Editing Cantons of Switzerland (section)

==Constitutions and powers==
{{See also|List of cantonal executives of Switzerland|List of cantonal legislatures of Switzerland}}
[[File:Federal Cupola.jpg|thumb|The 22 cantonal coats of arms (all but Jura, with the half-cantons represented jointly) in [[Standesscheibe|stained glass]] set in the dome of the [[Federal Palace of Switzerland]] ({{circa|1900}})]]

The [[Swiss Federal Constitution]]<ref>Official and updated [https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19995395/index.html Swiss Federal Constitution] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160621000507/https://www.admin.ch/opc/en/classified-compilation/19995395/index.html |date=21 June 2016 }} (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 (government)|executive]], [[Law enforcement in Switzerland|police]] and [[judiciary|court]]s.<ref name="HDS Modern">{{HDS|26414<!--Section 1-4-->|Cantons, In the Federal State since 1848}}</ref> Similar to the Confederation, a [[directorial system]] of government is followed by the cantons.

The cantonal legislatures are [[unicameralism|unicameral]] [[parliament]]s, with their size varying between 58 and 200 seats. A few legislatures also involve or did involve general popular assemblies known as ''[[Landsgemeinde]]n''; the use of this form of legislature has declined: at present, it exists only in the cantons of [[Appenzell Innerrhoden]] and [[Canton of Glarus|Glarus]]. The cantonal executives consist of either five or seven members, depending on the canton.<ref>[http://www.ch.ch/karte/index.html?lang=en Swiss Government website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219135444/http://www.ch.ch/karte/index.html?lang=en |date=19 December 2008 }} with links to each cantonal government, accessed 11 November 2008</ref> For the names of the institutions, see the [[List of cantonal executives of Switzerland|list of cantonal executives]] and [[List of cantonal legislatures of Switzerland|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 [[health care|healthcare]], [[Welfare (financial aid)|welfare]], law enforcement, [[public education]], and retain the power of [[Taxation in Switzerland|taxation]]. Each canton defines its official language(s). Cantons may conclude [[treaty|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 of Switzerland|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 in Switzerland|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 nationality law|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 [[Public holidays in Switzerland|vary from canton to canton]].