The federal parliament: The limits of institutional reform

The Federal Assembly, according to the Constitution the supreme political a uthortiy, is weakened by several structural features of the Swiss political system. The specific coalitional structure that has emerged in the Nationa l Council, however, prevents the incongruent composition of its two chamber s from paralysing the political process. The position of the Federal Assemb ly has been reinforced in the more recent past by procedural reforms but th ere are increasing difficulties in finding pre-parliamentary compromises. S tructural reforms to strengthen the position of the Federal Assembly have b een in discussion for years, but decisive steps to improve the position are not in sight.