Swiss demicanton

The demicanton is a term which indicated six of the twenty-six Swiss Cantons. This term is not used any more today officially and administratively.

It is:

  1. Nidwald

  2. Obwald
  3. Appenzell Rhodos-Interior
  4. Appenzell Rhodos-External
  5. Basle-City
  6. Basle-Countryside

Unterwald

forever made up Unterwald a plain legal unit. Right from the start, Obwald ( the Top ), Nidwald ( Bottom ) and the Abbaye of Engelberg formed distinct communities.

With Uri and Schwytz, it belongs to the cantons which, in 1291, founded the Suisse. The federal Pacte was concluded by the representatives from the three primitive cantons: Uri, Schwytz and Nidwald.

Appenzell

The Canton of Appenzell separated in two demicantons in 1597 for religious reasons: Appenzell Rhodos-Interior (left catholic) and Appenzell Rhodos-External (left Protestant).

Basle

The Canton of Basle separated in two demicantons in 1833 for levelling reasons (fight between the peasants which claim more equality and the townsmen): Basle-Countryside and Basle-City.

The origin of the term

The constitution of 1848 of the new Federal state stipulates that the three original cantons (Unterwald, Appenzell and Basle) have each one right, like the other cantons, with two seats with the Conseil of the States which comprises 44 seats for the 22 cantons (the Canton of the Jura does not exist yet). As each of the six entities composing these three cantons are entitled to only one representative they are named demicanton .

The current location

The constitution of April 18th, 1999 removed the concept of demicanton. Although these six entities have always only one seat instead of two with the Council of the States and that they do not count that for half at the time of the federal Votation S they are currently regarded as canton .

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