Swiss Passport

Question 32 of 350 · Initiative and referendum

Against what can a referendum be requested?

Gegen was kann man das Referendum ergreifen?

Correct answer: C

  1. Aagainst decisions of the Federal Councilgegen Beschlüsse des Bundesrats
  2. Bagainst judgments of the Federal Supreme Courtgegen Urteile des Bundesgerichts
  3. Cagainst bills passed by the National Council and the Council of Statesgegen Gesetzesvorlagen von Nationalrat und Ständerat
  4. Dagainst measures of the Federal Administrationgegen Massnahmen der Bundesverwaltung

Why

A referendum is directed against decisions of Parliament, above all against new laws passed by the National Council and the Council of States.

Common mistakes

A: against decisions of the Federal Council
There is no referendum against decisions and ordinances of the Federal Council.
B: against judgments of the Federal Supreme Court
The people cannot challenge judgments of the Federal Supreme Court with a referendum. The courts are independent.
D: against measures of the Federal Administration
You can defend yourself against measures of the administration with appeals, not with a referendum.

Topic

The referendum: stopping a law

Parliament makes the laws. The National Council and the Council of States pass them together. But the people can stop a new law. The tool for this is called a referendum. In a referendum the people say yes or no to a decision that Parliament has already made.

Having a say: rights and obligations · Initiative and referendum

Sources

Official question of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.