Switzerland 1999 Constitution (reviewed 2014)

Chapter 2. Citizenship and Political Rights

Article 37. Citizenship

1. Any person who is a citizen of a commune and of the Canton to which that commune belongs is a Swiss citizen.
2. No person may be given preferential treatment or suffer prejudice because of their citizenship. The foregoing does not apply to regulations on political rights in citizens’ communes and corporations or to participation in the assets thereof, unless cantonal legislation provides otherwise.

Article 38. Acquisition and deprivation of citizenship

1. The Confederation shall regulate the acquisition and deprivation of citizenship by birth, marriage or adoption. It shall also regulate the deprivation of Swiss citizenship on other grounds, together with the reinstatement of citizenship.
2. It shall legislate on the minimum requirements for the naturalisation of foreign nationals by the Cantons and grant naturalisation permits.
3. It shall enact simplified regulations on the naturalisation of stateless children.

Article 39. Exercise of political rights

1. The Confederation shall regulate the exercise of political rights in federal matters, and the Cantons shall regulate their exercise at cantonal and communal matters.
2. Political rights are exercised in the commune in which a citizen resides, although the Confederation and the Cantons may provide for exceptions.
3. No person may exercise their political rights contemporaneously in more than one Canton.
4. A Canton may provide that a person newly registered as a resident may exercise the right to vote in cantonal and communal matters only after a waiting period of a maximum of three months of permanent settlement.

Article 40. The Swiss abroad

1. The Confederation shall encourage relations among the Swiss abroad and their relations with Switzerland. It may support organisations that pursue this objective.
2. It shall legislate on the rights and obligations of the Swiss abroad, in particular in relation to the exercise of political rights in the Confederation, the fulfilment of the obligation to perform military or alternative service, welfare support and social security.

Chapter 3. Social Objectives

Article 41

1. The Confederation and the Cantons shall, as a complement to personal responsibility and private initiative, endeavour to ensure that:
   1. every person has access to social security;
   2. every person has access to the health care that they require;
   3. families are protected and encouraged as communities of adults and children;
   4. every person who is fit to work can earn their living by working under fair conditions;
   5. any person seeking accommodation for themselves and their family can find suitable accommodation on reasonable terms;
   6. children and young people as well as persons of employable age can obtain an education and undergo basic and advanced training in accordance with their abilities;
   7. children and young people are encouraged to develop into independent and socially responsible people and are supported in their social, cultural and political integration.
2. The Confederation and Cantons shall endeavour to ensure that every person is protected against the economic consequences of old-age, invalidity, illness, accident, unemployment, maternity, being orphaned and being widowed.
3. They shall endeavour to achieve these social objectives within the scope of their constitutional powers and the resources available to them.
4. No direct right to state benefits may be established on the basis of these social objectives.