[Event] Federation

(In continuation of the saga found here, here and here.)

Months have passed since the Tagsatzung called a special council, with delegates from all the Swiss cantons and associate states pouring in to deliberate and debate. The question: as the Tagsatzung has increasingly taken on central administrative duties, how should this new order be codified into national law?

Now, as the final few issues are ironed out, the public is presented for the first time with the Schweizerverfassung -- the Swiss Constitution. The document, its wording prepared by experts from the University of Zürich in both Alemannic German and Latin, shall from this day forth be the final rule of law in the Swiss lands.

 

---

 

In the name of Almighty God!

The Swiss Cantons and their People

To maintain and promote the Unity, Power and Honor of the Swiss nation

Have adopted the following Federal Constitution:

 

The Schweizerverfassung is split into a number of Titles, each describing a different legal scope.

 

Title One

The first Title of the Schweizerverfassung enumerates some generalities of the government's organization. It lists each member canton, and states that every citizen of each canton is now to be officially considered a Swiss citizen as well. It describes the Swiss as a Christian state, but in line with past proclamations grants each canton, associate and individual the right to determine their own denomination so long as the peace is maintained and they recognize Christ and Christ alone as their savior.

 

Title Two

The second Title describes the structure of the new Swiss federal government. The nation shall be headed by the Federal Diet (the Tagsatzung), which shall now consist of two parts: the Council of States, consisting of three deputies chosen at-will by the local governments of each canton, and the National Council, consisting of two deputies elected by and from among all landowning men of each canton. Legislation may originate in either Council, but must be approved by either a simple majority in the Council of States or a two-thirds majority in the National Council to enter into law.

Presiding over the Tagsatzung is the Bundespräsident, the president, who calls to order the meetings of both councils and serves as the Swiss diplomatic and ceremonial figurehead. Each Bundespräsident serves in the position for six years, with their home canton being named as the Swiss capital for that time period.

Also created in this Title is the Bundesgericht, the judiciary, a special group of ten (five elected from each Council) summoned to deliberate and pass judgement on the greatest civil and political crimes.

 

Title Three

The third Title describes the relationship between the various levels of organization within the Swiss state. At the top is the Tagsatzung and its federal institutions. Below the central council are three equals: the cantons, the associates, and the territories. All three are guaranteed the protection of the Swiss state and, therefore, the protection of all other members, and forbidden to make war independently or to dissolve their ties with the nation.

The cantons, comprising the vast majority of the divisions within the state, may hold whatever form of local government and pass whatever laws they deem prudent -- however, in the case of conflict with the laws of the Tagsatzung, the latter's supersede the former's.

The associates, consisting of new members of the nation and those who had ties to only one or a few member cantons, hold rights similar to the cantons -- the only exceptions being that their tithe to the central treasury is less, and they elect and appoint only one deputy each to the Council of States and the National Council. The Bundespräsident also may not be elected from the representative of an associate. At any time, they may choose to become a full canton.

The territories are lands awaiting inclusion into the nation as either a canton or an associate, likely lands recently gained by war or purchase. They have no representation in the Tagsatzung.

 

Title Four

The fourth Title describes the domains over which the Tagsatzung has the power to enact law -- namely, those that require uniform regulation across the nation. Most prominent of those areas named are:

• Relations with foreign states;
• National and civil defense;
• Taxation and the economy ^(, you fools);
• The rights of heathens and foreigners;
• The resolution of conflicts between cantons;
• The levying of armies or mercenaries;
• The maintenance of the general welfare of the nation;
• and other, more minor spheres, such as education laws.

 

Title Five

The fifth Title describes the mechanics for the recall of deputies and the amendment of the document itself. Delegates to the Council of States may be recalled at-will by the canton or associate that they represent, while deputies of the National Council can be recalled with a two-thirds vote by their constituent landowners.

 

---

 

With the distribution of this document to the regions of the nations, a new order is born. Current associates are invited to become full cantons, and the nations of Swabia are offered another opportunity to join as either cantons or associates. Elections to the National Council and of the Bundespräsident will soon begin

With a powerful central government instated by the Schweizerverfassung, the Swiss Federation is born.