The Quiz marque 2

feargale wrote: »

What is the Landsgemeinde?

Time to put this one away.

The Landsgemeinde or "cantonal assembly" is a public, non-secret ballot voting system operating by majority rule, which constitutes one of the oldest forms of direct democracy. It was formerly practiced in eight cantons, but for practical reasons has been abolished at the cantonal level in all but two cantons, Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus, where it still holds the highest political authority.

Eligible citizens of the canton or district meet on a certain day in the open air to decide on specific issues. Voting is accomplished by those in favour of a motion raising their hands. Historically, and in Appenzell until the admission of women, the only proof of citizenship necessary for men to enter the voting area was to show their ceremonial sword or Swiss military sidearm (bayonet); this gave proof that you were a freeman allowed to bear arms and to vote. Every enfranchised citizen is a "county councillor" so to speak.

The Landsgemeinde has been the sovereign institution of the Swiss rural cantons since the later Middle Ages, while in the city-cantons such as Lucerne, Schaffhausen, or Bern, a general assembly of all citizens was never established.

Appenzell Innerrhoden is the smallest canton by population (c. 16,000.) very Catholic and very conservative, and was the last to give votes to women, in 1991 following a decision of the Federal Supreme Court. I was there very briefly in 1985 when the issue of votes for women was up for debate. One woman expressed reservations to me, saying that the main problem about votes for women was that doubling the franchise would make the Landsgemeinde unwieldy, and that it was an ancient tradition that should not die.

If you are interested there are a few pics of the Landsgemeinde online, maybe some live stuff too. It is sometimes cited as the purest form of direct democracy on the planet.

Rocky Weak Label wrote: »

or devour people.

I hope he says grace first, given his line of work.

What age do I need to be to contribute to this thread?

honeybear wrote: »

What age do I need to be to contribute to this thread?

97

If you don't believe me read some of the gaga contributions.

looksee wrote: »

Ok this one seems to have fizzled out. The other eradicated disease is Rinderpest - its not a human disease but it is/was a disease. I'll try and come up with another question, though someone owes one I think?

Didn't the WHO claim in the 1960s that malaria was eradicated? Or that the mosquito had been rendered extinct? Is my memory playing tricks with me?

looksee wrote: »

If they did they were wrong - we were in Africa in malarial areas at the end of the 60s and it was certainly not eradicated. And there are still plenty of mozzies around, both malarial and otherwise.

Yes obviously they were very wrong, but something tells me they did.