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Senate

The Senate (also referred to as the Council of States) consists of 46 members and is the smaller parliamentary chamber. Its members represent the 26 cantons. The “full” cantons, of which there are 20, each send two representatives to the Senate, while six “half” cantons have one senator each. The Senate and the House of Representatives, which sit in the capital Bern, regularly meet for joint sessions. Parliament is also referred to as the Federal Assembly.

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