 |
This article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject. (February 2013) |
In contrast to centrally organised states, in the federally constituted Switzerland each canton is completely free to decide its own internal organisation. Therefore there exists a variety of structures and terminology for the subnational entities between canton and municipality, loosely termed districts (i.e. Urban Administration Districts).
Most Cantons are divided into Bezirke (German for districts, singular Berzirk). They are also termed Ämter (Lucerne, singular Amt), Amtsbezirke (Bern, Amtsbezirk), district (in French) or distretto (Ticino and part of Graubünden). The Bezirke generally provide only administration and court organization. However, for historical reasons districts in cantons Graubünden and Schwyz are their own legal entities with jurisdiction over tax and often have their own Landsgemeinde.
Eight of the 26 cantons – Uri, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Glarus, Zug, Appenzell Innerrhoden[inconsistent], Basel-City and Geneva – have always existed without the district level of government.
A number of further cantons have dispensed with the district level recently, Appenzell Ausserrhoden in 1995, Schaffhausen in 1999, St Gallen in 2003 and Lucerne in 2007.
A number of further cantons are considering (or have already decided) an abolition of the district level in the future: Schwyz in 2006 voted on its abolition, but voted in favour of keeping the division. Bern in 2006 decided a reduction of its 26 districts to five administrative regions. Vaud decided a reduction from 19 to 10 districts. Valais is planning a similar reduction and in Thurgau, a reduction of eight to four districts is under discussion.
Contents |
Zurich [edit]
The Canton of Zürich is divided into 12 districts (German: Bezirke):
- Affoltern with capital Affoltern am Albis
- Andelfingen with capital Andelfingen
- Bülach with capital Bülach
- Dielsdorf with capital Dielsdorf
- Dietikon with capital Dietikon
- Hinwil with capital Hinwil
- Horgen with capital Horgen
- Meilen with capital Meilen
- Pfäffikon with capital Pfäffikon
- Uster with capital Uster
- Winterthur with capital Winterthur
- Zürich comprises the city of Zürich
Bern [edit]
The Canton of Bern is divided in five regions: Berner Jura, Seeland (with two subregions, Biel/Bienne and Seeland), Bern-Mittelland, Oberland (with subregions Thun, Obersimmental-Saanen, Frutigen-Niedersimmental, Interlaken-Oberhasli) and Emmental-Oberaargau (with two subregions, Emmental and Oberaargau) The current division has taken effect on 1 January 2010, based on a 2006 decision to abolish the former system of districts.
On 1 January 2010, the 26 administrative districts (Amtsbezirke) were combined into 10 new administrative districts (Verwaltungskreise):[1]
- Bern-Mittelland with capital Ostermundigen, made up of all or part of the former districts of Bern, Fraubrunnen, Konolfingen, Laupen, Schwarzenburg and Seftigen
- Biel/Bienne with capital Biel/Bienne, made up of all of the former district of Biel and about half of the former district of Nidau
- Emmental with capital Langnau im Emmental, made up of all or part of the former districts of Burgdorf, Signau and Trachselwald
- Frutigen-Niedersimmental with capital Frutigen, made up of all or part of the former districts of Frutigen and Niedersimmental
- Interlaken-Oberhasli with capital Interlaken, made up of all or part of the former districts of Interlaken and Oberhasli
- Jura bernois with capital Courtelary, made up of all or part of the former districts of Courtelary, Moutier and La Neuveville
- Oberaargau with capital Wangen an der Aare, made up of all or part of the former districts of Aarwangen and Wangen
- Obersimmental-Saanen with capital Saanen, made up of all of the former districts of Obersimmental and Saanen
- Seeland with capital Aarberg, made up of all or part of the former districts of Aarberg, Büren, Erlach and Nidau
- Thun with capital Thun, made up of all of the former administrative district of Thun
Lucerne [edit]
The Canton of Lucerne used to be divided into 5 Ämter:
- Entlebuch with capital Schüpfheim
- Hochdorf with capital Hochdorf
- Luzern with capital Luzern
- Sursee with capital Sursee
- Willisau with capital Willisau
These were abolished with the new cantonal constitution of 2007, although they will continue to be used as electoral districts.
Schwyz [edit]
The Canton of Schwyz is divided into 6 districts:
- Einsiedeln including only the municipality of the same name
- Gersau including only the municipality of the same name
- Höfe with capital alternating between Wollerau and the village of Pfäffikon
- Küssnacht including only the municipality of the same name
- March with capital Lachen
- Schwyz with capital Schwyz
Fribourg [edit]
The Canton of Fribourg is divided into 7 districts:
- Broye with capital Estavayer-le-Lac
- Glâne with capital Romont
- Gruyère with capital Bulle
- Saane with capital Fribourg
- See with capital Murten
- Sense with capital Tafers
- Veveyse with capital Châtel-Saint-Denis
Solothurn [edit]
From 2005, Solothurn's ten districts are merged pairwise into five electoral districts, termed Amtei. From 2005, districts only have a statistical meaning.
- Bucheggberg, Amtei Wasseramt-Bucheggberg
- Dorneck, Amtei Dorneck-Thierstein (unofficially Schwarzbubenland)
- Gäu, Amtei Thal-Gäu
- Gösgen, Amtei Olten-Gösgen (unofficially Niederamt)
- Lebern, Amtei Solothurn-Lebern
- Olten, Amtei Olten-Gösgen
- Solothurn, Amtei Solothurn-Lebern
- Thal, Amtei Thal-Gäu
- Thierstein, Amtei Dorneck-Thierstein
- Wasseramt, Amtei Wasseramt-Bucheggberg
Basel-Landschaft [edit]
Basel-Landschaft is divided into 5 districts:
- Arlesheim with capital Arlesheim
- Laufen with capital Laufen
- Liestal with capital Liestal
- Sissach with capital Sissach
- Waldenburg with capital Waldenburg
Appenzell Innerrhoden [edit]
In Appenzell Innerrhoden districts are the lowest administrative division[inconsistent]: the canton is not subdivided in municipalities. Because of that, for firefighting, energy and water, the town Appenzell has a special-purpose municipality, the Feuerschaugemeinde.
The Canton is divided into 6 districts:[inconsistent]
St. Gallen [edit]
The canton abolished the district level in 2003, but it remains divided into eight constituencies (Wahlkreise) without administrative significance:
- Rheintal with capital Altstätten
- Rorschach with capital Rorschach
- Sarganserland with capital Sargans
- See-Gaster with capital Rapperswil-Jona
- St. Gallen with capital St. Gallen
- Toggenburg with capital Lichtensteig
- Werdenberg with capital Buchs
- Wil with capital Wil
Graubünden [edit]
Graubünden is divided into 11 districts:
- Albula with capital Tiefencastel
- Bernina with capital Poschiavo
- Hinterrhein with capital Thusis
- Imboden with capital Domat/Ems
- Inn with capital Scuol
- Landquart with capital Landquart
- Maloja with capital Samedan
- Moesa with capital Roveredo
- Plessur with capital Chur
- Prättigau/Davos with capital Davos
- Surselva with capital Ilanz
Aargau [edit]
Aargau is divided into 11 districts:
- Aarau with capital Aarau
- Baden with capital Baden
- Bremgarten with capital Bremgarten
- Brugg with capital Brugg
- Kulm with capital Unterkulm
- Laufenburg with capital Laufenburg
- Lenzburg with capital Lenzburg
- Muri with capital Muri
- Rheinfelden with capital Rheinfelden
- Zofingen with capital Zofingen
- Zurzach with capital Zurzach
Thurgau [edit]
Thurgau is divided into five districts, and each is named after its capital:
- Arbon with capital Arbon
- Frauenfeld with capital Frauenfeld
- Kreuzlingen with capital Kreuzlingen
- Münchwilen with capital Münchwilen
- Weinfelden with capital Weinfelden
Ticino [edit]
Ticino is divided into 8 districts:
- Bellinzona with capital Bellinzona
- Blenio with capital Acquarossa
- Leventina with capital Faido
- Locarno with capital Locarno
- Lugano with capital Lugano
- Mendrisio with capital Mendrisio
- Riviera with capital Biasca
- Vallemaggia with capital Cevio
Vaud [edit]
Vaud is divided into 10 districts:
- Aigle with capital Aigle
- Broye-Vully with capital Payerne
- Gros-de-Vaud with capital Echallens
- Jura-North Vaudois with capital Yverdon-les-Bains
- Lausanne with capital Lausanne
- Lavaux-Oron with capital Cully
- Morges with capital Morges
- Nyon with capital Nyon
- Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut with capital Vevey
- Ouest Lausannois with capital Renens
Valais [edit]
Valais is divided into 13 districts:
- Brig with capital Brig-Glis
- Conthey with capital Conthey
- Entremont with capital Sembrancher
- Goms with capital Münster-Geschinen
- Hérens with capital Evolène
- Leuk with capital Leuk
- Martigny with capital Martigny
- Monthey with capital Monthey
- Saint-Maurice with capital Saint-Maurice
- Sierre with capital Sierre
- Sion with capital Sion
- Visp with capital Visp
District Raron is divided into:
- Östlich Raron with capital Mörel-Filet
- Westlich Raron with capital Raron
Neuchâtel [edit]
The Canton of Neuchâtel is divided into 6 districts:
- Boudry with capital Boudry
- La Chaux-de-Fonds with capital La Chaux-de-Fonds
- Le Locle with capital Le Locle
- Neuchâtel with capital Neuchâtel
- Val-de-Ruz with capital Cernier
- Val-de-Travers with capital Val-de-Travers
Jura [edit]
The Canton of Jura is divided into 3 districts:
- Delémont with capital Delémont
- Porrentruy with capital Porrentruy
- Franches-Montagnes with capital Saignelégier
References [edit]
- ^ Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz, Mutationsmeldungen 2009 / Répertoire officiel des communes de Suisse, Mutations 2009 / Elenco ufficiale dei Comuni della Svizzera, Mutazione 2009 (Report). Federal Statistical Office. 2009. nden. http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/nomenklaturen/blank/blank/gem_liste/03.Document.128095.pdf. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
|
|
||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Here you can share your comments or contribute with more information, content, resources or links about this topic.