4.
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313:Confederation
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270:invocatio dei
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673:Bibliography
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393:
392:and, due to
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321:independence
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282:Adolf Muschg
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172:and English.
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86:
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51:
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763:Switzerland
724:Ehrenzeller
722:. Cited as
707:|last=
664:Ehrenzeller
651:Ehrenzeller
638:Ehrenzeller
613:Ehrenzeller
576:Ehrenzeller
551:Ehrenzeller
446:Ehrenzeller
382:rule of law
369:to be the "
213:rule of law
198:Switzerland
773:Categories
526:judiciable
460:, at N 17.
390:good faith
202:democratic
784:Preambles
699:cite book
565:, at N 3.
540:, at N 2.
520:, at N 9
508:, at N 8.
496:, at N 6.
472:, at N 2.
336:bottom-up
330:sovereign
298:municipal
286:Sovereign
751:Politics
257:preamble
219:Preamble
190:preamble
737:Portals
522:et seq.
367:Romansh
363:Italian
317:liberty
209:cantons
170:Romansh
97:Title 6
88:Title 5
79:Title 4
70:Title 3
61:Title 2
687:
359:French
355:German
340:states
306:anthem
255:, the
207:of 26
164:. The
200:as a
718:link
711:help
685:ISBN
625:Ibid
600:Ibid
588:Ibid
563:Ibid
538:Ibid
518:Ibid
506:Ibid
494:Ibid
482:Ibid
470:Ibid
458:Ibid
365:and
302:flag
188:The
417:".
304:or
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701:}}
697:{{
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726:.
720:)
713:)
693:.
602:.
528:.
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232:,
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145:e
138:t
131:v
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