![A series of Swiss passports, 1915–2003.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/paesse-1-300x225.jpg)
The Federal Constitution: helping ensure a fairer naturalisation process
The communes play a key role in accepting or rejecting applications for Swiss citizenship, which poses a risk of arbitrary or discriminatory decisions. The fundamental rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution serve as an important corrective.
![Elisabeth Vischer-Alioth addressing the local authority, as its oldest serving member, in the parliament chamber on 5 December 1961. The women of Basel had acquired the right to vote and stand for election at communal level three years earlier. This photograph by Hans Bertolf appeared in the Basler National-Zeitung on 6 December 1961.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/frauen-im-burgerrat-290x300.jpg)
![The stately room where the second-generation immigrant was subjected to questioning by the naturalisation committee in 1963. Her application for citizenship was turned down. The City of Basel authorities would later justify their decision by stating that "above all, [the candidate] does not have significantly strong ties with her adoptive country". Council Chamber at Stadthaus Basel.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/burgerratssaal-300x202.jpg)
![The Canton of Basel¬-Stadt rejects the application of a young Italian woman in the 1960s wishing to acquire Swiss nationality. The candidate had been "born and raised in Basel, attended school and found employment here" and had "family, friends and acquaintances in Basel". But the local authorities did not consider this sufficiently "strict evidence" of her "assimilation".](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/brief-211x300.jpg)
![Marc Virot, Head of Bern's Aliens Department, published a guide to naturalisation in 1968 in which he set out the virtues to be demonstrated by those wishing to acquire Swiss citizenship: "punctuality, exactitude, thoroughness, orderliness, perfection, honesty, cleanliness, composure, conscientiousness, good manners, discipline, social conscience, solidarity, sense of responsibility, social peace". Book cover; quote from p. 88.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/virot-300x202.jpg)
The Confederation shall regulate the acquisition and loss of citizenship by birth, marriage or adoption