Swiss Federal Assembly

The Swiss Parliament, also known as the Swiss Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung, is the federal legislative authority of Switzerland. It enacts federal laws, approves the national budget, and oversees the executive branch and federal administration. Its work includes ratifying international treaties, conducting parliamentary inquiries, and representing the interests of the Swiss populace at the national level. The institution operates through two chambers, the National Council and the Council of States, which together deliberate on legislation and policy matters. Its activities are confined to the Swiss Confederation, serving all linguistic regions and cantons without a commercial market focus.

The Parliament’s headquarters are situated in Bern, the de facto capital of Switzerland, where its sessions are held in the Federal Palace. As a constitutional body, it derives its authority from the Swiss Federal Constitution and is funded directly by the federal budget, without private ownership or subsidiary relationships. Distinguishing attributes include its consensus‑driven decision‑making culture, the principle of militia service whereby many members maintain civilian professions alongside their parliamentary duties, and Switzerland’s tradition of neutrality and direct democracy that shapes its legislative agenda. It also facilitates cantonal cooperation through the Council of States, ensuring that regional perspectives are integrated into national lawmaking. The incident in May 2023, when its website suffered a DDoS attack attributed to the hacktivist group NoName, highlighted the need for resilience against cyber threats for public sector entities.