Landsgemeinde & Municipal Merger – Glarus – Citizenship Test

Ancient Democratic Practice:

• Open-air assembly of all eligible citizens
• Held annually on the first Sunday in May
• Takes place on the Zaunplatz in Glarus town
• Citizens vote by raising hands (called Handmehr)
• Direct democracy in its purest form
• Tradition dating back to medieval times

What the Landsgemeinde Decides:

• Elects the cantonal government:
  • Landammann (cantonal leader/president)
  • Members of the Regierungsrat (executive council)
• Passes constitutional amendments
• Approves major laws and important expenditures
• Budget approval
• Other significant cantonal matters

The Event:

• Citizens gather in the square from across the canton
• Traditionally, men carried swords as a symbol of citizenship (rare today)
• The Landammann presides from a platform
• Each proposal is explained
• Speeches are made for and against
• Vote by raised hands - majority clearly visible
• Results determined by show of hands
• Controversial votes can be challenged and formally counted

Women's Participation:

• Since 1972: Women have participated in the Landsgemeinde
• Glarus granted women cantonal voting rights in 1972
• Women now actively participate in the assembly

Unique Voting Age:

• Voting age is 16 in Glarus!
• Lowered from 18 (only Swiss canton with voting age 16)
• Experiment in youth political participation
• Glarus believes young people should have a voice
• Unique in Switzerland

Only Two Cantons Remain:

• Glarus and Appenzell Innerrhoden are the only two cantons still practicing Landsgemeinde
• Appenzell Ausserrhoden abolished it in 1997
• Other former Landsgemeinde cantons switched to secret ballots
• Glarus keeps the tradition despite modernization pressures

Who Can Participate:

• Only Swiss citizens with cantonal residence
• Must be mentally competent
• 16 years or older
• Non-citizens are excluded (even long-term residents)

Debates About Landsgemeinde:

• Critics argued for secret ballot voting:

  • No secret ballot with raised hands

• Concerns about:

  • Intimidation possible (social pressure to vote certain ways)
  • Difficult for shy people to vote publicly
  • Accessibility issues for disabled persons
  • Declining participation over time

• Supporters defended the tradition:

  • Direct democracy in its purest form
  • Community feeling of gathering together
  • Transparency - votes are visible
  • Connection to history and identity
  • Civic education - seeing democracy in action

The 2006 Vote:

• Landsgemeinde voted on whether to keep or abolish itself
• Citizens voted to KEEP the Landsgemeinde by clear majority
• Rejected abolition and switch to secret ballots
• Tradition valued despite imperfections
• Demonstrated commitment to this unique democratic form

Result:

• Landsgemeinde continues in Glarus
• Periodic discussions about reforms, but tradition preserved
• 2006 vote reaffirmed its importance to cantonal identity

The Problem:

• Glarus had 25 municipalities (many very small)
• Small population (~40,000) spread across many communities
• Many villages had only a few hundred residents
• Administrative costs disproportionately high
• Difficulty recruiting officials for tiny municipalities
• Inefficiency and duplication of services
• Financial strain on small communities

The Radical Solution:

• 2006 proposal: Merge ALL 25 municipalities into just 3 large ones
• Most dramatic municipal merger in Swiss history
• Reduce from 25 to 3 in one step
• Consolidate administration, services, and finances

The Vote:

• May 7, 2006: Landsgemeinde voted on the merger
• Citizens voted YES by clear majority
• Approved the radical restructuring
• Implementation planned for coming years

New Structure (January 1, 2011):

Three Municipalities Created:

1. Glarus Nord (North) - ~18,000 residents
   • Northern valley area (Näfels, Mollis, Bilten, etc.)
2. Glarus (Center) - ~12,000 residents
   • Central valley (capital town and surroundings)
3. Glarus Süd (South) - ~10,000 residents
   • Southern valley and mountains (Braunwald, Elm, Linthal, etc.)

Results:

• Smallest number of municipalities of any Swiss canton (only 3!)
• Administrative costs significantly reduced
• Professional administration now possible
• Better services through economies of scale
• Former village names preserved as localities
• Successful model for other cantons considering mergers