The representative., 1901-11-21
/ ].

II.
The Swiss Cantonal Forms OF Gov
ernment-''The Swiss cantons are the
democratic workshops of Europe On
their twenty-five anvils are hammered
out almost every conceivable expert
ment in political mechanics; and if a
particular experiment proves successful,
it is adopted by one canton after an
other, until it ultimately receives def
nte conservation by becoming part OF
the Federal Constitution, which has, in
deed, largely moulded our cantonal ex-
perience. The cantons are, SO to say,
the "seed-triar' grounds of the vbarious
forms of popular government, and offer
an unrivalled field to those who wish
to study the latest phases and expedi-
ents OF democracy.
The spirit of the cantonal constitu-
tons is .6ttingly expressed by the fol-
lowing phrases: Sovereignty resides in
the mass of the people 1t is exercised
directly by the electors, and indirectly
by the electors, andcmfwypetaoinmfw
by the authorities and officials (The
Constitution of Berne, 1889. The peo-
pie, in virtue Of their sovereignty, give
themselves the following constitution
Constitution of Zurich, 1859: ....
"The Swiss cantons fall into two
classes-the cantons with elected legis-
latures, and the cantons with a system
of legislation by mass-meeting.
Eighteen of the cantons have legis-
lature consisting of single chamber,
called the Great Council sometimes the
Kantonsrath or Landrath); the men,
bers of which are chosen by universal
suffrage for periods ranging from two
to FIVE years. The usual term is, how
ever, three or four years.
"The work of the legislature is to
pass the laws, vote the taxes and ap-
preparations, and supervise the admin
istration. The people are the check on
the legislature, and they act as a check
in three ways.
''In the first place they can veto legis-
lation by means of the referendum, and
can make an imperative suggestion as
to the subject of legislation by means
of the initiative. The referendum is al
ways compulsory in constitutional
amendments, j. e., no constitutional
change can become law without the
popular assent expressly given. In the
domain of ordinary legislation there is
only one canton, Fribourg, in which
the referendum is not recognized in
some form or other. It is compulsory
in the case of every law in nine and a
half cantons, it may take place upon de-
mand in six and half cantons, and in
two it is compulsory for financial ques-
tons only.
Every canton, except one, recog-
nizes the right OF the people to demand
by means of the initiative, either par
tial or total revision of the constitu-
ton.
Nineteen cantons recognize the right
Of initiative in ordinary legislation
THE second check on the assembly
is the popular right Of bringing about a
dissolution, which is, however, only
found in six of the German cantons. A
petition for dissolution is signed by
the statutory number of citizens and
sent in to the executive, who are
obliged to put the question to the whole
people, Shall the Great Council be dis
solved or no?' If the people reply in
the affirmative, the Council is ipso facto
dissolved, and a new election takes
place This Device says Mr.. Lowell,
has not, however, proved to be of much
importance. Formerly it was sometimes
used, and in one case, at least, with
success; but owing to the shortening OF
the periods for which the councils are
elected, and the general introduction
of the referendum, it is practically obso-
lete.'
Another method of getting rid OF
the Great Council is occasionally tried.
In every cantonal constitution, except
Geneva, the people have the right of
demanding total revision of the con-
stitution. The law in most cases pro-
vides that if the people decide in the af-
firmative, the Great Council must dis
solve, as sort of penalty for driving
the people to extreme measures and not
anticipating the general wish. A new
council is then elected to carry out the
revision. This exceptional method was
last triedl ins Ticino in 1890. A a rule,
however, the life of the legislature is
measured by the constitution, and not
by the exigencies of politics. The ex-
ecutive is usually elected for the same
term as the Legislature, and generally
consists of FIVE or seven members. 1t is
of the nature of a business committee
of the legislature, and each member has
charge of separate department.