English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only, has no legal force and may not be relied on in legal proceedings.
Art. 1 Deliberations
(Art. 13, 16 paras. 1 and 4, 17 GAOA) 1 As a general rule, Federal Council sessions shall be held once a week. 2 Business of major importance or political significance shall be discussed and decided individually. Business of far-reaching significance may be dealt with in the context of closed-door meetings. 3 The remaining business may, if uncontested, be passed as a whole without individual discussion or may be dealt with by written resolution. Presidential decisions pursuant to Article 26 paragraph 4 GAOA remain reserved. 4 If circumstances require it and there is no time to hold a meeting, the Federal Council may also discuss individual items of business as mentioned in paragraph 2 in writing or by other means. These resolutions are equivalent to those taken at meetings. Presidential decisions pursuant to Article 26 paragraphs 1-3 GAOA remain reserved. 5 The resolutions shall be recorded in writing for each item of business.
Para. 3 — Amended by No I of the O of 21 Aug. 2002, in force since 1 Oct. 2002 (AS 2002 2827). Para. 4 — Amended by No I of the O of 21 Aug. 2002, in force since 1 Oct. 2002 (AS 2002 2827).
Art. 1a and 1b
Inserted by No I of the O of 30 Nov. 2011 (AS 2011 6089). Repealed by Annex No 1 of the Organisation Ordinance of 29 Nov. 2013 for the Federal Council, with effect from 1 Jan. 2014 (AS 2013 4561).
Art. 2 Business planning
(Art. 25 para. 2 let. a, 32 let. b and 33 GAOA) 1 Business planning shall ensure that business can be dealt with in the Federal Council in accordance with its importance and urgency. 2 The President of the Confederation, in consultation with the Federal Chancellery and the departments, shall determine the most important items of business and thematic priorities for a quarter or semester.
Art. 3 Proposals, special discussions and briefing notes
(Art. 14, 15, 17 GAOA) 1 As a general rule, the Federal Council shall take its decisions on the basis of written proposals and after the joint reporting procedure has been completed (Art. 5). 2 The members of the Federal Council and, for the business of the Federal Chancellery, the Federal Chancellor have the right to submit proposals. 3 Where federal law designates other authorities or bodies that may submit business or proposals to the Federal Council, this shall be done via the Federal Chancellery or the department that has the closest technical connection with the business in question. 4 The Federal Council shall hold special discussions in particular on matters of far-reaching importance. If necessary, it shall take interim decisions, determine the main features of a solution and issue instructions to the competent department or the Federal Chancellery on how to deal with the matter. 5 The departments or the Federal Chancellery may at any time, without formal request, send the Fed
Art. 4 Office consultation procedure
1 When preparing proposals, the lead office shall invite jointly interested administrative units to comment, setting appropriate deadlines. In justified exceptional cases, the office consultation procedure may be waived or may be limited to a narrow group of addressees. 1bis In the case of confidential and secret Federal Council business, the administrative units responsible for advance legal examination shall be consulted on important and contentious legal issues before the Federal Council meeting if possible. 2 Differences shall be resolved as far as possible through the office consultation procedure; the lead department shall report on this to the Federal Council. 3 The administrative units that have a technical connection to the business or that are responsible for the assessment of financial, legal or formal aspects are considered to be co-interested.
Para. 1bis — Inserted by Annex No 1 of the Organisation Ordinance of 29 Nov. 2013 for the Federal Council, in force since 1 Jan. 2014 (AS 2013 4561).
Art. 5 Joint reporting procedure
(Art. 15 and 33 GAOA) 1 The joint-reporting procedure serves to prepare for the decision-making process at Federal Council level. The aim of the procedure is to enable the Federal Council to concentrate on fundamental aspects in its deliberations. 1bis The joint reporting procedure begins with the signing of the proposal by the lead department. 2 The lead department shall submit the signed proposal to the Federal Chancellery in good time for conducting the joint-reporting procedure.
Para. 1bis — Inserted by Annex 2 No 1 of the Public Order of 24 May 2006, in force since 1 July 2006 (AS 2006 2331). Para. 2 — Version according to Annex 2 No 1 of the Public Order of 24 May 2006, in force since 1 July 2006 (AS 2006 2331).