Swiss Passport

Question 72 of 350 · Separation of powers

What is the task of judges?

Was ist die Aufgabe der Richterinnen und Richter?

Correct answer: B

  1. AThey supervise the administration.Sie überwachen die Verwaltung.
  2. BThey deliver court judgments.Sie fällen Gerichtsurteile.
  3. CThey defend the accused.Sie verteidigen die Angeklagten.
  4. DThey draft laws.Sie verfassen Gesetze.

Why

Courts are the judicial power. Judges decide cases according to the law and deliver judgments.

Common mistakes

C: They defend the accused.
The accused are defended by lawyers. Judges must remain impartial.
D: They draft laws.
Laws are made by Parliament, not by the courts.
A: They supervise the administration.
The administration is mainly supervised by Parliament. Courts only examine individual cases.

Topic

Courts and police

Judges work at courts. Their task is to deliver judgments. They decide whether someone has broken a law and what punishment they receive. They also decide disputes between people or with authorities. They do not defend the accused; a lawyer does that. Nor do they write laws; Parliament does that.

How the state works · Separation of powers

Sources

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