The Chancellery is the staff office of the Government Council and ensures the smooth operation of the cantonal executive as a collegial body. Furthermore, the Chancellery provides general services to the cantonal administration relating to communications, postal service, IT, and e-government.

The Chancellery is headed by the Chancellor, who in turn reports to the president of the Government Council.

Assisting the Government Council

The Chancellery assists the Government Council in its administrative and legal tasks and duties:

Advantages:

• Preparing the weekly meeting of the Government Council
• Preparing the decrees of the Government Council for publication (publications division)
• Communicating and providing information on behalf of the Government Council
• Representation on intercantonal boards
• Handling appeals at Government Council level and providing legal advice (Legal Service)
• Developing and implementing the objectives of the legislature via the Governmental Strategy and Performance Management Division
• Organising events (e.g. receptions for ambassadors) and providing the usher service (events and representative functions)

Cross-departmental tasks

The Chancellery serves as an interface between the cantonal departments and works with the municipalities, the federal government, and the neighbouring cantons. Certain activities require close cooperation with the various departments:

Advantages:

• Managing and improving the canton’s website and promoting and simplifying the option of contacting the administration electronically.
• Coordinating cross-departmental external affairs tasks
• Running the postal service of the central administration and its 145 offices
• Organizing media conferences, redacting and sending out media releases, and producing multimedia content
• Managing the internet portal and social media channels of the canton
• Running the BIDP (Bill on Information and Data Protection) Coordination Centre