_#_Constitution: 29 May 1874
_#_Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
_#_National holiday: Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
_#_Executive branch: president, vice president, Federal Council (German—Bundesrat, French—Conseil Federal, Italian—Consiglio Federale)
_#_Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (German—Bundesversammlung, French—Assemblee Federale, Italian—Assemblea Federale) consists of an upper council or Council of States (German—Standerat, French—Conseil des Etats, Italian—Consiglio degli Stati) and a lower council or National Council (German—Nationalrat, French—Conseil National, Italian—Consiglio Nazionale)
_#_Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court
_#_Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government—President Flavio COTTI (1991 calendar year; presidency rotates annually); Vice President Rene FELBER (term runs concurrently with that of president)
_#_Political parties and leaders:
Free Democratic Party (FDP), Bruno HUNZIKER, president;
Social Democratic Party (SPS), Helmut HUBACHER, chairman;
Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP), Eva SEGMULLER-WEBER,
chairman;
Swiss People's Party (SVP), Hans UHLMANN, president;
Green Party (GPS), Peter SCHMID, president;
Automobile Party (AP), DREYER;
Alliance of Independents' Party (LdU), Dr. Franz JAEGER, president;
Swiss Democratic Party (SD), NA;
Evangelical People's Party (EVP), Max DUNKI, president;
Workers' Party (PdA; Communist), Jean SPIELMANN, general secretary;
Ticino League, leader NA
Liberal Party (LPS), Gilbert COUTAU, president;
National Action Party (NA), Rudolph KELLER, chairman;
Republican Party (RP), Franz BAUMGARTNER, president;
Progressive Organizations of Switzerland (POCH), Georg DEGEN, secretary;
Unitary Socialist Party (PSU), Dario ROBBIANI, president
_#_Suffrage: universal at age 20