List of cantonal legislatures of Switzerland
This is a list of cantonal legislatures of Switzerland. Each canton of Switzerland has a democratically elected cantonal legislature, as well as electing members to the Federal Assembly.
The largest legislatures, in Zürich and St. Gallen, have 180 members each, whilst the smallest, in less-populous Appenzell Innerrhoden, has only 49 members. Appenzell Innerrhoden is also the only legislature that is non-partisan. All other legislatures operate party political systems. The Swiss People's Party (SVP) are the largest party in ten legislatures, whilst FDP.The Liberals and the Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP) are the largest in seven each and the Social Democratic Party (SP) are the largest in one legislature.
Two cantons, Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus, hold Landsgemeinden as their highest legislative body. Under this system, a form of direct democracy, all adult citizens may attend an annual general assembly, where they may vote on laws. A permanent legislature also sits more frequently, but sovereignty resides with the Landsgemeinden. For the purpose of this article, the permanent legislature is considered the cantonal legislature.
| Canton | Legislature Official name(s) |
Members | Largest party | Last election | Next election | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
AG | Aargau | Grand Council Grosser Rat (German) |
140 | SVP (45) | 2016 | 2020 | |
 |
AR | Appenzell Ausserrhoden | Cantonal Council Kantonsrat (German) |
65 | FDP (23) | 2015 | 2019 | |
 |
AI | Appenzell Innerrhoden | Grand Council[Note 1] Grosser Rat (German) |
49 | Non-partisan | 2015 | 2019 | |
 |
BS | Basel-Stadt | Grand Council Grosser Rat (German) |
100 | SP (34) | 2016 | 2020 | |
 |
BL | Basel-Landschaft | Landrat (German) | 90 | SVP (28) | 2015 | 2019 | |
 |
BE | Bern | Grand Council Grosser Rat (German) Grand Conseil (French) |
160 | SVP (49) | 30 March 2014 | 2018 | |
 |
FR | Fribourg | Grand Council Grand Conseil (French) Grosser Rat (German) |
110 | SDP (28) | 2016 | 2021 | |
 |
GE | Geneva | Grand Council Grand Conseil (French) |
100 | FDP (24) | 6 October 2013 | 2017 | |
 |
GL | Glarus | Landrat (German)[Note 1] | 60 | SVP (17) | 30 November 2014 | 2018 | |
 |
GR | Graubünden | Grand Council Grosser Rat (German) Cusegl grond (Romansh) Gran Consiglio (Italian) |
120 | FDP (33) | 18 May 2014 | 2018 | |
 |
JU | Jura | Parliament Parlement (French) |
60 | CVP (17) | 2015 | 2020 | |
 |
LU | Lucerne | Cantonal Council Kantonsrat (German) |
120 | CVP (38) | 2015 | 2019 | |
 |
NE | Neuchâtel | Grand Council Grand Conseil (French) |
115 | FDP (35) | 14 April 2013 | 2017 | |
 |
NW | Nidwalden | Landrat (German) | 60 | SVP and CVP (17 each) |
2014 | 2018 | |
 |
OW | Obwalden | Cantonal Council Kantonsrat (German) |
55 | CVP (19) | 9 March 2014 | 2018 | |
 |
SH | Schaffhausen | Cantonal Council Kantonsrat (German) |
60 | SVP (21) | 2016 | 2020 | |
 |
SZ | Schwyz | Cantonal Council Kantonsrat (German) |
100 | SVP (33) | 2016 | 2020 | |
 |
SO | Solothurn | Cantonal Council Kantonsrat (German) |
100 | FDP (26) | 3 March 2013 | 2017 | |
 |
SG | St. Gallen | Cantonal Council Kantonsrat (German) |
120 | SVP (40) | 2016 | 2020 | |
 |
TG | Thurgau | Grand Council Grosser Rat (German) |
130 | SVP (44) | 2016 | 2020 | |
 |
TI | Ticino | Grand Council Gran Consiglio (Italian) |
90 | FDP (24) | 2015 | 2019 | |
 |
UR | Uri | Landrat (German) | 64 | CVP (22) | 2016 | 2020 | |
 |
VS | Valais | Grand Council Grand Conseil (French) Grosser Rat (German) |
130 | CVP (49) | 3 March 2013 | 2017 | |
 |
VD | Vaud | Grand Council Grand Conseil (French) |
150 | FDP (47) | 11 March 2012 | 2017 | |
 |
ZG | Zug | Cantonal Council Kantonsrat (German) |
80 | CVP (22) | 5 October 2014 | 2018 | |
 |
ZH | Zürich | Cantonal Council Kantonsrat (German) |
180 | SVP (54) | 2015 | 2019 | |
See also
Notes
- 1 2 The ultimate legislative body is the annual Landsgemeinde.