At stake in this Referendum:

• This referendum asked voters whether Switzerland should participate in the Schengen/Dublin association agreements of the European Union. It also asked voters whether Switzerland should allow same-sex partnerships registration.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Samuel SCHMID *
• Head of Government: President Samuel SCHMID
• Assembly: Switzerland has a bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung, Assemblée Féd&Atild) consisting of the Council of States (Standerat, Conseil des Etats, or Consiglio degli Stati) with 46 seats* and the National Council (Nationalrat, Conseil National, or Consiglio Nazionale) with 200 seats.

* President of the Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sports

* The Council of States, consists of 46 members, two elected from each of 20 cantons and one from each of the six half-cantons, according to cantonal procedure.

Main provisions in the Referendum:

• Should registration of same-sex partnerships be allowed (paraphrased question) Asked voters whether an optional registration of same-sex partnerships should be introduced by law in Switzerland. Under the proposed law, registered homosexual couples would be granted the same rights as heterosexual married couples regarding pensions, insurance, and taxation. However, child adoption as well as access to fertility treatments would still be legally excluded.
• Should Switzerland participate in the Schengen/Dublin association agreements (paraphrased question) Asked voters whether Switzerland should participate in the Schengen/Dublin association agreements of the European Union. The treaty would extend Switzerland's cooperation with the European Union, grant direct access to the EU crime investigation data, and streamline asylum proceedings. In return, systematic passport checks at the border between Switzerland and its neighboring EU countries would be abolished.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 7,437,115 (2005)
• Registered Voters: 4,798,073 ( 2004 )

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 3,796,878 (2005)

·         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: 50 (National Council); 11 (Council of States) following the 2003 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: 1,115,567 (est.)