Zurich The
canton of Zurich is divided into 162
municipalities. Under cantonal law, municipal executive authority is exercised by a body known as the
Gemeindevorstand (municipal committee). Municipalities may assign it a different name in their
Gemeindeordnung (municipal regulations), commonly
Gemeinderat in municipalities with a municipal assembly and
Stadtrat in those with a municipal parliament, such as the city of
Zurich. The
Gemeindevorstand consists of at least five members, with the exact number determined by each municipality’s regulations. It is the highest municipal authority, represents the municipality externally,
Bern The
canton of Bern is divided into 342
municipalities. Under cantonal law, municipal executive authority is exercised by the municipal council (
Gemeinderat). Municipal regulations determine the number of council members, subject to a minimum of three. The council is chaired by the head of the municipality, commonly referred to as the mayor or president (
Stadtpräsident or
Stapi). In the city of Bern, members of the municipal executive are subject to a term-limit rule that prevents re-election after twelve consecutive years of service. In several French-speaking municipalities of the canton of Bern, particularly in the
Bernese Jura and the
Biel/Bienne–Seeland administrative district, the municipal council is designated as the Conseil municipal. This terminology is used in municipalities such as
Biel/Bienne,
La Neuveville,
Moutier, and
Saint-Imier.
Lucerne The
canton of Lucerne is divided into 82
municipalities. Under cantonal law, municipalities are governed by a
Gemeinderat (municipal council), which serves as the executive authority, although municipalities may assign it a different designation in their
Gemeindeordnung. The
Gemeinderat consists of at least three members, with the exact number determined at the municipal level. Its members are elected for four-year terms and assume office on 1 September. The
Gemeinderat exercises
subsidiary authority, performing municipal functions not assigned to other bodies. Its meetings are not open to the public. In the city of
Lucerne, executive authority is exercised by a
Stadtrat, composed of five members; the same designation is used in
Kriens, while Horw retains the title
Gemeinderat.
Uri The
canton of Uri is divided into 20
municipalities. Under cantonal law, each municipality is governed by a
Gemeinderat (municipal council). The council consists of at least five members, including the president, with the exact number specified in the municipality’s
Gemeindeordnung. The length of members’ terms is determined by municipal law. The
Gemeinderat oversees the municipal administration, organizes municipal assemblies, and represents the municipality externally.
Schwyz The
canton of Schwyz is divided into 30
municipalities. Under cantonal law, municipal authority is exercised by a
Gemeinderat (municipal council). The
Gemeinderat consists of the president of the municipality, the
Säckelmeister (treasurer or director of finance), and three to seven additional members. Members are elected by majority vote. Terms of office are four years for regular members and two years for the president and
Säckelmeister, with half of the council elected every two years. The Gemeinderat exercises
subsidiary authority, performing functions not assigned to other municipal bodies.
Obwalden The
canton of Obwalden is divided into seven
municipalities. The cantonal constitution establishes the legal framework for municipal governance, as there is no separate municipal law. Each municipality is governed by a
Gemeinderat (municipal council), with members elected for four-year terms.
Nidwalden In the
canton of Nidwalden,
municipalities with an ordinary organization (
ordentliche Organisation) have an executive body called the
administrativer Rat (administrative council). For organized municipalities, the executive is designated as the
Gemeinderat (municipal council). In both cases, the executive consists of three to eleven members, with the exact number determined by municipal regulations. Members are elected for four-year terms, either by the municipal assembly (open assembly) or by secret ballot, using
majority vote or
proportional representation as provided The executive exercises
subsidiary authority, performing functions not assigned to other municipal bodies.
Glarus The
canton of Glarus is divided into three municipalities:
Glarus,
Glarus Nord, and
Glarus Süd. Under cantonal law, each municipality is governed by a
Vorsteherschaft (presidency), composed of the president and at least four members, with the length of their terms determined by municipal law. The
Vorsteherschaft functions as a
collegial body. In all three municipalities, the executive is referred to as the
Gemeinderat (municipal council) and consists of seven members elected for four-year terms.
Zug The
canton of Zug is divided into eleven municipalities. Under cantonal law, the municipal executive is called the
Gemeinderat (municipal council) and normally consists of five members, with the municipal secretary (
Gemeindeschreiber) holding an advisory vote. Municipal regulations may provide for an increase in membership to seven. The
Gemeinderat exercises
subsidiary authority, represents the municipality externally, and is chaired by the president.
Fribourg The
canton of Fribourg is divided into 133 municipalities. Under cantonal law, the municipal executive is called the conseil communal (municipal council,
Gemeinderat in German) and is responsible for directing and administering the municipality. The council is headed by the syndic. Members of the municipal council are elected for five-year terms, concurrently with the (the legislative body) during general elections. The municipal council exercises
subsidiary authority. although municipalities may establish a different composition: For municipalities required to have a municipal parliament, the number of councilors is determined according to cantonal regulations:
Solothurn The
canton of Solothurn is divided into 109 municipalities. Under cantonal law, the municipal executive is called the
Gemeinderat (municipal council) and consists of at least three members. Members are generally elected by proportional representation, although municipal law may provide for majority elections under an extraordinary organizational framework (
ausserordentliche Organisation). In the cantonal capital,
Solothurn, which does not have a municipal parliament, the Gemeinderat comprises 30 members elected for four-year terms.
Olten, the most populous city in the canton and equipped with a municipal parliament, has an executive called the
Stadtrat, composed of five members.
Grenchen, the second most populous city, has a
Gemeinderat of fifteen members.
Basel-Stadt The
canton of Basel-Stadt is divided into three municipalities:
Basel,
Riehen, and
Bettingen. The municipality of Basel is administered directly by the cantonal authorities, and its executive is the
Regierungsrat (executive council) of Basel-Stadt, composed of seven members elected every four years. In Riehen and Bettingen, the executive is called the
Gemeinderat (municipal council) and must include at least three members, including the president. The Gemeinderat of Riehen comprises seven members, while that of Bettingen comprises five members.
Basel-Landschaft The
canton of Basel-Landschaft is divided into 86 municipalities. Under cantonal law, the municipal executive is called the
Gemeinderat (municipal council). Its number of members is determined by municipal law, with a minimum of three. Members are elected for four-year terms and take office on 1 June. The
Gemeinderat is supervised by the cantonal government (
Regierungsrat), represents the municipality externally, and exercises certain penal powers under municipal law. In the cantonal capital,
Liestal, the executive is called the
Stadtrat (city council) and is composed of five members.
Schaffhausen Town Hall, seat of the municipal authorities. The
canton of Schaffhausen is divided into 26 municipalities. Cantonal law provides that the executive of a municipality is called the
Gemeinderat (municipal council), except in
Schaffhausen and
Stein am Rhein, where it is called the Stadtrat (city council). The number of members is determined by the municipal constitution (
Gemeindeverfassung), with a minimum of three and a maximum of seven. Municipal law establishes the length of the term of office. All municipal executives have five members, elected for four years. The executive represents the municipality externally and exercises subsidiary competence.
Appenzell Innerrhoden The
canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden is divided into districts (Bezirke) rather than political municipalities. Cantonal constitutional law provides that each district is governed by a district council (
Bezirksrat), composed of at least five members elected by the district assembly (
Bezirksgemeinde). District law determines the length of the council members’ terms of office.
Appenzell Ausserrhoden The
canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden is divided into 20 municipalities. Cantonal law provides that each municipal executive is called the
Gemeinderat (municipal council), composed of at least five members elected for a four-year term.
St. Gallen The
canton of St. Gallen is divided into 133 municipalities. Cantonal law provides that each municipal executive is called
Rat, more specifically
Gemeinderat (municipal council) or
Stadtrat (city council), and must be composed of at least three members with a four-year term of office. In the four most populous municipalities—St. Gallen (five members),
Rapperswil-Jona (seven members),
Wil (five members), and
Gossau (five members)—the executive is designated
Stadtrat.
Uzwil, the fifth most populous municipality, has a Gemeinderat composed of seven members.
Graubünden The
canton of Graubünden is divided into 105 municipalities. Cantonal law designates the municipal executive as
Gemeindevorstand (municipal committee) and requires it to have at least three members, elected for a four-year term. Municipal law may assign an alternative designation to the executive. The
Gemeindevorstand represents the municipality externally and is vested with subsidiary competence. In
Chur, the executive is called
Stadtrat (city council) and is composed of three members, while in
Davos it is called
Kleiner Stadtrat (small city council) and is composed of five members.
Aargau The
canton of Aargau is divided into 210 municipalities. Cantonal law distinguishes between municipalities with a municipal parliament and those without, but in both cases the municipal executive is called
Gemeinderat (municipal council). The
Gemeinderat consists of the
Gemeindeammann (president), the
Vizeammann (vice-president), and three, five, or seven additional members. Members serve four-year terms. The municipal executive is responsible for the administration and implementation of municipal decisions, represents the municipality externally, and is vested with subsidiary competence. It also performs certain functions within the framework of criminal procedure. In the cities of
Aarau,
Baden, and
Bremgarten, the municipal executive is called
Stadtrat (city council) and is composed of seven members.
Thurgau The
canton of Thurgau is divided into 80 municipalities. Cantonal law provides that the municipal executive is called
Gemeindebehörde (municipal authority). Municipal law determines the number of members, which must be at least five, and the length of their term, while the
Regierungsrat (cantonal government) sets the starting date of the term. In the cities of
Frauenfeld,
Kreuzlingen, and
Arbon, the municipal executive is called
Stadtrat (city council) and is composed of five members. In
Amriswil, the executive bears the same designation but consists of nine members.
Ticino , meeting place of the city council (on the first floor, at flag level). The
canton of Ticino is divided into 112 municipalities. Cantonal law provides that the municipal executive is called municipio. Members are elected for four years and take office by swearing fidelity to the Constitution and laws before the justice of the peace. A
municipio must have an odd number of members, not exceeding seven. Membership is incompatible with serving on the , holding a cantonal civil service position, or being a member of the judiciary. Relatives in the direct line may not serve on the same
municipio, except in municipalities with fewer than 300 inhabitants. The
municipio is chaired by the
sindaco (mayor), who represents the municipality externally. Cantonal law requires that the
municipio hold meetings in designated municipal premises rather than private spaces. Members of the
municipio (
municipali) are vested with local police powers and may, in that capacity, conduct searches of dwellings in accordance with federal administrative procedure.
Vaud City Hall, seat of the municipal authorities. The
canton of Vaud is divided into 309 municipalities. Cantonal law provides that the municipal executive is called the
municipalité. The municipalité is composed of three, five, seven, or nine members (municipaux), with the exact number determined by municipal law. Relatives in the direct line may not serve on the same municipalité. Members are elected for five years and take office after swearing an oath to the Federal Constitution and the cantonal Constitution of Vaud. The body functions
collegially who holds specific powers related to the preservation of evidence in .
Valais The
canton of Valais is divided into 122 municipalities. Cantonal law provides that the municipal executive is called conseil communal or conseil municipal, with conseil communal generally used in smaller municipalities and conseil municipal in larger ones, such as
Sion or
Monthey. The executive is composed of an odd number of members, ranging from three to fifteen, and is headed by the president of the municipality. Members are elected for a four-year term.
Neuchâtel City Hall, seat of the municipal authorities. The
canton of Neuchâtel is divided into 31 municipalities. Cantonal law provides that the municipal executive is called conseil communal and is composed of three, five, or seven members, with the exact number and method of election determined by municipal law. The conseil communal represents the municipality externally, including in legal proceedings, It is headed by the president of the conseil communal, who is often referred to as the president of the municipality. Cantonal law establishes a procedure for the dismissal of a municipal councillor by the conseil général for “just cause,” such as a conviction for a
criminal offence incompatible with the exercise of municipal office. This procedure may also apply to the entire conseil communal, in which case it is referred to as the dissolution of the conseil communal.
Geneva The
canton of Geneva is divided into 45 municipalities. Until 2025, cantonal law provided that the executive of municipalities with more than 3,000 inhabitants was called the conseil administratif (administrative council), while municipalities with fewer than 3,000 inhabitants—24 of the 45 municipalities at the end of 2021—were administered by a mayor and two deputies. Following an amendment to the Constitution approved by popular vote on 28 November 2021, all municipalities are now governed by an administrative council. This council is composed of three members in most municipalities and five members in municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants, by a two-round majority vote, with the first round held concurrently with the election of the . The number of members of the executive is determined by a decree of the
Council of State based on the municipality's population. The administrative council assigns departmental responsibilities among its members and annually appoints a president, titled mayor, and a vice-president, with their term beginning on 1 June. Representation of the municipality is exercised by the administrative council or the mayor. The council submits candidates for the position of civil registrar to the Council of State. Members of the administrative council may be removed by the Council of State for health reasons.
Jura The
canton of Jura is divided into 53 municipalities. Cantonal law provides that the municipal executive is called the conseil communal (municipal council). The number of councillors is determined by municipal law, with a minimum of three in municipalities with fewer than 50 eligible voters and at least five in larger municipalities. Councillors are elected for five-year terms. The municipal council represents the municipality externally and has the authority to initiate and conduct legal proceedings. Municipal law may establish additional rules regarding incompatibilities, and relatives in the direct line may not serve on the same council. == See also ==