Parliament Act (ParlA)
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 22 Legislation
1 The Federal Assembly enacts important legislative provisions in the form of a federal act. 2 It may enact further legislative provisions in the form of a federal act or, provided it is entitled to do so by the Federal Constitution or the law, in the form of an ordinance of the Federal Assembly. 3 Prior to the enactment of legislative provisions by the Federal Council, the relevant committees of the Federal Assembly shall be consulted if they so request, provided the urgency of the provisions so permits. Draft ordinances in accordance with Article 151 paragraph 2bis shall in any case be submitted to the relevant committees for consultation. 4 Provisions shall be regarded as being legislative if they impose obligations or confer rights or responsibilities in general and abstract terms and with directly binding effect.
Para. 3 — Second sentence inserted by No I of the FA of 17 March 2023 (Improvements in the Organisation and Procedures of Parliament, Especially in Crisis Situations), in force since 4 Dec. 2023 (AS 2023 483; BBl 2022 301, 433).
Art. 23 Amendments to the Federal Constitution
The Federal Assembly submits amendments to the Federal Constitution to the vote of the People and the Cantons in the form of a federal decree.
Art. 24 Co-determination of foreign policy
1 The Federal Assembly shall follow international developments and participate in the decision-making process on important foreign policy issues. 2 It shall approve the conclusion or amendment of or the withdrawal from international treaties, unless the Federal Council may conclude, amend or withdraw from the treaty at its own behest under Articles 7a and 7bbis of the Government and Administration Organisation Act of 21 March 1997. 3 If the conclusion or amendment of or withdrawal from the international treaty is subject to a referendum, the Federal Assembly shall approve the conclusion, amendment or withdrawal by issuing a federal decree. It this is not the case, it shall approve the conclusion, amendment or withdrawal by issuing a simple federal decree. 4 It shall participate in international parliamentary conferences and cultivate relations with foreign parliaments.
Para. 2 — SR 172.010 Para. 2 — Amended by No I 1 of the FA of 21 June 2019 on the Authority to Conclude, Amend or Withdraw from International Treaties, in force since 2 Dec. 2019 (AS 2019 3119; BBl 2018 3471, 5315). Para. 3 — Amended by No I 1 of the FA of 21 June 2019 on the Authority to Conclude, Amend or Withdraw from International Treaties, in force since 2 Dec. 2019 (AS 2019 3119; BBl 2018 3471, 5315).
Art. 25 Finances
1 The Federal Assembly shall decide on expenditures and investments in the budget and its supplements. It shall decide on new or existing unclaimed appropriation credits and payment limits in the budget and its supplements or by separate decree. It shall approve the state accounts. 2 It shall take its decisions in the form of a simple federal decree. 3 It shall stipulate the purpose and the amount of the credits in the decision on credits. It may also include in its decision the general conditions for the use of the credit, the schedule for the implementation of the project and reporting by the Federal Council.
Para. 1 — Amended by Art. 65 No 1 of the Financial Budget Act of 7 Oct. 2005, in force since 1 May 2006 (AS 2006 1275; BBl 2005 5). Para. 3 — Inserted by Art. 65 No 1 of the Financial Budget Act of 7 Oct. 2005, in force since 1 May 2006 (AS 2006 1275; BBl 2005 5).
Art. 26 Supervisory control
1 The Federal Assembly shall exercise supervisory control over the conduct of business by the Federal Council and the Federal Administration, the federal courts, the Supervisory Authority for the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland and by other persons entrusted with tasks of the Confederation. 2 It shall exercise supervisory control over the financial budget in the context of Article 8 of the Federal Auditing Act of 28 June 1967. 3 The Federal Assembly shall exercise supervisory control according to the following criteria: a. legality; b. regularity; c. expediency; d. effectiveness; e. economic efficiency. 4 Supervisory control shall not include the power to revoke or alter decisions. It shall not include control over the content of the judicial decisions of the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland.
Para. 1 — Amended by Annex No II 2 of the Law Enforcement Authorities Act of 19 March 2010, in force since 1 Jan. 2011 (AS 2010 3267; BBl 2008 8125). Para. 2 — SR 614.0 Para. 4 — Second sentence amended by Annex No II 2 of the Law Enforcement Authorities Act of 19 March 2010, in force since 1 Jan. 2011 (AS 2010 3267; BBl 2008 8125).
Art. 27 Evaluation of effectiveness
The organs of the Federal Assembly designated by law shall ensure that the measures taken by the Confederation are evaluated as to their effectiveness. To this end, they may: a. request the Federal Council to have impact assessments carried out; b. examine the impact assessments carried out on the instructions of the Federal Council; c. instruct impact assessments to be carried out themselves.
Art. 28 Decisions of general principle and planning
1 The Federal Assembly shall participate: a. in the significant aspects of the planning of state activities; b. in determining the strategic goals of units that have become autonomous in accordance with Article 8 paragraph 5 of the Government and Administration Organisation Act of 21 March 1997. 1bis It participates by: a. gathering information on its activities in accordance with paragraph 1 from Federal Council reports or acknowledging such reports; b. mandating the Federal Council: 1. to make specific plans or to alter the main elements of a plan, or 2. to determine strategic goals for the units that have become autonomous or to alter such goals; c. taking decisions of general principle and planning decisions. 2 General principle decisions and planning decisions are preliminary decisions that state that certain goals must be achieved, principles and criteria must be observed or measures must be planned. 3 General principle decisions and planning decisions shall be issued in the form
Para. 1 let. b — SR 172.010 Para. 1 let. b — Amended by No I 1 of the FA of 17 Dec. 2010 on the Participation of the Federal Assembly in the Management of Autonomous Units, in force since 1 Jan. 2012 (AS 2011 5859; BBl 2010 3377, 3413). Para. 1bis let. c — Inserted by No I 1 of the FA of 17 Dec. 2010 on the Participation of the Federal Assembly in the Management of Autonomous Units, in force since 1 Jan. 2012 (AS 2011 5859; BBl 2010 3377, 3413).
Art. 29 Individual legislative acts
1 The Federal Assembly shall enact individual legislative acts that are not subject to a referendum in the form of a simple federal decree. 2 Individual legislative acts of the Federal Assembly in respect of which the required statutory basis is not found in the Federal Constitution or in a federal act shall be enacted in the form of a federal decree that is subject to a referendum.
Art. 30 Further duties
The Federal Assembly shall carry out any additional duties that are assigned to it by the Federal Constitution or federal legislation.