Przegląd Politologiczny, 2016, nr 4

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Is direct democracy in Switzerland dysfunctional?
(Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Dziennikarstwa UAM, 2016) Matyja, Mirosław
An important element shaping the political system of Switzerland was adopting the Federal Constitution in 1848. The current Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation was adopted in 1999. The current political system of this country can be referred to as directorial; however, because this specific system manifests itself mainly through the significant role of the cantons, it is also referred to as a ‘parliamentary-cantonal’ system. An important element of the system is the large degree of independence and self-reliance of the cantons and the communes. What determines the shape of the political parties and the socio-political division of Switzerland is the multiculturalism of the country. The fundamental democratic instruments in the country comprise: referenda; popular initiatives and popular assemblies. Dysfunctional qualities hinder the system, and even constitute a barrier for the effectiveness of the process of decision-making.