Who holds judicial power (the judiciary) at federal level?

Judicial power lies with the courts. At federal level, the highest court is the Federal Supreme Court.

Common mistakes

A: the members of Parliament

Members of Parliament make laws (legislature). They do not deliver judgments.

C: the governments

Governments carry out the laws (executive). Judging is a matter for the courts.

Legislature, executive, judiciary (and the media)

In Switzerland the power of the state is divided among three branches. This is called the separation of powers. In German the word «Gewalt» here does not mean violence but power. No person and no authority should have all the power. The branches control each other. This prevents abuse of power. The separation of powers exists at all three levels of government: in the Confederation, in the cantons and in the municipalities.

How the state works · Separation of powers

Sources

• stadt-zuerich.ch
• ch.ch

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