Constitutional Law in Switzerland: Edition 2

Alexander Misic · Nicole Töpperwien

Jun 2018 · Kluwer Law International B.V.

About this ebook

Derived from the renowned multi-volume International Encyclopaedia of Laws, this very useful analysis of constitutional law in Switzerland provides essential information on the country’s sources of constitutional law, its form of government, and its administrative structure. Lawyers who handle transnational matters will appreciate the clarifications of particular terminology and its application. Throughout the book, the treatment emphasizes the specific points at which constitutional law affects the interpretation of legal rules and procedure.

Thorough coverage by a local expert fully describes the political system, the historical background, the role of treaties, legislation, jurisprudence, and administrative regulations. The discussion of the form and structure of government outlines its legal status, the jurisdiction and workings of the central state organs, the subdivisions of the state, its decentralized authorities, and concepts of citizenship. Special issues include the legal position of aliens, foreign relations, taxing and spending powers, emergency laws, the power of the military, and the constitutional relationship between church and state. Details are presented in such a way that readers who are unfamiliar with specific terms and concepts in varying contexts will fully grasp their meaning and significance.

Its succinct yet scholarly nature, as well as the practical quality of the information it provides, make this book a valuable time-saving tool for both practising and academic jurists. Lawyers representing parties with interests in Switzerland will welcome this guide, and academics and researchers will appreciate its value in the study of comparative constitutional law.

Ratings and reviews

AAA

About the author

Alexander Misic studied law at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) and the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium). He received a master's degree (LLM) from Cornell Law School (USA) and a doctorate degree (Dr.iur., PhD) from the University of Zurich. He is currently working as a lawyer at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. In his previous position as a registrar (Gerichtsschreiber) at the Swiss Federal Supreme Court he predominantly dealt with cases regarding constitutional, administrative and criminal law. Before, he was an assistant lawyer at the European Court of Human Rights and a registrar at the Swiss Federal Administrative Court in St. Gallen (with main focus on mutual administrative assistance in tax matters between the USA and Switzerland; task force 'UBS cases'). He publishes in the fields of constitutional litigation, human rights, criminal procedure, administrative law and federalism. Nicole Töpperwien studied law at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland), she received a master's degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (New York, USA) and a doctorate (Dr.iur.) from the University of Fribourg. As a co-founder of a Swiss consultancy company, she provides expertise on constitution-making and a range of power-sharing issues, including federalism, decentralization and the inclusion of nonmajority groups, with a focus on conflict affected contexts. She regularly supports constitution-making and legislative processes, conducts political analysis, assessments and evaluations, organizes governance study-visits to Switzerland and provides trainings and policy-oriented research. From March 2012 to March 2013 she served as Senior Power-sharing Expert in the Standby team of Mediation Experts for the Mediation Support Unit, Department of Political Affairs of the UN.