Canton

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A canton is an state in Switzerland.

Switzerland is divided into 26 different areas. Each area is called a canton. A canton is like a state in the United States.

The cantons Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden (Nidwalden and Obwalden together are called Unterwalden) are called Urkantone. An Urkanton is a canton that existed since the foundation of Switzerland in 1291. With time other cantons joined Switzerland. Jura is the newest canton in Switzerland since 1978.

In Switzerland the cantons themselves make the laws for their school, for their police, for their hospitals and for other things. The word for that is called federalism. That means, that each canton has its own government. So all cantons have their own constitution. The constitution is the highest law in a state.

The 26 cantons are:

  • Aargau
  • Appenzell Innerrhoden
  • Appenzell Ausserrhoden
  • Basel-Stadt
  • Basel-Landschaft
  • Bern
  • Fribourg
  • Geneva
  • Glarus
  • Graubünden
  • Jura
  • Lucerne
  • Neuchâtel
  • Nidwalden
  • Obwalden
  • Schaffhausen
  • Schwyz
  • Solothurn
  • St. Gallen
  • Thurgau
  • Ticino
  • Uri
  • Valais
  • Vaud
  • Zug
  • Zürich

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