Though the federal council was always only elected by the Federal Assembly, there was an unwritten rule at the time, relinquished since the 1870s, that federal councillors should be confirmed in their home canton's election for the National Council as well.
Meskipun dewan federal hanya dipilih oleh Majelis Federal, ketika itu, ada aturan tak tertulis dan dihapuskan sejak 1870-an bahwa anggota dewan pemerintah federal harus mengkonfirmasi dalam pemilihan kanton di Dewan Nasional.