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Art. 4 Scope of application
1 This section applies to the following federal authorities: - a.
- the Federal Assembly and its organs;
- b.
- the Federal Council;
- c.
- the Federal Administration under Article 2 paragraphs 1–3 of the Government and Administration Organisation Act of 21 March 19974 (GAOO);
- d.
- the federal courts;
- e.
- the extra-parliamentary committees of the Confederation.
2 Where the goals set out in this Act so require, the Federal Council may provide that: - a.
- provisions of this Section apply to organisations or persons under Article 2 paragraph 4 GAOO that are entrusted with administrative tasks under federal law;
- b.
- the granting of licences or assignments and the award of financial assistance are made conditional on complying with the provisions of this Section.
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Art. 5 Official languages
1 The official languages of the Confederation are German, French and Italian. Romansh is an official language in dealings with persons who speak this language. 2 The federal authorities shall use the official languages in their standard forms.
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Art. 6 Choice of language
1 Any person dealing with a federal authority may do so in the official language of their own choice. 2 The federal authorities shall answer in the official language in which they are addressed. They may agree with persons who contact them to use a different official language. 3 Persons who speak Romansh may address the federal authorities in its idioms or in Rumantsch Grischun. The authorities answer in Rumantsch Grischun. 4 The Federal Council may restrict the free choice of official language for dealings with authorities whose activities are limited to a specific region. 5 In dealings with persons who have no command of an official language, the federal authorities shall if possible use a language that these persons understand. 6 The special provisions on the administration of federal justice are reserved.
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Art. 7 Comprehensibility
1 The federal authorities shall endeavour to ensure that their language is appropriate, clear and comprehensible and shall ensure that gender-appropriate wording is used. 2 The Federal Council shall take the measures required; in particular, it shall arrange for the basic and advanced training of employees and the provision of the required aids.5 5 The amendment in accordance with the FA of 20 June 2014 on Continuing Education and Training, in force since 1 Jan. 2017, relates to the French and Italian versions only (AS 2016 689; BBl 20133729).
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Art. 8 Federal Assembly
1 In debates in the Federal Assembly and its committees, each member shall use a national language of his or her choice. 2 Dispatches, reports, draft legislation and requests must normally be submitted for consideration in the Federal Assembly and its committees in German, French and Italian.
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Art. 9 Federal Council and Federal Administration
1 The members of the Federal Council, the Federal Chancellor and Federal Administration staff shall work as they wish in German, French or Italian. 2 Federal Administration employers as defined in the legislation on federal personnel shall make the required aids available.
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Art. 10 Publications in German, French and Italian
1 Federal enactments and other texts that must be published officially in the Official or Classified Compilations of Federal Legislation or in the Federal Gazette in terms of the Publications Act of 18 June 20046 or based on other federal law provisions shall be published in German, French and Italian unless the law provides otherwise.7 2 Publication shall take place simultaneously in German, French and Italian.
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Art. 11 Publications in Romansh
Texts of particular importance as well as the documents for federal elections and votes shall also be published in Romansh. The Federal Chancellery shall determine which texts are published after consulting the Chancellery of the Canton of Graubünden and the federal agencies concerned.
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Art. 12 Communications, signs and identity documents
1 The federal authorities shall use the local official language for public communications. 2 The federal authorities shall communicate with the public in the four official languages, in particular in the design: - a.
- of its printed matter;
- b.
- of its internet home pages;
- c.
- in signs in its buildings.
3 Personal identity documents shall be issued in the four official languages. 4 Federal forms intended for the general public must be made available in all the official languages. The federal authorities may allow exceptions for forms intended for a limited group of persons.
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Art. 13 International agreements
1 An original version of bilateral agreements that must be published must be made available in at least one official language of the Confederation. 2 In the case of multilateral agreements that must be published, it must be ensured that an original version in at least one official language of the Confederation is produced. 3 Exceptions under Article 14 paragraph 2 of the Publications Act of 18 June 20048 and special provisions of federal legislation are reserved.
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