The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, July 16, 1912. HIGHLY DEVELOPED DEMOCRACY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1070, 16 July 1912, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, July 16, 1912. HIGHLY DEVELOPED DEMOCRACY.

Switzerland is considered to be the most truly democratic State in Europe —and possibly in the whole world. The population of the country is some three and a-hall millions, of varying nationalities, 72 percent, being German, 21 per cent. French, 6 per cent. Italian, and several other smaller section-'. Religious denominations are divided into 59 per cent. Protestant, 40 per cent. Catholic, and some smaller sects. It can easily be realised that a very elastic constitution would be necessary to meet these differing conditions, and after several systems had been tried, the present scheme was adopted in IS4S, and was revised in 1874. The legislative power is vested in two Chambers—not an Upper and Lower House, as we have it, but a State Council, somewhat on the lines of our old Provincial Councils, each of the 22 cantons returning two members, and a National Council of 167 members, elected by all the cantons on the basis of one member for every 20,000 of population. These two Chambers together form the Federal Assembly, which controls the general administration of the Republic. The executive power is vested in seven members selected irom the Federal Assembly. Each of the seven is elected d-finitely lor three years, and receives So per annum. This forms the Federal Council. The President of the Confederation is also President of the Federal Council, ami he is chosen annually, at a combined meeting of the Council of State and the National Council, from among the membeis of the Federal Council. He cannot be re-elected until the expiry of twelve months from the time he goes out of office. Each member of the Federal Council or Executive is in charge cl a Department as our Ministers are. There is no Upper House to revise or veto laws passed by the Federal

Assembly, but the people have reserved that power for themselves by means of the Referendum. A requisition from 30,000 of the people can cause any law or resolution of the Federal Assembly to be submitted to the vote of the whole people. This power of referendum has been put in practice on an average once a year since it was initiated in that the decisions of the people in the case of the referendum have shown a conservative rather than a radical tendency. The Swiss people have not only the right to veto the laws enacted by their supreme legislature, but they have also the right of initiating proposals for new laws, or for the amendment or abolition of old ones, if the Federal Assembly will not move on their own account. The people are supreme, and they appear to obtain very good results —at anyrate they secure that which suits them. To enforce the initiative, however, 50,000 signatures are required, so that it is not lightly used. Every male of 20 is entitled to. vote, and to stand for election as a representative. Clergymen may not be candidates, probably lor lear of sectarian troubles. Primary education is unsectarian, conipulsory and free. The motto of the confederation is “ All for each, and each for all.”