| |
| 1952, Nov. 28 |
| |
| The Federal Council directed the Finance Ministry to draft a constitutional amendment providing for a direct federal tax. | 1 |
| |
| 1953, Dec. 6 |
| |
| After the Nationalrat (National Council, the popularly elected lower house) (March) and the Council of States (June) had modified a Finance Ministry draft, the voters rejected the constitutional amendment for a federal direct tax. | 2 |
| |
| 1956, Dec. 12 |
| |
| Reviewing Swiss foreign policy, foreign minister Max Petitpierre told Parliament that the Swiss could best keep the world and themselves secure by maintaining their traditional neutrality and by keeping their armed services strong. | 3 |
| |
| 1958, July 11 |
| |
| The federal government decided to equip the Swiss army with nuclear weapons, as the most effective way “to maintain our independence and protect our neutrality.” | 4 |
| |
| 1959, Feb. 1 |
| |
| Male voters defeated a constitutional amendment to allow women to vote in national elections and to run for national office. | 5 |
| |
| 1960, March 6 |
| |
| Geneva citizens voted to give women the ballot in local elections. | 6 |
| |
| March 23 |
| |
| Parliament ratified Swiss membership in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). | 7 |
| |
| |
