Preamble and Title 1 of the Swiss Federal Constitution
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 This article is part of the series: |
| Text of the Constitution |
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Preamble and Title 1 General Provisions |
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Title 2 Fundamental Rights, Citizenship and Social Goals |
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Title 3 Confederation, Cantons and Communes |
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Title 4 The People and The Cantons |
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Title 5 Federal Authorities |
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Title 6 Revision of the Federal Constitution and Transitional Provisions |
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This article is part of the series:
Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation of 18 April 1999
The preamble and the first title of the Swiss Federal Constitution of 18 April 1999 determine the general outlines of Switzerland as a democratic federal republic of 26 cantons governed by the rule of law.
The preamble to the Constitution states, in full:
In the name of Almighty God!
The Swiss People and the Cantons,
mindful of their responsibility towards creation,
resolved to renew their alliance so as to strengthen liberty, democracy, independence and peace in a spirit of solidarity and openness towards the world,
determined to live together with mutual consideration and respect for their diversity,
conscious of their common achievements and their responsibility towards future generations,
and in the knowledge that only those who use their freedom remain free, and that the strength of a people is measured by the well-being of its weakest members;
adopt the following Constitution:
By opening with a solemn invocation of God, the preamble is in line with all preceding Swiss constitutional documents, back to the Federal Charter of 1291, except for the constitutions adopted under French sway in the time of the Helvetic Republic. Apart from continuing tradition, the invocatio dei is understood to be a reference to transcendental values underlying society, putting into perspective any claims to authority by the State – a merely human creation.
The preamble was authored by journalist Daniel S. Miéville, and inspired in part by a 1977 draft by writer Adolf Muschg. It is a symbolic summation of the will to and purpose of statehood, a declaration of intent by the popular Sovereign, an integrating avowal of the Swiss people's fundamental values, and a binding mandate to the State's authorities. It was among the most contested provisions in the course of the 1999 constitutional revision.
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