Federal administration of Switzerland

The federal administration of Switzerland (Bundesverwaltung, Administration fédérale, Amministrazione federale) is the ensemble of agencies that constitute, together with the Swiss Federal Council, the executive branch of the Swiss federal authorities. The administration is charged with executing federal law and preparing draft laws and policy for the Federal Council and the Federal Assembly.

The administration consists of seven federal departments and the Federal Chancellery. The departments are roughly equivalent to the ministries of other states, but their scope is generally broader. Each department consists of several federal offices, which are headed by a director, and of other agencies. The much smaller Federal Chancellery, headed by the Federal Chancellor, operates as an eighth department in most respects.

Federal Council

The administration in its entirety is directed by the Swiss Federal Council, and the Federal Council and the administration are subject to parliamentary oversight by the Federal Assembly. Each member of the Federal Council is also, in his or her individual capacity, the head of one of the seven departments. The Federal Council has the sole authority to decide on the size and composition of the departments, and to make all executive decisions that are not delegated by law to an individual department, or to the Chancellery. The Council also decides which department its members are appointed to lead, although it is customary that Councillors choose their preferred department in order of seniority.

The absence of hierarchic leadership within the Council has caused the departments to acquire a very considerable autonomy, to the extent that the federal executive has been characterised as "seven co-existing departmental governments."

Size

From 1954 to 1990, roughly two percent of Switzerland's resident population were federal employees. This percentage has since declined due to army cutbacks and the partial privatisation of federal enterprises such as PTT (now Swisscom and Swiss Post). As of 2008, the Confederation employed some 102,000 people, all but 32,000 of which were working for federal enterprises such as the Post and the Swiss Federal Railways.

Development

After the founding of the Swiss federal state in 1848, the Federal Council and its handful of officials took up residence in the Erlacherhof in Berne. The entire administrative staff consisted of 80 persons in 1849, while the postal service had 2,591 officials and the customs service 409. The first dedicated administrative building, now the western wing of the Bundeshaus, was completed in 1857.

The number of departments and Federal Councillors has been constitutionally fixed at seven since 1848. The number of the departments' subordinate entities, which are constituted by statute – generally as "federal offices" after the 1910s – has grown substantially in step with the expanding role of the state in the 20th century, even though some have been merged or abolished.

A 1964 government reform made the Federal Chancellery into the general staff unit of the Federal Council, and created General Secretariats as departmental staff units. A 1978 statute granted the title of secretary of state to the holders of two (later three) directoral posts whose functions require independent interaction with foreign authorities. Since the 1990s, New Public Management models have been experimentally introduced; twelve offices are now run with autonomous budgets.

Location

The seat of the federal authorities, including almost all of the administration, is Berne. The departments and offices are located in the east and west wings of the Bundeshaus and in numerous buildings in or close to the city center. In the 1990s, some offices were moved to other parts of the country, in part to aid economic development of these regions. Also, some federal authorities have field offices in other cities.

Organisation and responsibilities

Federal Chancellery

The Swiss Federal Chancellery is the staff organisation of the Federal Council and the federal administration. As of 2008, it is headed by Federal Chancellor Corina Casanova (CVP/PDC). It is composed of a staff sector, a planning and strategy sector, an internal services sector and a Federal Council sector. A separate information and communications sector is led by Vice Chancellor Oswald Sigg.

For administrative purposes, the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) is affiliated to the Chancellery. The FDPIC is responsible for the supervision of federal authorities and private bodies with respect to data protection and freedom of information legislation.

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) is Switzerland's ministry of foreign affairs. As of 2008, it is headed by Micheline Calmy-Rey (SPS/PS). It is composed of the General Secretariat and of the State Secretariat, which in turn is composed of the following directorates and agencies:

• Directorate of Political Affairs: Led by the Secretary of State, responsible for coordinating Swiss foreign policy and administering Swiss foreign missions.
• Directorate of Corporate Management (DCM): Manages the Department’s human and financial resources and provides legal advice.
• Directorate of Public International Law (DPIL): Responsible for the study and application of public international law.
• Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC): Engages in development cooperation and provides humanitarian aid.
• Protocol section: Responsible for diplomatic protocol, ceremony and precedence.
• Integration office: Operated jointly with the FDEA and responsible for coordinating Switzerland’s policy on Europe.
• Presence Switzerland: Responsible for promoting Switzerland abroad.

Federal Department of Home Affairs

The Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) is Switzerland's ministry of the Interior. As of 2008, it is headed by Pascal Couchepin (FDP/PRD). It is composed of the following offices:

• General Secretariat
• Federal Office for Gender Equality (FOGE): Responsible for gender equality matters.
• Federal Office of Culture (FOC): Responsible for national heritage preservation, archaeology, the federal art collections, the Swiss National Library, the Swiss National Museum and affiliated museums, as well as the support and promotion of Swiss culture.
• Swiss National Library: The national library of Switzerland.
• Swiss Federal Archives: The national archives of Switzerland.
• Swiss Meteorological Institute (MeteoSwiss): The national weather service.
• Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH): Responsible for public health at the federal level, including disease prevention, epidemiology, substance abuse, food safety, noise and radiation protection, regulation of chemicals and toxic products, stem cell research, bioterrorism and health and accident insurance.
• Federal Statistical Office (FSO): Compiles and publishes statistical information for use by the government, the economy and scientific research.
• Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO): Regulates the Swiss social insurance and system, including old age and survivors' insurance, invalidity insurance, supplementary benefits, occupational pension funds, income compensation for people on national service and for women on maternity leave as well as family allowances in the agricultural sector.
• State Secretariat for Education and Research (SER): Responsible for higher education and research at the federal level.

The following independent authorities are affiliated to the FDHA for administrative purposes:

• ETH Board and the ETH Domain: The system of federal technical universities and research institutes, including the ETH Zurich, the EPFL Lausanne, the Paul Scherrer Institute, the Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, the Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research and the Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology.
• Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic): Certification and supervisory authority for drugs and other medical products.

Federal Department of Justice and Police

The Federal Department of Justice and Police is Switzerland's ministry of justice. As of 2008, it is headed by Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf (SVP/UDC). It is composed of the following offices and institutes:

• General Secretariat
• Federal Office of Justice (FOI): Responsible for providing legal advice to the administration, preparing general legislation, supervising government registers and collaborating on international judicial assistance.
• Federal Office of Police (fedpol): Responsible for intercantonal and international information, coordination and analysis in internal security matters. It also operates the the domestic intelligence service (Service for Analysis and Prevention SAP), and the Federal Criminal Police (FCP), which investigates crimes subject to federal jurisdiction.
• Federal Office for Migration (FOM): Responsible for matters relating to foreign nationals and asylum seekers.
• Federal Office of Metrology (METAS): Provides calibration and accreditation services, supervises the use of measuring instruments and provides training in metrology.
• Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IIP): Registration authority for patents, trademarks and industrial design.
• Swiss Institute of Comparative Law (SICL): Provides consultancy services on issues of comparative law.

The following independent authorities are affiliated to the FDJP for administrative purposes:

• Federal Gaming Board (FGB): Regulates casinos and enforces Swiss gambling law (except lotteries, which are regulated by the cantons).
• Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG): Criminal prosecuting authority with respect to crimes subject to federal jurisdiction, led by the Attorney General of Switzerland.

Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports

The Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports (DDPS) is Switzerland's ministry of defence. As of 2008, is headed by Samuel Schmid (SVP/UDC). It is composed of the following departmental sectors:

• Defence / Armed Forces sector: Swiss Armed Forces headquarters and staff, Land Forces, Air Force, Armed Forces Logistics Organisation (AFLO), Armed Forces Command Support Organisation (AFCSO).
• Civil Protection sector: Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP), responsible for the coordination of the civil protection services of the cantons and municipalities. Operates the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) and the Spiez Laboratory, which is responsible for weapons of mass destruction research and protection.
• Sport sector: Federal Office of Sports (FOSPO), responsible for sport policy, the National Youth Sports Centre Tenero and the Youth and Sport organisation.
• armasuisse sector: Responsible for armaments procurement, technology and research. The sector includes the Federal Office of Topography (swisstopo), which compiles and manages geographical reference data and maps.

The following services are also part of the DDPS:

• General Secretariat
• Office of the Military Attorney General: The military prosecutor's office.
• Strategic Intelligence Service (SIS): Switzerland’s foreign intelligence service.
• Directorate for Security Policy (DSP): Responsible for strategy development, defence and procurement policy, arms control and disarmament policy.

Federal Department of Finance

The Federal Department of Finance is Switzerland's ministry of finance. As of 2008, it is headed by Hans-Rudolf Merz (FDP/PRD). It is composed of the following offices:

• General Secretariat, including the Federal Strategy Unit for IT (FSUIT).
• Federal Finance Administration (FFA): Responsible for the budget, financial planning, financial policy, the federal treasury and financial equalisation between the Confederation and the cantons. Operates the federal mint.
• Federal Office of Personnel (FOPER): Responsible for human resources management, personnel policy and personnel training.
• Federal Tax Administration (FTA): Responsible for federal revenue collection and the application of federal tax laws in the cantons.
• Federal Customs Administration (FCA): Responsible for monitoring the import, export and transit of goods, collecting customs duties, traffic charges and taxes. Operates the Swiss Border Guard, which carries out border police duties.
• Swiss Alcohol Board (SAB): Regulates the alcohol market.
• Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication (FOITT): Provides IT services for the federal administration.
• Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics (FBL): Responsible for property management, central procurement of non-durable goods, federal publications and the production of the Swiss passport.
• Federal Office of Private Insurance (FOPI): Regulates private life insurance companies, bodily injury and physical damage insurers and reinsurers.

The following independent authorities are affiliated to the FDF for administrative purposes:

• Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO): The federal government audit office. Examines accounting practices and verifies the proper and efficient use of resources by the administration, other public service institutions and subsidy recipients.
• Swiss Federal Banking Commission (SFBC): Regulates banks, securities dealers, investment funds and stock exchanges, as well as the disclosure of shareholding interests, public takeover bids and mortgage lenders.
• Federal Pension Fund (PUBLICA): Provides insurance coverage to employees of the federal administration, the other branches of the federal government and associated organisations.

Federal Department of Economic Affairs

The Federal Department of Economic Affairs (FDEA) is Switzerland's ministry of the economy. As of 2008, it is headed by Doris Leuthard (CVP/PDC). It is composed of the following offices:

• General Secretariat, including the Federal Consumer Affairs Bureau FCAB (responsible for consumer affairs) and the Swiss civilian service agency (ZIVI).
• State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco): Responsible for national and international economic policy, trade negotiations and labour policy.
• Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG): Responsible for agricultural policy and for direct payments to Swiss farmers.
• Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology (OPET): Responsible for vocational education and training, Universities of Applied Sciences and innovation promotion.
• Federal Veterinary office (FVO): Responsible for animal welfare and health, the safety of food of animal origin and the implementation of the CITES convention.
• Integration Office (see FDFA above)
• Federal Office for National Economic Supply (FONES): Manages emergency supplies of essential goods and services.
• Federal Housing Office (FHO): Responsible for housing policy.

The following independent authorities are affiliated to the FDEA for administrative purposes:

• Price Supervisor: Price ombudsman and responsible for the supervision of regulated prices.
• Competition Commission: Swiss competition regulator.
• Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (SFIVET): Provides training for vocational education professionals.

Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications

As of 2008, the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) is headed by Moritz Leuenberger (SPS/PS). It is composed of the following offices:

• General Secretariat
• Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE): Coordinates area planning between the federal agencies, the cantons and the municipalities.
• Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN): Responsible for matters of the environment, including the protection of plants and animals and the protection against noise, air pollution or natural hazards.
• Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA): Regulates civil aviation.
• Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM): Regulates radio and TV stations, notably the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation.
• Federal Office of Energy (FOE): Responsible for the provision of electrical energy at the federal level, as well as for the supervision of dams.
• Federal Office of Transport (FOT): Responsible for public transport at the federal level, including the development of the federal rail network and navigation on the Rhine.
• Federal Roads Authority (FEDRO): Responsible for the construction, maintenance and operation of the national highway network.

The following independent authorities are affiliated to the DETEC for administrative purposes:

• Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB): Technical investigating authority for aircraft accidents.
• Federal Communications Commission (ComCom): Regulates the telecommunications market, awards service licences, rules on interconnection disputes and approves frequency and numbering plans.
• Federal Inspectorate for Heavy Current Installations (ESTI): Responsible for inspecting low and heavy-current electrical installations.
• Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (HSK): Assesses and monitors security and radiation protection in Swiss nuclear installations.
• Federal Pipelines Inspectorate (ERI): Responsible for the planning, construction and operation of fuel pipeline systems in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
• Independent Complaints Authority for Radio and Television: Decides on complaints about radio and television programmes.
• Investigation Bureau for Railway, Funicular and Boat Accidents: Technical investigating authority for accidents on railways, cableways, funicular railways and ships.
• PostReg: Regulates the Swiss Post.
• Railways Arbitration Commission (RACO): Arbitrates in disputes over access to the rail network.

References