[Event] Reforming the Tagsatzung

Since the inception of the Swiss Confederacy, the cantons have ruled over themselves with the aid of the Tagsatzung, a council of representatives from each that helps to air issues diplomatically and sanction unruly elements within the nation. The Tagsatzung, however, is still an incredibly weak legislative body in comparison to the overarching governments of almost every other nation in the world. While to a degree the Swiss pride themselves on their autonomy, the recent eruption of war across almost all of western and central Europe has made it clear to many cantons that a stronger governing authority may be necessary to organize a quicker response to crises internal and external.

Resultingly, after hours of heated debate in the most recent meeting of the council, the representatives of the cantons have come to an agreement to somewhat expand its scope of authority and organizational structure.

Firstly, rather than meeting only a few times a year, the Tagsatzung shall be available more or less constantly for debate and discussion, with representatives residing in Zürich (or, in the future, whichever city is hosting the council) permanently for the duration of their appointment. This duration has been left up to each city to decide, but the general consensus is on a representative term of four months.

Secondly, the authority of the Tagsatzung has been increased to govern matters unrelated only to settling intergovernmental disputes. Its oversight has been split into three legislative groups:

• Decisions requiring a simple majority -- the recruitment and employment of mercenaries; the settlement of disputes over land or authority between cantons; and the temporary levying of taxation or soldiers in immediate response to internal or external crises.
• Decisions requiring a two-thirds majority -- the levying of permanent taxation, the revenues from which shall go into a shared treasury; the spending of revenues from said treasury on non-mandatory projects within the nation; and the deciding of matters of foreign policy.
• Decisions requiring a unanimous vote -- the institution of laws that encompass the entirety of the Confederacy; the revision of the Tagsatzung or the institution of new governmental systems; the levying of a nation-wide army for purposes other than reaction to national crises; and the acceptance of new polities as voting cantons of the Confederacy.

It is the hope of most of the cantons that this reform will allow the cantons to retain most of their autonomy while still allowing for a central governing body that can react quickly when necessary.