Council of States (Switzerland)

Council of States French: Conseil des États German: Ständerat Italian: Consiglio degli Stati Romansh: Cussegl dals Stadis
52nd Council of States
Type
Type	bicameral
Leadership
President	Andrea Caroni, FDP/PLR since 2 December 2024
First Vice President	Stefan Engler, The Centre since 2 December 2024
Second Vice President	Werner Salzmann, SVP/UDC since 2 December 2024
Structure
Seats	46
Political groups	The Centre (15)   FDP/PLR (11)   SP/PS (9)   SVP/UDC (6)   GPS/PES (3)   GLP/PVL (1)   MCG (1)
Elections
Voting system	Two-round system (42 seats) Proportional representation (4 seats: Neuchâtel and Jura)
First election	1–27 October 1848
Last election	22 October 2023 (first round) 11, 19 and 26 November 2023 (second round)
Meeting place
Federal Palace of Switzerland, Bern
Website
www.parliament.ch/en/organe/council-of-states

This article is part of a series on the
Politics of Switzerland
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Federal Council Members (by seniority) Guy Parmelin (Vice President) Ignazio Cassis Karin Keller-Sutter (President) Albert Rösti Élisabeth Baume-Schneider Beat Jans Martin Pfister Federal Chancellor Viktor Rossi Federal administration
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The Council of States^[1] is a house of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland, the other house being the National Council. As the powers of the houses are the same, it is sometimes called perfect bicameralism.^[2]

It comprises 46 members. Twenty of the country's cantons are represented by two Councillors each. Six cantons, traditionally called "half cantons", are represented by one Councillor each for historical reasons. These are Obwalden, Nidwalden, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden.^[3] The Councillors serve for four years, and are not bound in their vote to instructions from the cantonal authorities.