Society, General Knowledge for Vocational Schools (ABU), Vocabulary, Chapter 3

the joint meeting of the National Council and Council of States

constitution of the United Nations

based on your own feelings and ideas and not on facts; something that is based on facts is objective

changing a pre-printed ballot paper by crossing out a name on the list

the right to vote for or against a cause, for example, at a referendum

election where contenders are automatically elected, due to the fact that there are more seats of government than people running for office

a citizens obligation to pay taxes to the state

the smaller of the two chambers of the Swiss parliament; the 46 representatives represent the cantons

rights that require a state citizenship (e.g. freedom of establishment, protection against expulsion)

the process by which a person integrates into a society, whereby one acquires the societal norms and values and finds one's own position in it

factors that "attract" people from other regions (e.g. high earning potential, security from persecution)

constitutional principle that prevents Swiss citizens from being extradited from Switzerland, and guarantees that refugees will not be deported to a state which would persecute or torture them

legal provision for children of a certain age to regularly visit school

factors that "push" people away from a certain region (e.g.for reasons pertaining to war, environmental catastrophes)

rule according to which a candidate is elected, when they receive the most votes compared to other candidates, regardless of voter turnout or amount of votes taken into consideration compared to the total number of votes

executive body entrusted with the task of governing and implementing laws

citizens right to definitively decide on laws made by parliament or parliamentary resolutions

a method of voting by which political parties are given legislative representation in proportion to their popular vote; within the party the candidates with the most votes are elected

the right of citizens who have attained the legal voting age to participate in the democratic process (e.g voting right)

subject and science dealing with the art of governance

a task or responsibility to take a particular course of action to meet a particular social, legal, or moral requirement, such as a duty, contract, or promise

constitutional right to make a written requests or complaints to, or seek the assistance of, one's government without fear of punishment or reprisals

political association and important lobbyists

parliament is a law-making body (legislative)

allows voters to distribute their votes between individual candidates from different party lists

institution which is responsible for regulating vocational training

a referendum that must be carried out (for constitutional amendments and if joining certain international organisations)

independent assessment or judgment, description of a thing, an event or a fact by the observer or by the subject based on observable phenomena, uninfluenced by emotions or personal prejudices

right, to settle anywhere

a non-governmental organisation which concerns itself with social and environmental issues (e.g. Greenpeace, Amnesty International)

the larger of the two chambers of parliament in Switzerland; its 200 members represent the Swiss people

immigration and emigration of people, a segment or entire population groups in search of better livelihood

fundamental rights every human being is entitled to, independent of nationality, ethnicity, sex, language or religion

the right to express any opinion in public without censorship or restraint by the government