The Federal Department of Finance ; ; ) is one of the seven departments

Ministry (government department)

A ministry is a specialised organisation responsible for a sector of government public administration, sometimes led by a minister or a senior public servant, that can have responsibility for one or more departments, agencies, bureaus, commissions or other smaller executive, advisory, managerial or...

 of the Swiss federal government. The department is headquartered in Bern and is headed by a member of the Swiss Federal Council

Swiss Federal Council

The Federal Council is the seven-member executive council which constitutes the federal government of Switzerland and serves as the Swiss collective head of state....

, Switzerland

Switzerland

Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

's finance minister

Finance minister

The finance minister is a cabinet position in a government.A minister of finance has many different jobs in a government. He or she helps form the government budget, stimulate the economy, and control finances...

. Initially, in 1848, the department was called "Department of Finance", then, from 1873 "Department of Finance and Customs", until it received its present designation in 1978.

Organisation

The Department is composed of the following offices:

• General Secretariat, including the Federal Strategy Unit for IT (FSUIT).
• Federal Finance Administration (FFA): Responsible for the budget, financial planning, financial policy, the federal treasury and financial equalisation between the Confederation and the cantons. Operates the federal mint
  Swissmint
  Swissmint is the official mint of the Swiss Confederation. It is responsible for manufacturing Swiss franc coins, both of the currency and bullion variety. Apart from making coins for the government, Swissmint also manufactures medals and commemorative coins for private customers.Swissmint is an...
  
  .
• Federal Office of Personnel (FOPER): Responsible for human resources management, personnel policy and personnel training.
• Federal Tax Administration (FTA): Responsible for federal revenue collection and the application of federal tax laws in the cantons.
• Federal Customs Administration (FCA): Responsible for monitoring the import, export and transit of goods, collecting customs duties, traffic charges and taxes. Operates the Swiss Border Guard, which carries out border police duties.
• Swiss Alcohol Board (SAB): Regulates the alcohol market.
• Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication (FOITT): Provides IT
  Information technology
  Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
  
   services for the federal administration.
• Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics (FBL): Responsible for property management, central procurement of non-durable goods, federal publications and the production of the Swiss passport
  Swiss passport
  A Swiss passport is a document known as the passport of the Swiss Confederation.Swiss passports are issued to citizens of Switzerland to facilitate international travel. For traveling inside the European community, Swiss citizens can use an identity card.-History of Swiss passports :The first Swiss...
  
  .

The following independent authorities are affiliated to the FDF for administrative purposes:

• Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO): The federal government audit office. Examines accounting practices and verifies the proper and efficient use of resources by the administration, other public service institutions and subsidy recipients.
• Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority
  Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority
  Swiss Financial Markets Authority is the Swiss government body responsible for financial regulation. This includes the supervision of banks, insurance companies, stock exchanges and securities dealers as well as other financial intermediaries in Switzerland.FINMA is an independent institution...
  
   (FINMA): Regulates banks, insurances, securities dealers, investment funds and stock exchanges, as well as the disclosure of shareholding interests, public takeover bids and mortgage lenders.
• Federal Pension Fund (PUBLICA): Provides insurance coverage to employees of the federal administration, the other branches of the federal government and associated organisations.

List of heads of the department

1848-1850: Josef Munzinger 1851 only: Henri Druey Henri Druey Daniel-Henri Druey was a Swiss politician of the 19th century and a founding father of constitutional democracy in Switzerland.-Early life:Druey was born in Faoug in the Canton of Vaud... 1852 only: Josef Munzinger 1853-1855: Henri Druey Henri Druey Daniel-Henri Druey was a Swiss politician of the 19th century and a founding father of constitutional democracy in Switzerland.-Early life:Druey was born in Faoug in the Canton of Vaud... 1855-1856: Melchior Josef Martin Knüsel Melchior Josef Martin Knüsel Melchior Josef Martin Knüsel was a Swiss politician from Lucerne, member of the Swiss Federal Council .... 1857-1858: Jakob Stämpfli Jakob Stämpfli Jakob Stämpfli was a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council .He was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on 6 December 1854, and handed over office on 31 December 1863... 1859-1861: Constant Fornerod Constant Fornerod Constant Fornerod was a Swiss politician, originally from Avenches, and member of the Swiss Federal Council .... 1862-1863: Melchior Josef Martin Knüsel Melchior Josef Martin Knüsel Melchior Josef Martin Knüsel was a Swiss politician from Lucerne, member of the Swiss Federal Council .... 1864-1867: Jean-Jacques Challet-Venel Jean-Jacques Challet-Venel Jean-Jacques Challet-Venel was a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council .Challet was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on July 12, 1864 as the first member from the Canton of Geneva. He handed over office on December 31, 1872 after being voted out of office... 1868 only: Victor Ruffy Victor Ruffy Victor Ruffy was a Swiss politician.He was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on 6 December 1867, and died in office on 29 December 1869... 1869 only: Jean-Jacques Challet-Venel Jean-Jacques Challet-Venel Jean-Jacques Challet-Venel was a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council .Challet was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on July 12, 1864 as the first member from the Canton of Geneva. He handed over office on December 31, 1872 after being voted out of office... 1870-1871: Paul Cérésole Paul Cérésole Paul Cérésole was a Swiss politician, judge of the Supreme Court and member of the Swiss Federal Council .... 1872 only: Karl Schenk Karl Schenk Johann Karl Emmanuel Schenk was a Swiss pastor, politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council . , he is still the longest-serving member.... 1872-1873: Johann Jakob Scherer Johann Jakob Scherer Johann Jakob Scherer was a Swiss politician.He was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on July 12, 1872 and died in office on December 23, 1878... 1873-1875: Wilhelm Matthias Naeff Wilhelm Matthias Naeff Wilhelm Matthias Naeff was a Swiss politician and one of the seven initial members of the Swiss Federal Council .... 1876-1878: Bernhard Hammer Bernhard Hammer Bernhard Hammer was a Swiss politician.He was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on December 10, 1875, and handed over office on December 31, 1890... 1879 only: Simeon Bavier Simeon Bavier Simon Bavier was a Swiss politician, member of the Swiss Federal Council .He was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on December 10, 1878, and resigned on January 5, 1883. He was affiliated with the Free Democratic Party of Switzerland... 1880-1890: Bernhard Hammer Bernhard Hammer Bernhard Hammer was a Swiss politician.He was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on December 10, 1875, and handed over office on December 31, 1890... 1891-1899: Walter Hauser Walter Hauser Walter Hauser was a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council .He was elected to the Federal Council on December 13, 1888 and died in office on October 22, 1902... 1900 only: Robert Comtesse Robert Comtesse Robert Comtesse was a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council .He was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on 14 December 1899 and resigned on 4 March 1912... 1901-1902: Walter Hauser Walter Hauser Walter Hauser was a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council .He was elected to the Federal Council on December 13, 1888 and died in office on October 22, 1902...

1903 only: Robert Comtesse Robert Comtesse Robert Comtesse was a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council .He was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on 14 December 1899 and resigned on 4 March 1912... 1904 only: Marc-Emile Ruchet Marc-Emile Ruchet Marc-Emile Ruchet was a Swiss politician.He was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on December 14, 1899, and resigned on July 9, 1912, only four days before his death... 1905-1909: Robert Comtesse Robert Comtesse Robert Comtesse was a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council .He was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on 14 December 1899 and resigned on 4 March 1912... 1910 only: Josef Anton Schobinger Josef Anton Schobinger Josef Anton Schobinger was a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council .He was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on June 17, 1908, and died in office on November 27, 1911... 1911 only: Robert Comtesse Robert Comtesse Robert Comtesse was a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council .He was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on 14 December 1899 and resigned on 4 March 1912... 1912-1919: Giuseppe Motta Giuseppe Motta Giuseppe Motta was a Swiss politician, member of the Swiss Federal Council and President of the League of Nations .-Commemoration:... 1920-1934: Jean-Marie Musy Jean-Marie Musy Jean-Marie Musy was a Swiss politician.He was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on 11 December 1919 and handed over office on 30 April 1934... 1934-1938: Albert Meyer 1939-1943: Ernst Wetter Ernst Wetter Ernst Wetter was a Swiss politician.He was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on 15 December 1938 and handed over office on 31 December 1943. He was affiliated to the Free Democratic Party.... 1944-1951: Ernst Nobs Ernst Nobs Ernst Nobs was a Swiss politician.He was the mayor of Zürich from 1942 to 1944. He was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on December 15, 1943, as the first member of the Social Democratic Party... 1952-1954: Max Weber Max Weber (politician) Max Weber was a Swiss politician.He was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on 13 December 1951 and handed over office on 31 January 1954. He was affiliated to the Social Democratic Party. During his time in office he held the Department of Finance.-External links:... 1954-1959: Hans Streuli Hans Streuli Hans Streuli was a Swiss politician.He was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on 22 December 1953 and handed over office on 31 December 1959. He was affiliated to the Free Democratic Party.... 1960-1962: Jean Bourgknecht Jean Bourgknecht Jean Bourgknecht was a Swiss politician, mayor of Fribourg and member of the Swiss Federal Council .Jean Bourgknecht was born to Louis and Eugénie-Louise Bourgknecht in Fribourg... 1962-1968: Roger Bonvin Roger Bonvin Roger Bonvin was a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council for the Canton of Valais .... 1968-1973: Nello Celio Nello Celio Nello Celio was a Swiss politician representing Canton Ticino.He was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on December 15, 1966 and handed over office on December 31, 1973... 1974-1979: Georges-André Chevallaz Georges-André Chevallaz Georges-André Chevallaz was a Swiss historian, politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council .... 1980-1983: Willy Ritschard Willy Ritschard Willi Ritschard was a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council .... 1984-1995: Otto Stich Otto Stich Otto Stich is a Swiss politician.He was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on 7 December 1983 and handed over office on 31 October 1995. He is affiliated to the Social Democratic Party.... 1996-2003: Kaspar Villiger Kaspar Villiger Kaspar Villiger is a Swiss businessman, politician and former member of the Swiss Federal Council . He currently heads Swiss bank UBS.-Political career:On February 1, 1989, he was elected to the Swiss Federal Council... 2004-2010: Hans-Rudolf Merz Hans-Rudolf Merz Hans-Rudolf Merz is a Swiss politician of FDP.The Liberals and member of the Swiss Federal Council . He is the head of the Federal Department of Finance and President of the Swiss Confederation for 2009... Since 2010: Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf is a Swiss lawyer, politician, and member of the Swiss Federal Council since 2008. She is currently the head of the Federal Department of Finance ....

External links

• Federal Department of Finance