Questions about Basel-Country

Correct answer: D – Becoming a full canton with two Council of States members

§ 1 of the constitution states that Basel-Country is an independent canton. Its authorities are to work towards it becoming a full canton with a full cantonal vote and two members of the Council of States. Today the canton has only one seat in the Council of States and half a cantonal vote.

Source: bl.clex.ch · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: C – 1984

The cantonal constitution is dated 17 May 1984. It was approved in the popular vote of 4 November 1984 and came into force on 1 January 1987. It extended popular rights and has been amended several times since.

Source: bl.clex.ch · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: A – Landrat

The cantonal parliament of Basel-Country is called the Landrat (§ 61 ff. of the constitution). Its members are called Landrätinnen and Landräte. It meets in Liestal.

Source: bl.clex.ch · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: B – 90

According to the constitution (§ 61), the Landrat consists of 90 members. They are elected by proportional representation for a four-year term. Anyone who has served four consecutive terms in the Landrat cannot be elected for the next one.

Source: bl.clex.ch · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: C – Since 1832/33

In 1832 the rural communities broke away from the dominance of the city of Basel and adopted their own constitution on 27 April 1832. On 26 August 1833 the federal Diet (Tagsatzung) decided on complete separation (the Basel cantonal separation). Since then Basel-City and Basel-Country have been separate cantons.

Source: hls-dhs-dss.ch · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: B – The Laufental

After several popular votes, the Laufental, previously part of Bern, joined the canton of Basel-Country on 1 January 1994. Since then Laufen has been the fifth district. The Schwarzbubenland belongs to Solothurn, the Fricktal to Aargau.

Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: C – Clearly against, with over 68 percent no

On 28 September 2014 Basel-Country rejected the merger initiative with 68.3 percent voting no, while Basel-City approved it with almost 55 percent. A merger would have required the approval of both cantons. Earlier reunification attempts, for example in 1969, also failed in the Baselbiet.

Source: swissinfo.ch · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: B – The Roman town of Augusta Raurica

Augst is home to Augusta Raurica, one of the most important Roman towns north of the Alps, with a well-preserved theatre. The colony was founded in the 1st century BC; part of the ancient town lies in neighbouring Kaiseraugst (Aargau). Today it is a large open-air museum.

Source: augustaraurica.ch · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: A – Liestal

According to the cantonal constitution (§ 40), Liestal is the capital of the canton; the Landrat (cantonal parliament), the government and the Cantonal Court have their seat there. Liestal is, however, not the largest municipality of the canton.

Source: bl.clex.ch · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: B – No, Allschwil and Reinach are larger

At the end of 2025, Allschwil (about 22,500 inhabitants) and Reinach (about 21,100) were the largest municipalities, followed by Muttenz, Pratteln and Binningen. The capital Liestal (about 16,000) comes only after them. Almost all the large municipalities lie in the Basel agglomeration.

Source: swissinfo.ch · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: B – 5

According to the constitution (§ 41), the canton is divided into five districts: Arlesheim, Laufen, Liestal, Sissach and Waldenburg. The district of Laufen was added in 1994. The districts serve to carry out public tasks at regional level.

Source: bl.clex.ch · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: C – Muttenz

The five districts are Arlesheim, Laufen, Liestal, Sissach and Waldenburg. Muttenz is a large municipality in the district of Arlesheim. Districts and municipalities are not the same thing.

Source: bl.clex.ch · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: D – German only

According to the constitution (§ 57), German is the official language. All cantonal and municipal authorities, however, also accept submissions in another official language of the Confederation, such as French or Italian. In everyday life people speak the Baselbiet dialect of Swiss German.

Source: bl.clex.ch · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: D – The University of Basel

Since 2007, Basel-City and Basel-Country have jointly run the University of Basel. Basel-Country is also one of the cantons behind the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), which has a large campus in Muttenz. ETH Zurich belongs to the Confederation.

Source: baselland.ch · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: C – The Laufental and the Birseck

The Laufental, the Birseck, Allschwil and the rear Leimental belonged to the Prince-Bishopric of Basel and are traditionally Catholic. The former subject territories of the city of Basel (e.g. Liestal, Sissach, Waldenburg) are traditionally Reformed. Today a large part of the population has no religious affiliation.

Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: C – The citizens' or municipal council, in an interview

Under the citizenship law (§§ 18–19), the Security Directorate forwards the application to the citizens' or municipal council, which examines integration and knowledge of Switzerland, the canton and the municipality. It usually does this in a naturalisation or integration interview that has the character of a test. Each municipality decides on its form and content.

Source: bl.clex.ch · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: A – B1 spoken and B1 written

The citizenship law (§ 10) requires spoken and written German at least at level B1. This is stricter than the federal minimum (B1 spoken, A2 written). Accepted proof includes, for example, German as a native language, all compulsory schooling completed in German, or a recognised language test.

Source: bl.clex.ch · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: B – 5 years

The cantonal citizenship law (§ 8) requires 5 years of residence in the canton before the application is submitted. Municipalities may require 2 to 5 years of residence in the municipality. In addition, the 10 years of residence in Switzerland required by federal law apply.

Source: bl.clex.ch · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: A – Cherries

The Baselbiet is a traditional cherry-growing region. The cherry blossom in spring is a popular postcard motif. Cherries are also distilled into kirsch (a fruit brandy).

Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: B – Ricola

Ricola has its headquarters in Laufen in the canton of Basel-Country and makes herbal sweets there. Other well-known companies in the Baselbiet include Endress+Hauser and Weleda. The pharmaceutical and chemical industry is also important in the canton.

Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: B – A red Basel crosier on white

The coat of arms shows a red Basel crosier on white, with seven red crockets (Gothic ornaments) on its crook. Seen from the viewer, the crook turns to the right, i.e. away from the flagpole; this is interpreted as turning away from the city of Basel. The black Basel crosier is the coat of arms of Basel-City.

Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: D – A fire parade during carnival time

At the Chienbäse, hundreds of participants carry burning bundles of pine wood through Liestal's darkened old town, along with fire wagons. The custom takes place on carnival Sunday, the Sunday after Ash Wednesday, on the evening before the Basel Morgestraich. It is one of the best-known customs of the Baselbiet.

Source: liestal.ch · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: A – A walk along the municipal boundary in spring

On the Banntag, residents walk the boundaries of their municipality together. In the past this served to check the boundary stones and also had religious significance. In Liestal it takes place on the Monday before Ascension Day, in other municipalities often on or around Ascension Day.

Source: schweizerbauer.ch · Checked October 2026

Correct answer: A – The Baselbieterlied

The Baselbieterlied (lyrics by Wilhelm Senn, 1862) is regarded as the unofficial cantonal anthem. It begins with «Vo Schönebuech bis Ammel» («From Schönenbuch to Anwil») and celebrates the canton's extent and landscape. The Swiss Psalm is the national anthem of Switzerland.

Source: de.wikipedia.org · Checked October 2026