Swiss Passport

Question 53 of 350 · Federalism: Confederation, cantons, municipalities

What is an important task of the Confederation?

Was ist eine wichtige Aufgabe des Bundes?

Correct answer: C

  1. AIt promotes the founding of associations.Er fördert die Gründung von Vereinen.
  2. BIt supports the founding of companies.Er unterstützt die Gründung von Firmen.
  3. CIt ensures internal and external security.Er sorgt für die innere und äussere Sicherheit.
  4. DIt runs its own hospitals and clinics.Er unterhält eigene Spitäler und Kliniken.

Why

Protecting the whole country is a core task of the Confederation. For this it has, for example, the army and border control.

Common mistakes

D: It runs its own hospitals and clinics.
Hospitals are run by the cantons and municipalities, not by the Confederation.
B: It supports the founding of companies.
Companies are founded by private individuals. The Confederation only creates good general conditions for the economy.

Topic

Tasks of the Confederation

In federalism each level has its own tasks. The Confederation only does what the Federal Constitution expressly allows it to do. These are mainly tasks that must be the same for the whole country. All other tasks belong to the cantons. The cantons pass some tasks on to the municipalities.

How the state works · Federalism: Confederation, cantons, municipalities

Sources

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