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Chapter

Rights, Duties & Legal System

Citizen rights, voting, military service, taxes, courts

Part of the complete Swiss citizenship test prep at einbuergerungstests.ch.

  • 3 lessons
  • 35 questions
  • ~64 minutes
  • Aligned to the federal 2026 test
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What you'll learn

Rights and Citizenship

A brief preview from the first lesson of this chapter.

Swiss citizenship comes with a comprehensive set of rights and responsibilities that define the relationship between citizens and the state. Switzerland's direct democracy gives citizens more political rights than most countries, while also expecting active civic participation. Understanding fundamental rights, political participation, and civic duties is essential to appreciating how Swiss democracy functions and what it means to be a Swiss citizen.

Sample questions

Sample questions

Five example questions from this chapter — with answers, explanations, and official sources.

01Easy

In Switzerland, paying tax is:

  • Aa choice for Swiss citizens only
  • Bvoluntary for low-income earners
  • Coptional for retired people
  • Dan obligation for all residents
Correct answer
an obligation for all residents
Explanation
Paying taxes is a legal obligation for all residents in Switzerland, regardless of citizenship status, income level, or age (if you have income). Taxes fund public services like infrastructure, education, healthcare, and security. Failure to pay taxes can result in fines, collection proceedings, and criminal charges. Tax obligations are based on residency and worldwide income, not just Swiss citizenship.

Source: Actual Swiss naturalization exam question

02Easy

Your friend asks: 'Who can vote in federal elections in Switzerland?' What is the correct answer?

  • ASwiss citizens and foreigners who have lived in Switzerland for 10 years
  • BAll residents aged 16 or older
  • CSwiss citizens aged 18 or older
  • DAnyone with a residence permit aged 18 or older
Correct answer
Swiss citizens aged 18 or older
Explanation
Only Swiss citizens aged 18 or older can vote in federal elections and referendums. Foreign residents, regardless of how long they have lived in Switzerland, cannot vote at the federal level. This is a key difference between citizens and foreigners. However, some cantons and communes allow foreign residents to vote in cantonal and local elections under certain conditions.

Source: Federal Constitution Article 136

03Medium

When did women gain the right to vote at the federal level in Switzerland, and why is this significant?

  • A1971; it shows Switzerland's direct democracy requires men to vote to grant women's suffrage
  • B1920; Switzerland granted women's suffrage immediately after WWI
  • C1848; women were included from the founding of the modern Swiss state
  • D1990; this made Switzerland the first country to grant women's suffrage
Correct answer
1971; it shows Switzerland's direct democracy requires men to vote to grant women's suffrage
Explanation
Women gained federal voting rights in 1971, making Switzerland one of the last Western democracies to grant women's suffrage. This late date is directly related to Switzerland's system of direct democracy—only men could vote, and men had to vote to give women the vote. Some cantons granted women's suffrage earlier, and the last canton (Appenzell Innerrhoden) was forced to do so in 1990 by the Federal Supreme Court.

Source: Swiss political history

04Medium

A colleague from Portugal asks: 'I've lived in Switzerland for 15 years. Can I maintain my Portuguese citizenship if I become Swiss?' What do you tell them?

  • AYes, Switzerland has allowed dual citizenship since 1992
  • BOnly if Portugal allows dual citizenship; Switzerland does not
  • CYes, but only for EU citizens, not for non-EU citizens
  • DNo, you must renounce your Portuguese citizenship to become Swiss
Correct answer
Yes, Switzerland has allowed dual citizenship since 1992
Explanation
Switzerland has allowed dual citizenship without restrictions since 1992, following a popular vote. Before 1992, Swiss citizens who acquired another citizenship generally lost their Swiss citizenship, and foreigners who wanted to become Swiss often had to renounce their original citizenship. Now both are possible. In 2020, 19% of the permanent resident population aged 15 and over held more than one nationality. This change particularly benefits Switzerland's large foreign population, which made up about 27% of permanent residents at the end of 2024.

Source: Federal Constitution Article 37

05Hard

Your neighbor asks: 'I heard that in Switzerland, men and women are constitutionally equal. Does this mean they have the same rights in practice?' How do you respond?

  • AMen and women have had exactly the same rights in all areas since 1848
  • BWomen still do not have the right to vote in some cantons
  • CThe Constitution guarantees equality, but full equality in practice is still being achieved
  • DEquality is only guaranteed in employment, not in other areas of life
Correct answer
The Constitution guarantees equality, but full equality in practice is still being achieved
Explanation
The Federal Constitution (Article 8) explicitly mandates equality between men and women, and laws and regulations must ensure equal rights in practice. However, despite this constitutional guarantee and women gaining federal voting rights in 1971, gaps remain. Women hold about 39% of the seats in the National Council and about 35% in the Council of States, while making up half the population. Across the economy women earn on average about 16% less than men, and roughly half of that gap cannot be explained by measurable factors such as education, experience or job profile. Women also do more unpaid household work. The constitutional provision is the legal foundation for continued efforts to achieve full equality.

Source: Federal Constitution Article 8

All lessons in this chapter

All lessons in this chapter

Full access in Premium — every lesson, every question, with progress tracking.

  1. 01

    Rights and Citizenship

    22 minFull access

  2. 02

    Military Service and Civil Defense

    20 minFull access

  3. 03

    Legal System and Courts

    22 minFull access

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