Policy making and implementation process Sample Clauses

Policy making and implementation process. The Swiss package The Swiss debate on a heavy vehicle fee started in the 1970s, when a commission set up by the Government suggested a distance-related heavy vehicle fee, arguing that heavy road transport did not cover the infrastructure costs it caused (Xxxxxx 2005). Although a distance- related fee was not introduced at this point, because the technology was not considered ready yet, a flat fee was introduced for heavy vehicles in the beginning of the 1980s, ‘flat’ meaning that the fee was not dependent on the distance travelled (Xxxxxx 2005). However, the idea of a distance-related fee for heavy vehicles was not dead. Several referendums were held during the 1980s, where Swiss citizens could have their say about proposals that directly or indirectly involved the introduction of a distance-related fee. However, in all cases these proposals were turned down, probably because it was relatively shortly after the introduction of the flat fee, and in one instance also because a proposal allowed a general capacity to raise road user taxes, i.e. not only taxes on heavy vehicles (Xxxxxx 2005). Although the Swiss people obviously did not want the distance-related fees, many politicians were still very much preoccupied with this issue and continued to work for its implementation during the late 1980s and early 1990s. During these years, freight transport increased rapidly, in particular in the Alpine region, where the opening of a road tunnel in 1980 contributed to increased growth (Werder 2004). The politically preferred solution was to transfer freight transport from road to rail, mainly by building two new rail links through the Alps. This solution was supported by a clear majority of the voters in a referendum in 1992 (Xxxxxx 2005). Core features of the Swiss constitutional system • Switzerland is a federal state made up of 26 cantons. Power is distributed between the confederation and the cantons. • At federal level Switzerland has a two-chamber parliament, the United Federal Assembly. One chamber is the National Council, which represents the population as a whole, and the other chamber is the Council of States, which represents the individual cantons. • The Swiss Government comprises seven members of the Federal Council, who are elected individually by the United Federal Assembly. The president chairs the meetings of the Council. For 50 years the four largest parties in parliament have had seats in the Council. • By exercising their right to initiate legisla...