The Councils of Two Hundred (; ), originally "Grand Council" (''Grosser Rat'' or ''Grand Conseil''), were the legislative authorities in four Swiss cities (

Zürich Zurich (; ) is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. , the municipality had 448,664 inhabitants. The ...

Bern Bern (), or Berne (), ; ; ; . is the ''de facto'' Capital city, capital of Switzerland, referred to as the "federal city".; ; ; . According to the Swiss constitution, the Swiss Confederation intentionally has no "capital", but Bern has gov ...

Fribourg or is the capital of the Cantons of Switzerland, Swiss canton of Canton of Fribourg, Fribourg and district of Sarine (district), La Sarine. Located on both sides of the river Saane/Sarine, on the Swiss Plateau, it is a major economic, adminis ...

Basel Basel ( ; ), also known as Basle ( ), ; ; ; . is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine (at the transition from the High Rhine, High to the Upper Rhine). Basel is Switzerland's List of cities in Switzerland, third-most-populo ...

), as well as in the independent

Republic of Geneva The Canton of Geneva, officially the Republic and Canton of Geneva, is one of the Cantons of Switzerland, 26 cantons of the Switzerland, Swiss Confederation. It is composed of forty-five Municipality, municipalities, and the seat of the governme ...

prior to the French Revolution. Although the council in Geneva dates to 1526, the councils were medieval in origin. They often comprised approximately 200 members (whence their name), but sometimes contained as many as 300. They were later on replaced by smaller legislatures, with again the name of "Grand Council" (''Grosser Rat'' or ''Grand Conseil'').

Bibliography

* Political history of Switzerland Legal history of Switzerland Politicians from the Republic of Geneva {{Switzerland-stub

See also

Bibliography