Departments and the Federal Chancellery

The Federal Council needs many employees to do its work. They work in the Federal Administration. It is divided into seven departments, one for each member of the Federal Council. A department is similar to a ministry in other countries. Each Federal Councillor heads a department.

The seven departments are: the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA, German: EDA), the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA, German: EDI), the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP, German: EJPD), the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS, German: VBS), the Federal Department of Finance (FDF, German: EFD), the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER, German: WBF) and the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC, German: UVEK). There is no separate department just for food, climate or schools.

In addition, there is the Federal Chancellery. It is the staff office of the Federal Council. It is headed by the Federal Chancellor, since 2024 Viktor Rossi. The Federal Chancellery supports the Federal Council, prepares its meetings and helps organise federal elections and popular votes. The Federal Chancellor is not a member of the Federal Council. He does not govern, does not elect anyone and does not make laws.

Memory aid: Seven Federal Councillors, seven departments. Unlike in Germany, the Chancellor in Switzerland does not govern, but only supports.