Legislation and Control
Jointly with the Federal Council, the National Council is responsible for legislation at the federal level. As an organ directly elected by the people it also has important control functions. It scrutinises the work of the Government by various means, such as written or urgent questions, and it can withdraw its confidence from the entire Government or individual Government Members and thus force them to step down.
Members of the National Council can address resolutions to the Government to raise political questions of concern to them. The supervision of the budgetary management of federal authorities and institutions is exercised by the Court of Audit on behalf of the National Council.