Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox subdivision type Template:Sidebar with collapsible lists The 26 cantons of SwitzerlandTemplate:NoteTag are the member states of the Swiss Confederation. The nucleus of the Swiss Confederacy in the form of the first three confederate allies used to be referred to as the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}. Two important periods in the development of the Old Swiss Confederacy are summarized by the terms {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ('Eight Cantons'; from 1353 to 1481) and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ('Thirteen Cantons', from 1513 to 1798).<ref name=chrono>rendered "the 'confederacy of eight'" and "the 'Thirteen-Canton Confederation'", respectively, in: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Each canton of the Old Swiss Confederacy, formerly also {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ('lieu/locality', from before 1450), or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ('estate', from Template:Circa), was a fully sovereign state with its own border controls, army, and currency from at least the Treaty of Westphalia (1648) until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848, with a brief period of centralised government during the Helvetic Republic (1798–1803). The term {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} has been widely used since the 19th century.<ref name=HLS>Template:HDS "{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}"</ref>

The number of cantons was increased to 19 with the Act of Mediation (1803), with the recognition of former subject territories as full cantons. The Federal Treaty of 1815 increased the number to 22 due to the accession of former associates of the Old Swiss Confederacy. The canton of Jura acceded as the 23rd canton with its secession from Bern in 1979.<ref>Template:HDS</ref> The official number of cantons was increased to 26 in the federal constitution of 1999, which designated former half-cantons as cantons.

The areas of the cantons vary from 37 km2 (15 sq. mi.) (Basel-Stadt) to 7,105 km2 (2743 sq. mi.) (Grisons); the populations (as of 2018) range from 16,000 (Appenzell Innerrhoden) to 1.5 million (Zürich).

TerminologyEdit

The term canton, now also used as the English term for administrative subdivisions of other countries, originates in French usage in the late 15th century (recorded in Fribourg in 1467),<ref>Comptes Trés. 129, Archives nat. ds Pat. Suisse rom., cited after TFLi.</ref> from a word for "edge, corner", at the time the literal translation of Early Modern High German {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}.<ref>{{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Johann Christoph Adelung, Grammatisch-kritisches Wörterbuch der Hochdeutschen Mundart (1774–1786), s.v. "Der Ort". Old French {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} 'corner, angle' is a loan from Occitan, first recorded in the 13th century, in Occitan adopted from North Italian {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, where the sense "portion of territory" alongside "edge, corner" developed from by the early 11th century (TFLi).</ref> After 1490, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} was increasingly used in French and Italian documents to refer to the members of the Swiss Confederacy.<ref name=HLS/> English use of canton in reference to the Swiss Confederacy (as opposed to the heraldic sense) dates to the early 17th century.<ref>etymonline.com: "1530s, 'corner, angle,' [...] From 1570s as a term in heraldry and flag descriptions. From c. 1600 as 'a subdivision of a country;' applied to the sovereign states of the Swiss republic from the 1610s."</ref>

In the Old Swiss Confederacy, the term Template:Wikt-lang (plural: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) was in use from the early 15th century as a generic term for the member cantons.<ref name=HLS/> The founding cantons specifically were also known as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} 'forest settlements' (singular: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}). The formulaic {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} for the members of the early confederacy is recorded in the mid-14th century, used interchangeably with {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ('cities and lands', 'city cantons and rural cantons') until the late 15th century.<ref name=Stette>Template:HDS</ref> {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} was increasingly replaced by {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (plural: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) 'estate' about 1550, a term taken to imply liberty and sovereignty. Abolished in the Helvetic Republic, the term 'Stand' was revived in 1815 and remains in use today.<ref name=HLS/><ref>HLS: Insbesonders die um 1550 aufgekommene Benennung als Stand, die Freiheit und Souveränität implizierte, erfreute sich grösserer Beliebtheit. Die Helvet. Revolution brachte 1798 die Begriffe Ort und Stand zum Verschwinden. Für die neuen obersten Gebietseinheiten innerhalb der Helvet. Republik setzte sich die Bezeichnung Kanton durch. Nach der Mediationsakte (1803) galten die Begriffe Kanton und Stand synonym, nach dem Bundesvertrag (1815) benannten sich die K. bevorzugt als Stände. Im Bundesstaat bezeichnen die Bundesverfassungen seit 1848 die "souveränen" Gliedstaaten des Bundes als K., in dt. Sprache synonym auch als Stände.</ref>

The French term {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} adopted into German after 1648, and then only in occasional use until the early 19th century: prominent usage of {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} gradually disappeared in German-speaking Switzerland from the time of the Helvetic Republic. Only with the Act of Mediation of 1803 did German {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} become an official designation, retained in the Swiss Constitution of 1848.<ref name=HLS/> <ref>HLS: Als franz. Entsprechung zu Ort fand der Begriff canton (Winkel, Landschaft, Ort) zuerst in der Westschweiz Verwendung; ab 1475 ist er in Freiburger Akten überliefert. Die Bezeichnung der eidg. Orte als K. verbreitete sich ab den 1490er Jahren im franz. und ital. Sprachgebiet und bald auch in andern Teilen Europas. Im deutschsprachigen Raum dagegen erscheint er erst ab 1650, ohne sich gegen die bevorzugten Begriffe Ort und Stand durchzusetzen.</ref>

The term {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (Template:Langx, Template:Langx) remains in synonymous usage and is reflected in the name of the upper chamber of the Swiss Parliament, the Council of States (Template:Langx, Template:Langx, Template:Langx, Template:Langx).

Template:Anchor In the modern era, since Neuchâtel ceased to be a principality in 1848, all Swiss cantons can be considered to have a republican form of government. Some cantons formally describe themselves as republics in their constitutions. This applies to the Romance-speaking cantons in particular: Geneva (formally {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, 'Republic and canton of Geneva'), Jura, Neuchâtel, Valais,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Vaud<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Ticino.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

HistoryEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Further

File:Karte 13 Alte Orte.png
The "Thirteen-Canton Confederation" of the Old Swiss Confederacy (1513–1798)

In the 16th century, the Old Swiss Confederacy was composed of 13 sovereign confederate allies (the Thirteen Cantons; Template:Langx), and there were two different kinds: five rural states (Template:Langx) – Uri, Schwyz (which became eponymous of the confederacy), Unterwalden, Glarus, Appenzell – and eight urban states (Template:Langx) – Zürich, Bern, Luzern, Zug, Basel, Fribourg, Solothurn, Schaffhausen.

Though they were technically part of the Holy Roman Empire, they had become de facto independent when the Swiss defeated Emperor Maximilian I in 1499 in Dornach.<ref>Template:Cite EB1911</ref>

In the early modern period, the individual confederate allies came to be seen as republics; while the six traditional allies had a tradition of direct democracy in the form of the Landsgemeinde, the urban states operated via representation in city councils, de facto oligarchic systems dominated by families of the patriciate.Template:NoteTag

The old system was abandoned with the formation of the Helvetic Republic following the French invasion of Switzerland in 1798. The cantons of the Helvetic Republic had merely the status of an administrative subdivision with no sovereignty. The Helvetic Republic collapsed within five years, and cantonal sovereignty was restored with the Act of Mediation of 1803. The status of Switzerland as a federation of states was restored, at the time including 19 cantons (the six accessions to the early modern Thirteen Cantons being composed of former associates and subject territories: St. Gallen, Grisons, Aargau, Thurgau, Ticino, Vaud). Three additional western cantons, Valais, Neuchâtel and Geneva, acceded in 1815.

The process of "Restoration", completed by 1830, returned most of the former feudal rights to the cantonal patriciates, leading to rebellions among the rural population. The Radicals embodied these democratic forces calling for a new federal constitution. This tension, paired with religious issues ("Jesuit question") escalated into armed conflict in the 1840s, with the brief Sonderbund War. The victory of the Liberal-Radicals resulted in the formation of Switzerland as a federal state in 1848. The cantons retained far-reaching sovereignty but were no longer allowed to maintain individual standing armies or international relations. As the revolutions of 1848 in Western Europe had failed elsewhere, Switzerland during the later 19th century (and with the exception of the French Third Republic, until the end of World War I) found itself as an isolated democratic republic, surrounded by the restored monarchies of France, Italy, Austria-Hungary and Germany.

Constitutions and powersEdit

Template:See also

File:Federal Cupola.jpg
The 22 cantonal coats of arms (all but Jura, with the half-cantons represented jointly) in stained glass set in the dome of the Federal Palace of Switzerland (Template:Circa)

The Swiss Federal Constitution<ref>Official and updated Swiss Federal Constitution Template:Webarchive (English)</ref> declares the cantons to be sovereign to the extent that their sovereignty is not limited by federal law.<ref name="HDS Modern"/> Areas specifically reserved to the Confederation are the armed forces, currency, the postal service, telecommunications, immigration into and emigration from the country, granting asylum, conducting foreign relations with sovereign states, civil and criminal law, weights and measures, and customs duties.

Each canton has its own constitution, legislature, executive, police and courts.<ref name="HDS Modern">Template:HDS</ref> Similar to the Confederation, a directorial system of government is followed by the cantons.

The cantonal legislatures are unicameral parliaments, with their size varying between 58 and 200 seats. A few legislatures also involve or did involve general popular assemblies known as Landsgemeinden; the use of this form of legislature has declined: at present, it exists only in the cantons of Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus. The cantonal executives consist of either five or seven members, depending on the canton.<ref>Swiss Government website Template:Webarchive with links to each cantonal government, accessed 11 November 2008</ref> For the names of the institutions, see the list of cantonal executives and list of cantonal legislatures.

The cantons retain all powers and competencies not delegated to the Confederation by the federal constitution or law: most significantly the cantons are responsible for healthcare, welfare, law enforcement, public education, and retain the power of taxation. Each canton defines its official language(s). Cantons may conclude treaties not only with other cantons but also with foreign states (respectively Articles 48 and 56 of the Federal Constitution).

The cantonal constitutions determine the internal organisation of the canton, including the degree of autonomy accorded to the municipalities, which varies but almost always includes the power to levy taxes and pass municipal laws; some municipalities have their own police forces.

As at the federal level, all cantons provide for some form of direct democracy. Citizens may demand a popular vote to amend the cantonal constitution or laws or to veto laws or spending bills passed by the parliament. Other than in the instances of general popular assemblies in Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus, democratic rights are exercised by secret ballot. The right of foreigners to vote varies by canton, as does whether Swiss citizens living abroad (and registered to vote in a canton) can take part in cantonal voting.

Swiss citizens are citizens of a particular municipality (the place of origin) and the canton in which that municipality is part. Cantons, therefore, have a role in and set requirements for the granting of citizenship (naturalisation), though the process is typically undertaken at a municipal level and is subject to federal law.

Switzerland has only one federal public holiday (1 August); public holidays otherwise vary from canton to canton.

ListEdit

The cantons are listed in their order of precedence given in the federal constitution.Template:NoteTag This reflects the historical order of precedence of the Eight Cantons in the 15th century, followed by the remaining cantons in the order of their historical accession to the confederacy.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Template:Sticky table start

Arms
Template:NoteTag
Code Name in official language(s) Name in English As a Swiss canton since Capital citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>
in million CHF

citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>
in CHF

Population
Template:NoteTag
Area Template:Small Density
Template:Small Template:NoteTag
No. munic. (2018)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

Official languages
1 Coat of arms of Zürich

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

ZH {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Zurich 1351 Zurich 149,004 96,359 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 166 German
2 Coat of arms of Bern

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

BE {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}; {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Bern / Berne 1353 Bern 80,209 77,027 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 347 German, French
3 Coat of arms of Luzern

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

LU {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Lucerne 1332 Lucerne 28,176 67,936 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 83 German
4 Coat of arms of Uri

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

UR {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Uri 1291
Template:NoteTag
Altdorf 1,985 54,006 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 20 German
5 Coat of arms of Schwyz

Template:Background color

SZ {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Schwyz 1291
Template:NoteTag
Schwyz 9,876 61,223 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 30 German
6 Coat of arms of Obwalden

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

OW {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Obwalden / Obwald 1291
Template:NoteTag or 1315 (as part of Unterwalden)
Sarnen 2,564 67,453 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 7 German
7 Coat of arms of Nidwalden

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

NW {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Nidwalden / Nidwald 1291
Template:NoteTag (as Unterwalden)
Stans 2,867 66,209 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 11 German
8 Coat of arms of Glarus

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background colorTemplate:Background colorTemplate:Background color

GL {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Glarus 1352 Glarus 2,763 67,849 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 3 German
9 Coat of arms of Zug

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background colorTemplate:Background color

ZG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Zug / Zoug 1352 Zug 20,029 156,210 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 11 German
10 Coat of arms of Fribourg

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

FR {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}; {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Fribourg 1481 Fribourg 19,180 59,263 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 136 French, German
11 Coat of arms of Solothurn

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

SO {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Solothurn / Soleure 1481 Solothurn 18,029 65,237 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 109 German
12 Coat of arms of Basel-City

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

BS {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Basel-Stadt / Basle-City 1501 (as Basel until 1833/1999) Basel 37,168 189,354 style=padding-right:1em Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 3 German
13 Coat of arms of Basel-Country

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

BL {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Basel-Landschaft / Basle-Country 1501 (as Basel until 1833/1999) Liestal 20,567 70,866 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 86 German
14 Coat of arms of Schaffhausen

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

SH {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Schaffhausen / Schaffhouse 1501 Schaffhausen 7,244 87,569 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 26 German
15 Coat of arms of Appenzell Ausserrhoden

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

AR {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Appenzell Ausserrhoden / Appenzell Outer-Rhodes 1513 (as Appenzell until 1597/1999) HerisauTemplate:NoteTag 3,190 57,601 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 20 German
16 Coat of arms of Appenzell Innerrhoden

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

AI {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Appenzell Innerrhoden / Appenzell Inner-Rhodes 1513 (as Appenzell until 1597/1999) Appenzell 1,043 64,358 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 6 German
17 Coat of arms of St. Gallen

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

SG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} St. Gallen / St Gall 1803
Template:NoteTag
St. Gallen 38,041 74,210 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 77 German
18 Coat of arms of Graubünden

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background colorTemplate:Background color

GR {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}; {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}; {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Grisons / Graubünden 1803
Template:NoteTag
Chur 14,519 72,754 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 108 German, Romansh, Italian
19 Coat of arms of Aargau

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

AG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Aargau / Argovia 1803
Template:NoteTag
Aarau 43,590 63,177 style=padding-right:1em Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 212 German
20 Coat of arms of Thurgau

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

TG {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Thurgau / Thurgovia 1803
Template:NoteTag
FrauenfeldTemplate:NoteTag 17,208 61,190 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 80 German
21 Coat of arms of Ticino

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

TI {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Ticino / Tessin 1803
Template:NoteTag
Bellinzona 29,311 83,450 style=padding-right:1em Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 115 Italian
22 Coat of arms of Vaud

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

VD {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Vaud 1803
Template:NoteTag
Lausanne 56,898 70,250 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 309 French
23 Coat of arms of Valais

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

VS {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}; {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Valais 1815
Template:NoteTag
Sion 19,194 55,313 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 126 French, German
24 Coat of arms of Neuchâtel

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background colorTemplate:Background color

NE {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Neuchâtel 1815/1857
Template:NoteTag
Neuchâtel 15,343 87,080 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 31 French
25 Coat of arms of Geneva

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

GE {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Geneva 1815
Template:NoteTag
Geneva 51,976 102,876 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 45 French
26 Coat of arms of Jura

Template:Background colorTemplate:Background color

JU {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} Jura 1979
Template:NoteTag
Delémont 4,687 63,643 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 55 French
- Coat of arms of Switzerland CH {{#invoke:Lang|lang}};
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}};
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}};
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Swiss Confederation 1815/1848
Template:NoteTag
(Bern) 694,662 80,418 style=padding-right:1em; Template:Swiss populations refTemplate:Density 2,222 German, French, Italian, Romansh

Template:Sticky table end

The two-letter abbreviations for Swiss cantons are widely used, e.g. on car license plates. They are also used in the ISO 3166-2 codes of Switzerland with the prefix "CH-" ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}} — Helvetian Confederation — {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} having been the ancient Roman name of the region). CH-SZ, for example, is used for the canton of Schwyz.

Half-cantonsEdit

Template:AnchorSix of the 26 cantons are traditionally, but no longer officially, called "half-cantons" (Template:Langx, Template:Langx, Template:Langx, Template:Langx). In two instances (Basel and Appenzell) this was a consequence of a historic division, whilst in the case of Unterwalden a historic mutual association, resulting in three pairs of half-cantons. The other 20 cantons were, and in some instances still are<ref>Welcome to the canton of Zug Official document published by the canton of Zug government (PDF)</ref>—though only in a context where it is needed to distinguish them from any half-cantons—typically termed "full" cantons in English.<ref>Bhagwan and Bhushan" (2009) World Constitutions - A Comparative Study - Ninth Edition (page 311)</ref>

The first article of the 1848 and 1874 constitutions constituted the Confederation as the union of "twenty-two sovereign cantons", referring to the half-cantons as "Unterwalden ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ['above and beneath the woods'])", "Basel ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ['city and country'])" and "Appenzell ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ['both Rhoden'])".<ref>Bundesverfassung der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft vom 29. Mai 1874, Bundesverfassung der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft vom 12. September 1848 Template:In lang; author's translation.</ref> The 1874 constitution was amended to list 23 cantons with the accession of the Canton of Jura in 1978.

The historic half-cantons, and their pairings, are still recognizable in the first article of the Swiss Federal Constitution of 1999 by being joined to their other "half" with the conjunction "and":

<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />

The People and the cantons of Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden and Nidwalden, Glarus, Zug, Fribourg, Solothurn, Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft, Schaffhausen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden, St. Gallen, Graubünden, Aargau, Thurgau, Ticino, Vaud, Valais, Neuchâtel, Geneva, and Jura form the Swiss Confederation.{{#if:Article 1 of the Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation<ref>Template:Cite swiss law</ref> |{{#if:|}}

}}

{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Blockquote with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | author | by | char | character | cite | class | content | multiline | personquoted | publication | quote | quotesource | quotetext | sign | source | style | text | title | ts }}

The 1999 constitutional revision retained the traditional distinction, on the request of the six cantonal governments, as a way to mark the historic association of the half-cantons to each other.<ref>Felix Hafner / Rainer J. Schweizer in Ehrenzeller, Art. 1 N 2; Häfelin, N 966.</ref> While the older constitutions referred to these states as "half-cantons", a term that remains in popular use, the 1999 revision and official terminology since then use the appellation "cantons with half of a cantonal vote".<ref>Felix Hafner / Rainer J. Schweizer in Ehrenzeller, Art. 1 N 10; Häfelin, N 963</ref>

The [[Coins of the Swiss franc|Template:Frac, 1 and 2 francs coins]] as minted since 1874 represent the number of cantons by 22 stars surrounding the figure of Helvetia on the obverse. The design of the coins was altered to show 23 stars, including Jura, beginning with the 1983 batch. The design has remained unchanged since, and does not reflect the official number of "26 cantons" introduced in 1999.<ref>Swissmint, Sterne auf Schweizer Münzen (2008), p. 4.</ref>

File:Karikatur Teilung Basels.jpg
Caricature of the division of Basel, 1833

The reasons for the existence of the three pairs of half-cantons are varied:

With their original circumstances of partition now a historical matter, the half-cantons are since 1848 equal to the other cantons in all but two respects:<ref>Häfelin, N 963, 967</ref>

  • They elect only one member of the Council of States instead of two (Cst. art. 150 par. 2). This means there are a total of 46 seats in the council.
  • In popular referendums about constitutional amendments, which require for adoption a national popular majority as well as the assent of a majority of the cantons ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}} / {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}), the result of the half-cantons' popular vote counts only one half of that of the other cantons (Cst. arts. 140, 142).<ref>Swiss Constitutional Law, Thomas Fleiner, Alexander Misic, Nicole Töpperwien, Kluwer Law International B.V., 2005, page 120</ref> This means that for purposes of a constitutional referendum, at least 12 out of a total of 23 cantonal popular votes must support the amendment.<ref>Häfelin, N 950</ref>

Between 1831 and 1833 the canton of Schwyz was divided into half-cantons: (Inner) Schwyz and the break-away Outer Schwyz; in this instance, the half-cantons were forced by the Confederation to settle their disputes and reunite.

In the 20th century, some Jura separatists suggested a new canton of Jura to be divided into half-cantons of North Jura and South Jura.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Instead, North Jura became the (full) canton of Jura while South Jura remains in the canton of Bern as the region of Bernese Jura.

Names in national languagesEdit

The name of each canton in its own official language is shown in bold.

Abbr EnglishTemplate:NoteTag German French Italian Romansh
AG Aargau; Argovia {{#ifexist:Media:De-Aargau.ogg|<phonos file="De-Aargau.ogg">Aargau</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Aargau.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Argovie Argovia {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Argovia.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Argovia.ogg">Argovia</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Argovia.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
AI Appenzell Innerrhoden; Appenzell Inner-Rhodes {{#ifexist:Media:De-Appenzell-Innerrhoden.ogg|<phonos file="De-Appenzell-Innerrhoden.ogg">Appenzell Innerrhoden</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Appenzell-Innerrhoden.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Appenzell Rhodes-Intérieures Appenzello Interno {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Appenzell Dadens.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Appenzell Dadens.ogg">Appenzell Dadens</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Appenzell Dadens.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
AR Appenzell Ausserrhoden; Appenzell Outer-Rhodes {{#ifexist:Media:De-Appenzell-Ausserrhoden.ogg|<phonos file="De-Appenzell-Ausserrhoden.ogg">Appenzell Ausserrhoden</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Appenzell-Ausserrhoden.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Appenzell Rhodes-Extérieures Appenzello Esterno {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Appenzell Dadora.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Appenzell Dadora.ogg">Appenzell Dador</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Appenzell Dadora.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
BS Basel-Stadt; Basle-City {{#ifexist:Media:De-Basel-Stadt.ogg|<phonos file="De-Basel-Stadt.ogg">Basel-Stadt</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Basel-Stadt.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Bâle-Ville Basilea Città {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Basilea-Citad.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Basilea-Citad.ogg">Basilea-Citad</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Basilea-Citad.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
BL Basel-Landschaft; Basle-Country {{#ifexist:Media:De-Basel-Landschaft.ogg|<phonos file="De-Basel-Landschaft.ogg">Basel-Landschaft</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Basel-Landschaft.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Bâle-Campagne Basilea Campagna {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Basilea-Champagna.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Basilea-Champagna.ogg">Basilea-Champagna</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Basilea-Champagna.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
BE Bern; Berne {{#ifexist:Media:De-Bern.ogg|<phonos file="De-Bern.ogg">Bern</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Bern.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Berne Berna {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Berna.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Berna.ogg">Berna</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Berna.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
FR Fribourg; FriburgTemplate:Citation needed {{#ifexist:Media:De-Freiburg.ogg|<phonos file="De-Freiburg.ogg">Freiburg</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Freiburg.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Fribourg Friburgo {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Friburg.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Friburg.ogg">Friburg</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Friburg.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
GE Genève; Geneva {{#ifexist:Media:De-Genf.ogg|<phonos file="De-Genf.ogg">Genf</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Genf.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Genève Ginevra {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Genevra.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Genevra.ogg">Genevra</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Genevra.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
GL Glarus; GlarisTemplate:Citation needed {{#ifexist:Media:De-Glarus.ogg|<phonos file="De-Glarus.ogg">Glarus</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Glarus.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Glaris Glarona {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Glaruna.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Glaruna.ogg">Glaruna</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Glaruna.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
GR Grisons; Graubünden {{#ifexist:Media:De-Graubuenden.ogg|<phonos file="De-Graubuenden.ogg">Graubünden</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Graubuenden.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Grisons Grigioni {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-sursilvan-grischun.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-sursilvan-grischun.ogg">Grischun</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-sursilvan-grischun.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
JU Jura {{#ifexist:Media:De-Jura.ogg|<phonos file="De-Jura.ogg">Jura</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Jura.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Jura Giura {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Giura.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Giura.ogg">Giura</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Giura.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
LU Lucerne {{#ifexist:Media:De-Luzern.ogg|<phonos file="De-Luzern.ogg">Luzern</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Luzern.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Lucerne Lucerna {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Lucerna.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Lucerna.ogg">Lucerna</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Lucerna.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
NE Neuchâtel {{#ifexist:Media:De-Neuenburg.ogg|<phonos file="De-Neuenburg.ogg">Neuenburg</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Neuenburg.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Neuchâtel Neuchâtel Neuchâtel
NW Nidwalden; NidwaldTemplate:Citation needed {{#ifexist:Media:De-Nidwalden.ogg|<phonos file="De-Nidwalden.ogg">Nidwalden</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Nidwalden.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Nidwald Nidvaldo {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Sutsilvania.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Sutsilvania.ogg">Sutsilvania</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Sutsilvania.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
OW Obwalden; ObwaldTemplate:Citation needed {{#ifexist:Media:De-Obwalden.ogg|<phonos file="De-Obwalden.ogg">Obwalden</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Obwalden.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Obwald Obvaldo {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Sursilvania.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Sursilvania.ogg">Sursilvania</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Sursilvania.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
SH Schaffhausen; Schaffhouse {{#ifexist:Media:De-Schaffhausen.ogg|<phonos file="De-Schaffhausen.ogg">Schaffhausen</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Schaffhausen.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Schaffhouse Sciaffusa {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Schaffusa.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Schaffusa.ogg">Schaffusa</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Schaffusa.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
SZ Schwyz {{#ifexist:Media:De-Schwyz.ogg|<phonos file="De-Schwyz.ogg">Schwyz</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Schwyz.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Schwyz (or Schwytz) Svitto {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Sviz.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Sviz.ogg">Sviz</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Sviz.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
SO Solothurn; Soleure {{#ifexist:Media:De-Solothurn.ogg|<phonos file="De-Solothurn.ogg">Solothurn</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Solothurn.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Soleure Soletta {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Soloturn.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Soloturn.ogg">Soloturn</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Soloturn.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
SG St. Gallen; St Gall {{#ifexist:Media:De-StGallen.ogg|<phonos file="De-StGallen.ogg">St. Gallen</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-StGallen.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Saint-Gall San Gallo {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Sogn Gagl.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Sogn Gagl.ogg">Son Gagl</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Sogn Gagl.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
TG Thurgau; Thurgovia {{#ifexist:Media:De-Thurgau.ogg|<phonos file="De-Thurgau.ogg">Thurgau</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Thurgau.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Thurgovie Turgovia {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Turgovia.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Turgovia.ogg">Turgovia</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Turgovia.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
TI Ticino; Tessin {{#ifexist:Media:De-Tessin.ogg|<phonos file="De-Tessin.ogg">Tessin</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Tessin.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Tessin Ticino {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Tessin.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Tessin.ogg">Tessin</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Tessin.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
UR Uri {{#ifexist:Media:De-Uri.ogg|<phonos file="De-Uri.ogg">Uri</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Uri.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Uri Uri {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Uri.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Uri.ogg">Uri</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Uri.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
VS Valais; Wallis {{#ifexist:Media:De-Wallis.ogg|<phonos file="De-Wallis.ogg">Wallis</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Wallis.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Valais Vallese {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Vallais.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Vallais.ogg">Vallais</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Vallais.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
VD Vaud {{#ifexist:Media:De-Waadt.ogg|<phonos file="De-Waadt.ogg">Waadt</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Waadt.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Vaud Vaud {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Vad.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Vad.ogg">Vad</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Vad.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
ZG Zug; Zoug {{#ifexist:Media:De-Zug.ogg|<phonos file="De-Zug.ogg">Zug</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Zug.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Zoug Zugo {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-Zug.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-Zug.ogg">Zug</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-Zug.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}
ZH Zürich; Zurich {{#ifexist:Media:De-Zürich.ogg|<phonos file="De-Zürich.ogg">Zürich</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "De-Zürich.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}} Zurich Zurigo {{#ifexist:Media:Roh-sursilvan-turitg.ogg|<phonos file="Roh-sursilvan-turitg.ogg">Turitg</phonos>|{{errorTemplate:Main other|Audio file "Roh-sursilvan-turitg.ogg" not found}}Template:Category handler}}}}

Admission of new cantonsEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The enlargement of Switzerland by way of the admission of new cantons ended in 1815. The latest formal attempt considered by Switzerland was in 1919 from Vorarlberg but subsequently rejected. A few representatives submitted in 2010 a parliamentary motion to consider enlargement although it was widely seen as anti-EU rhetoric rather than a serious proposal.<ref name="Tages-Anzeiger 11 June 2010">Template:Cite news</ref> The motion was eventually dropped and not even examined by the parliament.<ref name="The Federal Assembly — The Swiss Parliament">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See alsoEdit

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NotesEdit

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ReferencesEdit

CitationsEdit

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SourcesEdit

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External linksEdit

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