The Swiss Confederation - a brief guide 2021 (English)

Download the brochure “The Swiss Confederation in brief” 2021

The official guide on the functioning of Swiss democracy and its institutions, expanded and improved, will have a print run of 170,000 copies

The Federal Chancellery has revised the content and design of the brochure “The Confederation in Brief”, which is published annually in Switzerland.
The 2021 edition takes into account the new possibilities and expectations in terms of information, but that is not all: the “CH info” app also has new features.
The publication “The Confederation in Brief” provides an insight into the workings of Swiss democracy and its institutions.
It is updated annually and has a print run of 170,000 copies. It is used by the public as a reference work and in many schools as a teaching aid.

The Council of States of the Swiss Confederation 2021 (English)
Der Bund kurz erklärt 2021 (Deutsch)
La Confédération en bref 2021 (Français)
La Confederazione in breve 2021 (Italiano)

Agreements and memberships and more space for political rights

This year’s edition has been completely redesigned. The three powers of the state are treated in a more balanced way and the contents are presented according to the same structure. The chapter on political rights has been expanded.
The chapter on “Agreements and Accessions” has been added to reflect the importance of Switzerland’s dense network of international relations.
The texts have been structured in such a way that they can also be read easily on computer screens and smartphones.

Switzerland and the “fantastic four” of direct democracy
The Ethics of Competitiveness and the Spirit of Federalism
Waldstätte and the “forest” cantons at the dawn of Switzerland…
The Presidency of the Swiss Confederation from 1848 to the present day
Swiss monuments? A “hidden” treasure to be exploited…
Athenian democracy? Revive between Glarus and Appenzell…
The Europe of small States and a barely sketched federalism…

Infographics and QR Codes as enrichments

The number of infographics has increased.
Throughout the booklet are QR codes that link to in-depth information online.
The 80-page publication is available in the four national languages and English and can be ordered free of charge or downloaded through the links below or viewed on YouTube.
In electronic form it can be viewed on smartphones and tablets using the “CH info” app.

Der Bund kurz erklärt 2021 (Deutsch)
Der Bund kurz erklärt 2021 (Deutsch)

La Confédération en bref 2021 (Français)
La Confédération en bref 2021 (Français)

La Confederazione in breve 2021 (Italiano)
La Confederazione in breve 2021 (Italiano)