Swiss Passport

Question 33 of 350 · Initiative and referendum

Why is the popular initiative an important political right of voters? With a popular initiative, they can …

Weshalb ist die Volksinitiative ein wichtiges politisches Recht der Stimmbürgerinnen und Stimmbürger? Sie können mit der Volksinitiative …

Correct answer: D

  1. Aswitch off Parliament.das Parlament ausschalten.
  2. Bvote the government out of office.die Regierung abwählen.
  3. Creverse political decisions.politische Entscheidungen rückgängig machen.
  4. Dpolitically push through important concerns of the population.wichtige Anliegen aus der Bevölkerung politisch durchsetzen.

Why

With an initiative, citizens bring their own topic to a popular vote. This way they can push through concerns that Parliament and the government do not take up.

Common mistakes

C: reverse political decisions.
You stop a decision of Parliament with a referendum. An initiative brings something new.
B: vote the government out of office.
The Federal Council is elected by the Federal Assembly. The people cannot vote it out of office.
A: switch off Parliament.
Parliament continues to exist. It debates every initiative and makes a recommendation.

Topic

The popular initiative: amending the Constitution

With a popular initiative, the people themselves bring in a new idea. A group of citizens proposes an amendment to the Federal Constitution. In this way important concerns of the population come to a vote, even if the government and Parliament do not want them. That is why the initiative is an important political right.

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.