Switzerland, Government

The Swiss Confederation consists of some 3,000 communes, which, like the 26 cantons (including six demi-cantons, or Halbkantone, which function as full cantons), are largely autonomous; they range in size from Bagnes in Valais, with an area of 109 square miles (282 square km), to Ponte Tresa in Ticino, with an area of 0.1 square mile (0.3 square km). From the multiplicity of small communal republics