Cantonal legislatures of Switzerland

The cantonal legislatures of Switzerland are the elected legislative bodies of the 26 Swiss cantons. Each canton has its own legislature, which operates alongside a Cantonal [executive bodies of Switzerland|cantonal executive] and functions independently from the federal Federal Assembly. Legislatures are generally elected for four-year terms, except in the cantons of Fribourg, Vaud, Geneva, and Jura, where terms last five years.
The size and structure of cantonal legislatures vary. The largest is in the canton of Zürich with 180 members, while the smallest, in Appenzell Innerrhoden, has 49 members. Appenzell Innerrhoden is also the only canton with a formally non-partisan legislature; all others are organized along party political lines.
Party strength varies by canton. As of the most recent elections, the Swiss People's Party holds the largest number of seats in nine legislatures, followed by The Centre in eight, FDP.The Liberals in seven, and the Social [Democratic Party of Switzerland|Social Democratic Party] in one.
Two cantons, Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus, use the traditional Landsgemeinde system of direct democracy, where eligible citizens vote by open assembly once a year. Although these assemblies are formally the highest legislative authorities, both cantons also maintain permanent representative legislatures, which are listed in this article.

Terminology

The legislatures of the cantons have various names in different cantons and in the four official languages of Switzerland:

Grand Council is the name in the cantons of Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Grisons, Neuchâtel, Ticino, Thurgau, Vaud and Valais. In German-speaking Switzerland, the members of the Grand Council are called Grand Councilor or Grossrätin ), except for Thurgau where they are called Cantonal Councilor. In French-speaking Switzerland, the title is Député.
Cantonal Council and District Administrator.
State Council in the cantons of Basel-Landschaft, Glarus, Nidwalden and Uri.
Parliament in the canton of Jura.
List