Council of States (Switzerland)

Council of States Ständerat (German) Conseil des États (French) Consiglio degli Stati (Italian) Cussegl dals Stadis (Romansh)
Type
Type	Upper house
History
New session started	List of members of the Swiss Council of States (2023–2027)
Leadership
President	Eva Herzog, SP/PS since 4 December 2023
First Vice President	Andrea Caroni, FDP/PLR since 4 December 2023
Second Vice President	Stefan Engler, The Centre since 4 December 2023
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)
Last election	October–November 2023
Meeting place
Federal Palace of Switzerland, Bern
Website
http://www.parliament.ch/

This article is part of a series on the
Politics of Switzerland
Constitution Human rights
Federal Council Members (by seniority) Beat Jans Guy Parmelin Ignazio Cassis Viola Amherd (President) Karin Keller-Sutter (Vice President) Albert Rösti Élisabeth Baume-Schneider Federal Chancellor Viktor Rossi Federal administration
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The Council of States^[1] is the upper house of the Federal Assembly, and the lower house being the National Council. It comprises 46 members.^[2]

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.