Bills

Bill

Label Bill

Description

Bills are the main items of business (Geshäfte) in the parliament. The Parliament distinguishes between multiple different types of bill which is included in the node’s co-label.

Co-labels:Cantonal Initiative | Question Time | Postulate | Motion | Recommendation | Parliamentary Initiative | Small Request | Federal Council Dispatch | Interpellation | Question | Federal Council Report

Attributes

• identifier bill_number: string

  Each bill is assigned a number by the Parliament. this number is typically in the xy.abcd format where xy is the year of the bill and abcd follows the rules bellow: Federal Council Dispatches are from 001, Cantonal Initiatives from 300, Parliamentary Initiatives from 400, Petitions from 2000, Motions, Postulates, and Interpellations from 3000, Questions from 1000 and Question Times are numbered from 7000 (before 2021: from 5000).

• (optional) status: string

  Categorical: Resolved, Referred to the Federal Council, Depreciation request is pending, In the National Council’s Committee, Assigned to the responsible committee, In the Council of States Committee, Submitted, In both committees, Report in fulfillment of the motion is available, Referred to the Council Office, Deliberation in National Council’s Committee completed, Deliberation in Council of States Committee completed, Planned in the National Council, Referred to the AB-BA, Preliminary examination - in the Council of States Committee, Preliminary examination - in the National Council’s Committee, Rejected back to the Federal Council, Opinion on the motion is available, Planned in the Council of States

• (optional) title_de: string

  Title of the bill in German.

• (optional) title_fr: string

  Title of the bill in French.

• (optional) urgent: boolean

  Boolean flag indicating if the bill is urgent or not. Urgent bills are dealt with in the same Session.

Connected relations

Outgoing

• ABOUT to Tag

• CONTAINS to BillText

• CONTAINS to Debate

• CONTAINS to Enactment Draft

• CONTAINS to URL

• PROPOSED_TO to Department

• PUBLISHED_IN to Source

• RELATED_TO to Bill

• SUBMITTED_TO to Chamber

Incoming

• ACTING_AS from Person

• ASSIGNED_TO from Committee

• COSPONSORS from Person

• PROPOSED from Department

• REACTION_TO from Federal Response

• RELATED_TO from Bill

• SPONSORS from Canton

• SPONSORS from Committee

• SPONSORS from Parliamentary Group

• SPONSORS from Person

Constraints

• A Bill must contain the attributes ‘title_de’, ‘title_fr’, ‘status’. The attribute ‘status’ is categorical must be one of: ‘Resolved’, ‘Preliminary examination’, ‘Written off’, ‘Discussed in both chambers’, ‘Accepted’, ‘Passed to second council’, ‘Approved’, ‘Preliminary examination in both chambers complete’, ‘Not yet discussed’, ‘Submitted’, ‘Refered to committee’, ‘Discussed’, ‘Not yet discussed in committee’
• A bill must have exactly one type as a label additionally to the Bill label. The type is categorical and must be one of the following: Question Time Motion Cantonal Initiative Federal Council Dispatch Federal Council Report Recommendation Question Interpellation Parliamentary Initiative Question Interpellation Postulate Question
• All debates for a bill must have the correct order_stamp, a matching uid and must be correctly connected by a NEXT relation. Further two consecutive debates must take place in different chambers/committees. If the order and the time missmatch, the node must be labeled as a “Inconsistent Timestamp”.
• A Bill must follow a defined structure:
  • It must be connected to one and only one Chamber with exactly one SUBMITTED_TO relation
  • It can not be connected to a Committee with a COSPONSORS relation
  • It can not be connected to an External Entity with a SPONSORS relation
  • It can not be connected to an External Entity with a COSPONSORS relation

Visual Representation

Question Time

Label Question Time

Description

In Question time (Fragestunde), members of the National council ask the department heads for information on current matters. Question time was introduced in 1946 and abolished in 1962 until 1979 when it was reestablished again.

Co-labels:Small Request | Bill

Attributes

• identifier bill_number: string

  The parliament-assigned number for the question time. the number after the dot should start from 7000 (or 5000 before 2021).

• title_de: string

• (optional) status: string

  Categorical: Resolved

• (optional) title_fr: string

• (optional) urgent: boolean

Connected relations

Outgoing

• ABOUT to Tag

• CONTAINS to BillText

• CONTAINS to Debate

• PROPOSED_TO to Department

• PUBLISHED_IN to Source

• SUBMITTED_TO to Chamber

Incoming

• COSPONSORS from Person

• REACTION_TO from Federal Response

• SPONSORS from Person

Constraints

• Verifies that a Question Time contains no Media Summary and no Reasoning.
• A Question Time must follow a defined structure:
  • It can not be connected to an Enactment Draft with a CONTAINS relation
  • It must be connected to exactly one Person who is member in the Nationalrat with a SPONSORS relation
  • It can not be connected any node with a COSPONSORS relation
  • It can not be connected to a Department with a PROPOSED relation

Visual Representation

Question

Label Question

Description

Questions ([Einfache, Dringliche, Dringliche Einfache] Anfrage) are inquiries into important topics made by an MP, the majority of a Committee, or a Parliamentary Group. The Federal Council will provide a response by the next session (unless urgent).

Co-labels:Bill

Attributes

• identifier bill_number: string

  The parliament-assigned number for the question. the number after the dot should start from 1000.

• status: string

  Categorical: Resolved, Submitted, Opinion on the motion is available

• title_de: string

• title_fr: string

• urgent: boolean

Connected relations

Outgoing

• ABOUT to Tag

• CONTAINS to BillText

• CONTAINS to Debate

• PROPOSED_TO to Department

• RELATED_TO to Bill

• SUBMITTED_TO to Chamber

Incoming

• ACTING_AS from Person

• COSPONSORS from Person

• REACTION_TO from Federal Response

• RELATED_TO from Bill

• SPONSORS from Parliamentary Group

• SPONSORS from Person

Constraints

• Verifies that a Question contains no Media Summary.
• A Question must follow a defined structure:
  • It can not be connected to an Enactment Draft with a CONTAINS relation
  • It must be connected to exactly one of Person, Committee, Parliamentary Group with a SPONSORS relation, if multiple exist it must be transferred
  • It can not be connected to a Department with a PROPOSED relation

Visual Representation

Interpellation

Label Interpellation

Description

Interpellations are bills that an MP, the majority of a Committee, or a Parliamentary Group submit, which task the Federal Council to provide information on important domestic, foreign, and federal matters. Unless urgent, the Federal Council responds by the next session

Co-labels:Motion | Bill

Attributes

• identifier bill_number: string

  The parliament-assigned number for the interpellation. the number after the dot should start from 3000 which corresponds to interpellations among other types of bills.

• title_de: string

• (optional) status: string

  Categorical: Resolved, Opinion on the motion is available, Submitted

• (optional) title_fr: string

• (optional) urgent: boolean

Connected relations

Outgoing

• ABOUT to Tag

• CONTAINS to BillText

• CONTAINS to Debate

• CONTAINS to Enactment Draft

• CONTAINS to URL

• PROPOSED_TO to Department

• PUBLISHED_IN to Source

• RELATED_TO to Bill

• SUBMITTED_TO to Chamber

Incoming

• ACTING_AS from Person

• ASSIGNED_TO from Committee

• COSPONSORS from Person

• REACTION_TO from Federal Response

• RELATED_TO from Bill

• SPONSORS from Committee

• SPONSORS from Parliamentary Group

• SPONSORS from Person

Constraints

• Verifies that a Interpellation contains no Media Summary.
• An Interpellation must follow a defined structure:
  • It can not be connected to an Enactment Draft with a CONTAINS relation
  • It must be connected to exactly one of Person, Committee, Parliamentary with a SPONSORS relation, if multiple exist it must be transferred
  • It can not be connected to a Department with a PROPOSED relation

Visual Representation

Recommendation

Label Recommendation

Description

Recommendations (Empfehlung) were a type of bill in the Council of States that recommended the Federal Council to draw up measures. Recommendation existed from 1986 to 2003.

Co-labels:Bill

Attributes

• identifier bill_number: string

  The parliament-assigned number for the recommendation. the number after the dot should start from 3000 which corresponds to recommendations among other types of bills.

• status: string

  Categorical: Resolved, Referred to the Federal Council

• title_de: string

• title_fr: string

• urgent: boolean

Connected relations

Outgoing

• ABOUT to Tag

• CONTAINS to BillText

• CONTAINS to Debate

• PROPOSED_TO to Department

• PUBLISHED_IN to Source

• RELATED_TO to Bill

• SUBMITTED_TO to Chamber

Incoming

• COSPONSORS from Person

• REACTION_TO from Federal Response

• RELATED_TO from Bill

• SPONSORS from Committee

• SPONSORS from Person

Constraints

• A Recommendation must follow a defined structure:
  • It can not be connected to an Enactment Draft with a CONTAINS relation
  • It must be connected to exactly one Person who is member in the Ständerat with a SPONSORS relation
  • It can not be connected to a Person from any other Chamber than the Ständerat with either a SPONSORS or a COSPONSORS relation
  • It can not be connected to a Department with a PROPOSED relation

Visual Representation

Postulate

Label Postulate

Description

A postulate (Postulat) instructs the federal council to consider and report whether a draft is to be submitted or a measure is necessary to be taken. They can be submitted by an MP, the majority of a Committee, or a Parliamentary Group.

Co-labels:Federal Council Dispatch | Bill | Federal Council Report

Attributes

• identifier bill_number: string

  The parliament-assigned number for the postulate. the number after the dot should start from 3000 corresponds to postulates among other types of bills.

• title_de: string

• (optional) status: string

  Categorical: Resolved, Referred to the Federal Council, Report in fulfillment of the motion is available, Deliberation in Council of States Committee completed, In the Council of States Committee, Deliberation in National Council’s Committee completed, Referred to the AB-BA, Referred to the Council Office, In the National Council’s Committee, Assigned to the responsible committee, Opinion on the motion is available, Submitted

• (optional) title_fr: string

• (optional) urgent: boolean

Connected relations

Outgoing

• ABOUT to Tag

• CONTAINS to BillText

• CONTAINS to Debate

• CONTAINS to URL

• PROPOSED_TO to Department

• PUBLISHED_IN to Source

• RELATED_TO to Bill

• SUBMITTED_TO to Chamber

Incoming

• ACTING_AS from Person

• ASSIGNED_TO from Committee

• COSPONSORS from Person

• PROPOSED from Department

• REACTION_TO from Federal Response

• RELATED_TO from Bill

• SPONSORS from Committee

• SPONSORS from Parliamentary Group

• SPONSORS from Person

Constraints

• Verifies that a Postulat contains no Media Summary.
• A Postulate must follow a defined structure:
  • It can not be connected to an Enactment Draft with a CONTAINS relation
  • It must be connected to exactly one of Person, Committee with a SPONSORS relation
  • It can not be connected to a Department with a PROPOSED relation

Visual Representation

Motion

Label Motion

Description

A motion tasks the Federal Council to take a measure or draft an enactment. They can be submitted by an MP, the majority of a Committee, or a Parliamentary Group.

Co-labels:Federal Council Dispatch | Interpellation | Bill

Attributes

• identifier bill_number: string

  The parliament-assigned number for the motion. the number after the dot should start from 3000 which corresponds to motions among other types of bills.

• title_de: string

• (optional) status: string

  Categorical: Resolved, Referred to the Federal Council, Depreciation request is pending, In the National Council’s Committee, In the Council of States Committee, Assigned to the responsible committee, Referred to the Council Office, Planned in the National Council, Deliberation in Council of States Committee completed, Opinion on the motion is available, Submitted, Deliberation in National Council’s Committee completed, Planned in the Council of States

• (optional) title_fr: string

• (optional) urgent: boolean

Connected relations

Outgoing

• ABOUT to Tag

• CONTAINS to BillText

• CONTAINS to Debate

• CONTAINS to Enactment Draft

• CONTAINS to URL

• PROPOSED_TO to Department

• PUBLISHED_IN to Source

• RELATED_TO to Bill

• SUBMITTED_TO to Chamber

Incoming

• ACTING_AS from Person

• ASSIGNED_TO from Committee

• COSPONSORS from Person

• PROPOSED from Department

• REACTION_TO from Federal Response

• RELATED_TO from Bill

• SPONSORS from Committee

• SPONSORS from Parliamentary Group

• SPONSORS from Person

Constraints

• A Motion must follow a defined structure:
  • It can not be connected to an Enactment Draft with a CONTAINS relation
  • It must be connected to exactly one of Person, Committee with a SPONSORS relation, if multiple exist it must be transferred
  • It can not be connected to a Department with a PROPOSED relation

Visual Representation

Cantonal Initiative

Label Cantonal Initiative

Description

Cantonal initiatives (Standesinitiative) are types of bills in which the cantons task one of the Committees to prepare an Enactment Draft. This draft is then examined and presented to the chambers.

Co-labels:Bill

Attributes

• identifier bill_number: string

  The parliament-assigned number for the CI. the second part of the number after the dot should have the 3xx format that corresponds to cantonal initiatives.

• status: string

  Categorical: Resolved, Submitted, In the National Council’s Committee, In both committees, Assigned to the responsible committee, In the Council of States Committee, Preliminary examination - in the Council of States Committee, Preliminary examination - in the National Council’s Committee, Deliberation in National Council’s Committee completed

• title_de: string

• title_fr: string

• urgent: boolean

Connected relations

Outgoing

• ABOUT to Tag

• CONTAINS to BillText

• CONTAINS to Debate

• CONTAINS to Enactment Draft

• CONTAINS to URL

• PROPOSED_TO to Department

• PUBLISHED_IN to Source

• RELATED_TO to Bill

• SUBMITTED_TO to Chamber

Incoming

• ASSIGNED_TO from Committee

• RELATED_TO from Bill

• SPONSORS from Canton

Constraints

• Verifies that a Cantonal Initiative contains the Billtexts: Submitted. It must contain no Written Response and no Proposal.
• A Cantonal Initiative must follow a defined structure:
  • needs status, turned off currently # - It must be connected to at least one Enactment Draft with a CONTAINS relation
  • It must be connected to exactly one Canton with a SPONSORS relation
  • It can not be connected to a Department with a PROPOSED relation

Visual Representation

Parliamentary Initiative

Label Parliamentary Initiative

Description

A parliamentary initiative (Parlamentarische Initiative) tasks a Committee to draft an enactment which will then be subject to examination. Upon successful examination, the draft is presented to the Chambers. Parliamentary initiatives can be submitted by an MP, the majority of a Committee, or a Parliamentary Group.

Co-labels:Bill

Attributes

• identifier bill_number: string

• status: string

  Categorical: Resolved, In the National Council’s Committee, Assigned to the responsible committee, In the Council of States Committee, Submitted, Deliberation in National Council’s Committee completed, Deliberation in Council of States Committee completed, Preliminary examination - in the Council of States Committee, Preliminary examination - in the National Council’s Committee, Planned in the National Council

• title_de: string

• title_fr: string

• urgent: boolean

Connected relations

Outgoing

• ABOUT to Tag

• CONTAINS to BillText

• CONTAINS to Debate

• CONTAINS to Enactment Draft

• CONTAINS to URL

• PROPOSED_TO to Department

• PUBLISHED_IN to Source

• RELATED_TO to Bill

• SUBMITTED_TO to Chamber

Incoming

• ACTING_AS from Person

• ASSIGNED_TO from Committee

• COSPONSORS from Person

• REACTION_TO from Federal Response

• RELATED_TO from Bill

• SPONSORS from Committee

• SPONSORS from Parliamentary Group

• SPONSORS from Person

Constraints

• Verifies that a Parliamentary Initiative doesn’t containt a Proposal.
• A Parliamentary Initiative must follow a defined structure:
  • needs status, turned off currently # - It must be connected to at least one Enactment Draft with a CONTAINS relation
  • It must be connected to exactly one of Person, Committee, Parliamentary Group with a SPONSORS relation, if multiple exist it must be transferred
  • It can not be connected to a Department with a PROPOSED relation

Visual Representation

Federal Council Dispatch

Label Federal Council Dispatch

Description

Federal Council Dispatches (Geschäft des Bundesrates) consists of Federal Assembly enactment drafts, federal acts, ordinances, and federal decrees.

Co-labels:Motion | Postulate | Bill

Attributes

• identifier bill_number: string

  The parliament-assigned number for the dispatch. the first digit after the dot should be either 0, 1, or 2 that corresponds to federal messages.

• status: string

  Categorical: Resolved, In the National Council’s Committee, In the Council of States Committee, Submitted, Deliberation in Council of States Committee completed, Deliberation in National Council’s Committee completed, Rejected back to the Federal Council, Assigned to the responsible committee, In both committees

• title_de: string

• title_fr: string

• urgent: boolean

Connected relations

Outgoing

• ABOUT to Tag

• CONTAINS to BillText

• CONTAINS to Debate

• CONTAINS to Enactment Draft

• CONTAINS to URL

• PUBLISHED_IN to Source

• RELATED_TO to Bill

• SUBMITTED_TO to Chamber

Incoming

• ASSIGNED_TO from Committee

• COSPONSORS from Person

• PROPOSED from Department

• RELATED_TO from Bill

• SPONSORS from Parliamentary Group

• SPONSORS from Person

Constraints

• Verifies that a Federal Council Dispatch contains a Submitted BillText and does not contain a Federal Response.
• A Federal Council Dispatch doesn’t have Botschaft in title, it can’t contain “Bericht” or “Staatsrechnung” in the title. “Geschäftsbericht” is allowed.
• A Federal Council Dispatch must follow a defined structure:
  • It must be connected to at least one Enactment Draft with a CONTAINS relation
  • It can not be connected to any node with a SPONSORS or a COSPONSORS relation
  • needs status, turned off currently # - It must be connected to exclusively one leading Department with a PROPOSED relation
  • It can not be connected to a Department with a PROPOSED_TO relation
  • It can not be connected to a Federal Response with a REACTION_TO relation

Visual Representation

Federal Council Report

Label Federal Council Report

Description

Federal Council Reports (TODO) are types of bills in which the Federal Council submits reports to the Federal Assembly for consideration.

Co-labels:Postulate | Bill

Attributes

• identifier bill_number: string

  The parliament-assigned number for the report. the first digit after the dot should be either 0, 1, or 2 that corresponds to federal messages.

• status: string

  Categorical: Resolved, Assigned to the responsible committee, Submitted

• title_de: string

• title_fr: string

• urgent: boolean

Connected relations

Outgoing

• ABOUT to Tag

• CONTAINS to BillText

• CONTAINS to Debate

• CONTAINS to Enactment Draft

• CONTAINS to URL

• PUBLISHED_IN to Source

• RELATED_TO to Bill

• SUBMITTED_TO to Chamber

Incoming

• PROPOSED from Department

• RELATED_TO from Bill

• SPONSORS from Parliamentary Group

Constraints

• Verifies that a Federal Council Report contains a Submitted BillText and does not contain a Federal Response.
• A Federal Council Report must contain a “Submitted” Billtext that contains the word “Bericht”.

Visual Representation