At Stake in the Referendum:

• The endorsement by popular referendum of 3 popular initiatives

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Didier BURKHALTER (since 1 January 2014) [i]
• Head of Government: President Didier BURKHALTER (since 1 January 2014)
• Assembly: Switzerland has a bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung/Assemblée Fédérale/Assemblea Federale) consisting of the Council of States (Standerat/Conseil des Etats/ Consiglio degli Stati) with 46 seats and the National Council (Nationalrat/Conseil National/Consiglio Nazionale) with 200 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• Legislative referendums in Switzerland are conducted on the basis of majority vote, with both the majority of people and majority of Cantons approving the referendum. Constitutional referendums and citizens’ initiatives are conducted on the basis of double majority for both votes and the cantonal vote.

Main Provisions in the Referendum (to be held Sunday 30 November 2014)[ii]

• Popular Initiative: “Stop the Tax-Discrimination of Hospitality”[iii]
  • Description: “The initiative calls for the abolition of the lump-sum taxation (tax inclusive). In Switzerland, resident, non-working foreigners should be taxed in the future only on the income and assets and not more inclusive based on the cost of living.”
  • Poll question: Do you want to accept the people's initiative, "Stop the tax breaks for millionaires (abolition of lump-sum taxation)"?
  • Position of the Federal Assembly: Federal Council and Parliament recommend to reject the initiative. The National Council has rejected the initiative by 135 to 62 votes with 1 abstention, the Senate with 30 votes to 13, with 2 abstentions.
• Popular Initiative: “Stop the Overpopulation – to Secure the Natural Foundations of Life”[iv]
• Description: The aim of the initiative is to preserve the natural resources. “Given the growth of the permanent resident population in Switzerland are limited to immigration to 0.2 percent per year and the family planning be promoted in the context of development cooperation.”
• Poll question: Do you want the popular initiative "Stop Overpopulation – to secure the natural Assume Livelihoods"?
• Position of the Federal Assembly: Federal Council and Parliament recommend to reject the popular initiative. The National Council has rejected the initiative by 190 votes to 3 with 5 abstentions, the Senate by 44 votes to 1, with 0 abstentions.
• Popular Initiative: “Save Our Swiss Gold (Gold) Initiative”[v]
• Description: The initiative requires that the gold content is increased in the assets of the National Bank at least 20 percent. The gold will be unsaleable and completely stored in Switzerland.
• Poll question: Do you want the popular initiative "Save our Swiss Gold (Gold) initiative"?
• Position of the Federal Assembly: The National Council has rejected the initiative by 156 votes to 22 with 20 abstentions, the Council of States by 43 votes to 2, with 0 abstentions.

Population and Voter Registration:

• Population: 8,061,516 (July 2014 est)[vi]
• Voter Registration: 5,212,154 (February 2014)[vii]

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 4,137,391 (2014)

·         Is Switzerland a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (23 January 1987)

·         Has Switzerland ratified CEDAW: Yes (27 March 1997)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: N/A

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 57 (National Council); 9 (Council of States) following the 2011 elections

·         Human Development Index Position: 3 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Switzerland a signatory to CRPD: No

·         Has Switzerland ratified CRPD: Yes, accession (15 April 2014)

·         Population with a disability: 1,228,297 (est.)