Federal administration of Switzerland

The absence of hierarchic leadership within the Council has caused the departments to acquire a very considerable autonomy, to the extent that the federal executive has been characterised as "seven co-existing departmental governments.

This percentage has since declined due to army cutbacks and the partial privatisation of federal enterprises such as PTT (now Swisscom and Swiss Post).

[5] The number of the departments' subordinate entities, which are constituted by statute – generally as "federal offices" after the 1910s – has grown substantially in step with the expanding role of the state in the 20th century, even though some have been merged or abolished.

[6] A 1978 statute granted the title of secretary of state to the holders of two (later three) directoral posts whose functions require independent interaction with foreign authorities.

The departments and offices are located in the east and west wings of the Bundeshaus and in numerous buildings in or close to the city center.

[9] As of May 2024, the information and communications sector is led ad interim by Ursula Eggenberger, following the sudden death of Vice-Chancellor André Simonazzi.

[10][11] For administrative purposes, the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC) is affiliated to the Chancellery.

It is composed of the following offices:[17] The following independent authorities are affiliated to the FDF for administrative purposes: The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) is Switzerland's ministry of the economy.

It is composed of the following offices:[18] The following independent agencies are administratively attached to the EAER: As of 2023, the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) is headed by Albert Röstli.