Switzerland civics quiz: questions and answers
All 15 general civics quiz questions about Switzerland with answers and explanations, grouped by topic. This is a learning quiz, not an official exam. Select a question to see the answer.
Government and law 5 questions
The Swiss federal system, the Federal Council, the two chambers of the Federal Assembly and direct democracy.
Practise only: Government and law →
How many members does the Swiss Federal Council have?
Seven
The Federal Council, Switzerland's government, has seven members who lead the federal departments and take decisions together.
What is the Swiss federal parliament called?
The Federal Assembly
The Federal Assembly is the Swiss parliament. The Federal Council is the government, and a Landsgemeinde is an open-air cantonal assembly.
How many cantons does Switzerland have?
26
Switzerland is a federal state made up of 26 cantons, each with its own constitution, parliament and government.
Which chamber of parliament has two seats for each full canton?
The Council of States
In the Council of States each full canton has two seats and each half canton has one. Seats in the National Council depend on population.
How many signatures are needed for a federal popular initiative?
100,000
A federal popular initiative to change the constitution needs 100,000 valid signatures collected within 18 months. An optional referendum needs 50,000.
History 5 questions
The 1291 alliance, the federal state of 1848, women's suffrage in 1971 and Geneva's role in the Red Cross.
On which date is Swiss National Day celebrated?
1 August
Swiss National Day on 1 August recalls the alliance between the original cantons, traditionally dated to the beginning of August 1291.
Which three cantons formed the original alliance of 1291?
Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden
The Federal Charter of 1291 is an alliance between Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, traditionally seen as the founding of the Swiss Confederation.
In which year was the modern Swiss federal state founded?
1848
The Federal Constitution of 1848 created the modern federal state. The constitution was fully revised in 1874 and again in 1999.
In which year did Swiss women gain the right to vote in federal elections?
1971
Swiss men voted to give women the federal vote in 1971. An earlier proposal was rejected in 1959.
Which Geneva businessman inspired the founding of the Red Cross?
Henri Dunant
After seeing the battle of Solferino in 1859, Henri Dunant pushed for aid to wounded soldiers, leading to the Red Cross in Geneva in 1863.
Geography, culture and symbols 5 questions
Bern, the four national languages, the Alps, the Swiss franc and the white cross on red.
Practise only: Geography, culture and symbols →
Which city is the seat of the Swiss federal government and parliament?
Bern
Bern is the federal city, where the Federal Council and the Federal Assembly meet. Zurich is the largest city.
How many national languages does Switzerland have?
Four
Switzerland's four national languages are German, French, Italian and Romansh.
What does the Swiss flag look like?
A white cross on a red square
The Swiss flag is square and shows a white cross on a red background.
What is the currency of Switzerland?
The Swiss franc
Switzerland uses the Swiss franc (CHF). It is not a member of the European Union and does not use the euro.
What is the highest mountain peak in Switzerland?
The Dufourspitze
The Dufourspitze in the Monte Rosa massif, at about 4,634 metres, is the highest point in Switzerland.
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