Switzerland has a firmly anchored tradition of service to the community, under which citizens take on public office which they perform alongside their normal jobs. This is referred to by the Swiss as the militia system. Its best known manifestation is the army, which is largely non-professional, even as far as most of its officers are concerned.

The Swiss regard their politicians as part of the same militia system. Members of the federal parliament do not give up their former jobs when they take their seats.

Public office, even at commune level, is time consuming and poorly remunerated, and as a result some of the smaller communes are finding it harder and harder to persuade people to take on these tasks.