This book investigates the extent to which individual conscience influences political decision-making processes within the Swiss democratic system. Jurg Steiner, a prominent scholar in political science, utilizes empirical data from specific Swiss case studies to analyze how personal moral convictions interact with party discipline and institutional constraints. The work establishes a framework for understanding the tension between private ethics and public policy formulation in a consensus-based political environment.

Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of Swiss political institutions and the mechanics of democratic decision-making. Scholars frequently cite the text for its rigorous empirical methodology and its nuanced exploration of the role of the individual within a highly structured political system.