Direct democracy functions only with the greatest amount of transparency. Citizens can only be expected to serve the public interest and be actively involved in the politics of their country if they are well-informed.

The internet is one of the Federal Council's main tools for informing users about the aims, tasks and workings of the government and the administration, and for supporting them in their decisions.

Stay informed and exercise your political rights. Browse through the www.admin.ch website. You can also obtain all the important information regarding the government and the administration by registering under "News subscription".

Enjoy browsing, reading and taking action!
Hans-Rudolf Merz, President of the Swiss Confederation

The Swiss government (the executive authority) is made up of the seven members of the Federal Council who are elected by the United Federal Assembly for a four-year term of office.

The Federal Council presents its objectives for 2009.

Since 1968 the Federal Council has presented its political strategy to the newly elected parliament in the Dispatch on Legislature Planning.

Would you like to know who was President of the Swiss Confederation in 1902? Or who headed the Post Department in 1867? A list of all members and their duties since 1848 can be found under "Documentation".

Turn the pages back: you can leaf through the archives and look at the photographs, taken each year since 1993, of the entire Federal Council under "Federal Council photograph".