In March 2000 the Federal Constitution was revised and the jurisdiction in the field of civil procedure law transferred to the federal legislator in order to unify the single procedural laws within one Federal Act.
Switzerland is a small West European Country with about 7,3 Mio. of inhabitants which does not make part of the political system of the European Union (EU). Switzerland is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons and half-cantons with four languages (German, French, Italian and Raeto-Romantsch). The legal system developed on the romano-germanic legal system and therefore enacted or written law is by far the most important source of law. The legislation is based on the principle of direct democracy (compulsory constitutional referendum, optional referendum, legislative initiatives). There are cantonal and federal laws such as provisions on the level of the municipalities. Due to historical reasons and federal principles, each of the cantons institutes a code of civil
