Reference no: EM133545412

Review Case: Democracy in Switzerland

The Swiss democracy is rather different from democracy in the United States (also see footnote 5 of this chapter). Switzerland has as direct democracy, which means that the people govern directly, not through a representative. Developed and re- fined for over eight hundred years (and in its current form for over one hundred years), the Swiss democracy has a long tradition. Opinion polls and referendums determine what decisions are to be made-for instance, on a draft of a new or amended law (the drafts are prepared by experts in the administration). In individual cantons (member states, of which there are twenty-six), budgets are set by referendum.26 If the majority of the electorate agrees, even the constitution can be changed. Switzerland's system is considered extremely stable but it also requires more involvement from its citizens. Switzerland does have a parliament and political parties, but constitutional changes (changes in law) cannot take place without the expressed agreement of the people. The Swiss generally tend to vote conservatively, but it's noteworthy that they have also favored equal representation of women in parliament and voted against payouts for managers of failing companies (golden parachutes).

1. What kind of moral character would the ideal citizen have in the Swiss democracy?

2. How about in the United States?

3. Answer these questions both from your own perspective and by applying Aristotle.