-
Forming the initiative committee
The initiative committee has to have at least 7 and no more than 27 members, who must all have the right to vote at federal level.
-
Around 4 months
- The committee submits the text of the initiative to the Federal Chancellery. The Chancellery normally translates the text into the other official languages and checks that the title of the initiative is permitted.
- Only then can the collection of signatures begin.
-
18 months
The initiative committee must collect at least 100,000 signatures within 18 months. Only the signatures of persons whose right to vote has been certified by the commune concerned are valid.
-
The signature lists are submitted to the Federal Chancellery
The Federal Chancellery checks the number and validity of the signatures.
-
12/18 months
- Once the initiative has been submitted, the Federal Council has 12 months to prepare a dispatch. In the dispatch it requests Parliament to recommend that voters either accept or reject the initiative.
- If the Federal Council wants to make a direct or indirect counter-proposal to the initiative, it is allowed 18 months to prepare the dispatch (instead of 12 months).
-
18/12/24 months
- Parliament has 18 months to decide whether the initiative is valid and whether it will recommend that the People and cantons accept or reject the initiative.
- If the Federal Council puts forward a direct or indirect counter-proposal, Parliament has 12 months (instead of 18 months) to decide on the initiative and the direct or indirect counter-proposal.
- Parliament can take one year longer to consider a direct or indirect counter-proposal from the Federal Council, and if need be amend the Federal Council’s proposal or prepare and submit its own direct or indirect counter-proposal.
-
Parliament decides on the initiative
Parliament makes its decision on the initiative within 30 months of the initiative’s submission. If there is a direct or indirect counter-proposal, Parliament decides within 42 months of the initiative’s submission.
-
Federal Council decree on which proposals will be put to the vote on the next polling day
The Federal Council decides at least 4 months before the polling day which proposals will be put to the vote.
-
Popular vote
The popular vote is held no later than 10 months after Parliament decides on the initiative. If federal elections are being held in the same year, this period can be extended to a maximum of 16 months.
-
An initiative accepted in a popular vote comes into force at once
- A popular initiative comes into force as soon as it is accepted by the People and the cantons.
- The text of the initiative is inserted into the text of the Federal Constitution immediately.
-
Implementing the initiative
It can take some time to implement an initiative. How long depends on what the initiative is about. Normally the Federal Council and Parliament must draw up and approve new implementing legislation.
Who can launch a popular initiative?
Register the initiative
Political Rights Section
Bundeshaus West
3003 Bern
Tel. +41 58 462 48 02
spr@bk.admin.ch
Write the initiative text
Creating a signature form
Collecting signatures
You must enter your first name and surname by hand and then sign the form. You must also provide your date of birth and address.
You must also indicate the canton and commune where you are eligible to vote. It is important that a separate signature form is used for each commune. This is because the signatures on the forms are subsequently checked by the communes.