Halbkantone

A Halbkanton, literally translated as "half-canton" in English, is a term used in the political structure of Switzerland to describe a specific type of canton. While most Swiss cantons are fully sovereign entities, Halbkantone possess a unique status due to historical reasons. In practice, a Halbkanton functions as a full canton in most aspects of federal governance, but it is represented by only half a vote in the Council of States, the upper house of the Swiss Parliament.

The primary reason for this distinction lies in the historical development of Switzerland. When the modern federal state was formed in 1848, some cantons were composed of two distinct parts that had historically been separate entities. To accommodate these historical divisions and ensure representation, these larger cantons were divided into two Halbkantone for the purpose of federal elections and representation in the Council of States.

Currently, there are three such Halbkantone in Switzerland: Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, and Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden. These pairs, Basel and Appenzell, were historically divided regions that were later organized into separate cantons at the cantonal level. However, their federal representation in the Council of States reflects their historical partition. Despite this difference in representation, each Halbkanton has its own government, parliament, and constitution, and participates fully in federal matters like any other canton. The concept of the Halbkanton is therefore a curious legacy of Swiss federalism, preserving historical identities within the modern federal framework.