switzerland

=Switzerland= By Anita Lim

__Fast facts__
Size: 39, 770 km² Currency: Swiss franc (CHF) Population: 7, 554, 661 Head of country: President Micheline Calmy-rey Capital City: Bern Official languages: German 63.7% and French 20.4%.

__Location__
Switzerland is located in the Northern Hemisphere of the globe. It is in the central reigion of Europe and is situated between Germany, Austria, France and Italy.

__Geographical Features__
Switzerland has an area of 39,770 sq km and a borderline of 1,852 km. The capital city, Bern, is located at the point 46 57 N, 7 26 E. highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m

__Climate__
temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers. Its natural hazards are avalanches, land slides and flash floods. Environmental issues include air pollution from vehicle emissions, open-air burning, acid rain, water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers and loss of biodiversity.

__Economy__
The unemployment rate is 3.3%. The budget for spending money on imports last year was $139.1 billion. Natural resources are timber and salt.

__Government__
The conventional long form of Switzerland is the Swiss Confederation. The founding of the Swiss federation was the 1st August 1291. Voting is universal and the suffrage age to vote is 18 years of age. The chief of state is President Micheline Calmy-Rey, of which who has been president since 1 January 2007. The Vice president is, Vice President Pascal Couchepin, who has been in this position since the 1 January 2007. The president is both the chief of state and head of government. In the Cabinet there is the Federal Council. The cabinet members are elected by the Federal Assembly usually from its members to recieve a four-year term in the job. The president and vice president are elected by the Federal Assembly to receive a one-year term (They are not allowed to serve more than one term in a row). These posistions are all in the Executive branch The legislative branch is bicameral. The Federal Assembly consists of the Council of States which has 46 seats membership has 2 representatives from each canton (state) to serve four-year terms. The National Council has 200 seats, the members are elected by the people voting to serve four-year terms. Last is the Judicial branch. In this branch is the Federal Supreme Court. These judges are elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly.