St. Gallen Naturalization Test flashcards
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- Federal Assembly
- Switzerland's bicameral parliament: National Council (200 seats, proportional) and Council of States (46 seats, 2 per canton, 1 per half-canton). It elects the Federal Council.
- Popular initiative
- A direct-democracy instrument requiring 100,000 valid signatures within 18 months to propose an amendment to the Federal Constitution, followed by a mandatory referendum with double majority.
- Double majority
- The requirement that a constitutional referendum pass both by a majority of the popular vote and by a majority of the cantons, with half-cantons counting as half.
- Magic formula
- The informal power-sharing arrangement allocating the seven Federal Council seats among major parties; since 2003: 2 SVP, 2 SP, 2 FDP, 1 Mitte.
- Federal Council
- Switzerland's seven-member collegial executive, elected by the United Federal Assembly for four years; the presidency rotates annually among its members.
- Referendum
- A vote on a new federal law triggered by 50,000 signatures within 100 days or by eight cantons; a simple majority of the popular vote decides.
- Residual competence
- The constitutional principle (Art. 3 BV) that powers not expressly granted to the Confederation remain with the cantons, the foundation of Swiss federalism.
- Kantonsrat St. Gallen
- The cantonal parliament of St. Gallen, with 120 members elected for four years by proportional representation in the eight constituencies.
- Regierung St. Gallen
- The seven-member cantonal government of St. Gallen, elected by majority vote for four years and chaired by a rotating Regierungspräsident.
- Konkordat
- An intercantonal treaty regulating shared matters such as education, hospitals or police cooperation; concordats bind only the cantons that ratify them.
- Politische Gemeinde
- The municipal level of government in Switzerland, created by cantonal law, with its own council or assembly and responsibilities for local services.
- Ringelspitz
- The highest mountain in the canton of St. Gallen at 3,247 metres, located in the Glarus Alps near the border with Graubünden.
- Säntis
- The most prominent peak in northeastern Switzerland at 2,502 metres, shared by St. Gallen, Appenzell Innerrhoden and Appenzell Ausserrhoden.
- Wahlkreise St. Gallen
- The eight constituencies of the canton: St. Gallen, Rorschach, Rheintal, Werdenberg, Sarganserland, See-Gaster, Toggenburg and Wil; used for parliament elections.
- Bodensee
- Lake Constance, Central Europe's third-largest lake, bordering Switzerland, Germany and Austria; the St. Gallen shore includes Rorschach and Horn.
- Alpine Rhine
- The section of the Rhine forming St. Gallen's eastern border with Liechtenstein and Austria, flowing through the Rheintal valley toward the lake.
- Abbey of St. Gallen
- A former Benedictine monastery founded around 612 by the Irish monk Gallus; its precinct and library are a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
- Vadian
- Joachim von Watt, humanist mayor of St. Gallen who led the Reformation in the city during the 1520s and promoted education and medicine.
- Stickerei
- The embroidery industry that made St. Gallen wealthy in the 19th and early 20th centuries, exporting textiles worldwide; it shaped the city's architecture.
- Mediationsakte 1803
- Napoleon's Act of Mediation created the canton of St. Gallen by merging the city with the former abbey territories and subject lands.
- Erker
- The oriel windows projecting from facades in St. Gallen's old town, a distinctive architectural feature of the city's historic streetscape.
- Jus sanguinis
- Swiss citizenship is primarily acquired by descent from a Swiss parent, regardless of birthplace; naturalisation is the alternative route.
- BüG
- The federal Citizenship Act (Bürgerrechtsgesetz) setting minimum naturalisation requirements: ten years' residence, C permit, integration and respect for the legal order.
- ZGB
- The Swiss Civil Code, governing persons, family, inheritance and property law; it applies uniformly across Switzerland alongside the Code of Obligations.
- Anmeldung
- The mandatory registration at the municipal residents' office within 14 days of moving, required for tax, insurance and residence permit purposes.
- KVG
- The Federal Health Insurance Act making basic health insurance compulsory; insurers must accept all applicants and premiums are community-rated.
- AHV
- Switzerland's first-pillar old-age and survivors' insurance, financed by payroll contributions and VAT; retirement age is 65 for men and 64 for women, rising to 65.
- BVG
- The second pillar of the Swiss pension system: mandatory occupational pension for employees earning above the coordination threshold, funded by employer and employee contributions.
- ALV
- Unemployment insurance paying 70-80% of insured earnings; requires at least 12 months of contributions in the previous two years and registration with the RAV.
- Prämienverbilligung
- A subsidy reducing compulsory health insurance premiums for low- and middle-income households, administered by the canton of residence.
- Grüezi
- The standard formal Swiss German greeting used with strangers, elders and in shops; 'Grüezi mitenand' addresses a group.
- Znüni
- The mid-morning snack eaten around 9 a.m. in Swiss workplaces and schools, typically consisting of fruit, bread or yoghurt.