Swiss Coins 5 Francs 1974 100th Anniversary - Revision of Constitution
Commemorative issue: 100th Anniversary - Revision of Constitution
Obverse: Three standing female figures and Swiss cross.
Lettering: CONSTITUTIO.
Engraver: Max Weber.
Reverse: Dates flanked by vertical inscriptions.
Lettering: 5 FR 1848 1874 1974 CONFOEDERATIO HELVETICA.
Edge: Inscripted.
Edge Lettering: DOMINUS PROVIDEBIT (13 stars).
Value: 5 Francs / Franken / Francos.
Composition: Copper-Nickel (Cu 75 / Ni 25).
Weight: 13.2 g.
Diameter: 31.45 mm.
Shape: Round.
Swiss Federal Constitution
The groundwork for today's Swiss Constitution was laid with the promulgation of the Constitution of 12 September 1848, which was influenced by the ideas of the constitution of the United States of America and the French Revolution. This constitution provided for the cantons' sovereignty, as long as this did not impinge on the Federal Constitution. This constitution was created in response to a 27-day civil war in Switzerland, the Sonderbundskrieg.
The Constitution of 1848 was partly revised in 1866, and wholly revised in 1874. This latter constitutional change introduced the referendum at the federal level. Beginning in 1891, the constitution contained the "right of initiative", under which a certain number of voters could make a request to amend a constitutional article, or even to introduce a new article into the constitution. This mechanism is called federal popular initiative. Thus, partial revisions of the constitution could be made any time.