Switzerland's History 8

Administrative divisions 

The Swiss Confederation consists of 26 cantos

Canton		Capital	Canton		Capital
	Aargau	Aarau		*Nidwalden	Stans
	*Appenzell Ausserrhoden	Herisau		*Obwalden	Sarnen
	*Appenzell Innerrhoden	Appenzell		Schaffhausen	Schaffhausen
	*Basel-Landschaft	Liestal		Schwyz	Schwyz
	*Basel-Stadt	Basel		Solothurn	Solothurn
	Bern	Bern		St. Gallen	St. Gallen
	Fribourg	Fribourg		Thurgau	Frauenfeld
	Geneva	Geneva		Ticino	Bellinzona
	Glarus	Glarus		Uri	Altdorf
	Graubünden	Chur		Valais	Sion
	Jura	Delémont		Vaud	Lausanne
	Lucerne	Lucerne		Zug	Zug
	Neuchâtel	Neuchâtel		Zurich	Zurich

The constitutional status and solid chantún, compared with the situation in other countries, a high level of independence. Under the Federal Constitution, all 26 chantún equal in status. Each canton has its own constitution and parliament, the government and the courts themselves.However, there are significant differences between the chantún, especially in terms of population and geographical area. Change their populations between 15,000 (Appenzell Innerrhoden) and 1,253,500 (Zürich), and their area of ​​37 km2 (14 square miles) (Basel-Stadt) and 7105 km2 (2743 square miles) (Graubünden). Chantún comprises a total of 2,485 municipalities. In Switzerland there are two enclaves: Büsingen applies to Germany, Campione d'Italia relates to Italy .

Cast in a referendum in support of the Austrian province of Vorarlberg 11 May 1919 more than 80% of the votes a proposal that the state should join in Switzerland. This was prevented, however, by the opposition of the Austrian Government, the Allies, Swiss liberals not, German-speaking Switzerland. 
 
Foreign relations and international institutionsTraditionally, Switzerland to avoid alliances that could lead to military, political, economic or direct efforts and was eventually extended neutral in 1515. A policy of neutrality was internationally recognized by the Congress of Vienna in 1815.only in 2002, Switzerland becomes a full member of the United Nations and it was the first state to participate in the referendum. Switzerland maintains diplomatic relations with almost all countries and historically has acted as mediator between the other states Switzerland is not a member of the European Union. These people have consistently rejected Swiss membership since the early 1990s.The number of international institutions to their seats unusual in Switzerland, in part because of its neutrality policy. Geneva is the birthplace of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the Geneva Conventions, and since 2006, the United Nations Human hosts. Although Switzerland is one of the last countries that acceded to the UN Palace of Nations in Geneva the second largest center for the United Nations after New York and Switzerland was one of Founders and home to the League of Nations.