Reforming the Swiss canton Constitutions

Authors

  • Juan Luis Requejo Pagés

Keywords:

Constitutionalism, direct democracy, constituent power, constitutional reform, federal state

Abstract

The procedures for reforming the Constitutions of the cantons are set within a unique constitutional model. This reduces the State to the minimum necessary for the citizens to have direct participation in forming the general will. The Swiss federal system assumes (rather than constrains) the sovereignty of the cantons, ensuring that their normative will can be efficacious outside their own territory. This accords the cantons a degree of autonomy to reform their own Constitution that, in conjunction with the institutions for direct democracy, enables their citizens to exercise continuous power to shape the Constitution.

Issue

Section

ARTICLES