Flags and arms of cantons of Switzerland is a design by Paul Boesch, dated to 1943. The crozier symbolizes the former Prince-Bishopric of Basel, the seven stripes represent the seven districts of the Bernese Jura. It was officially recognized as a regional flag by Bern from the early 1950s. The canton of Jura was created in 1979 after a referendum, but only three of the seven districts opted to join. The seven stripes were retained in the cantonal flag regardless, and there remains some irredentism calling for a restored unity of all seven districts. Flags and arms of cantons of Switzerland Each of the 26 modern cantons
Districts of Switzerland Districts of Switzerland In contrast to centrally organised states, in the federally constituted Switzerland each canton is completely free to decide its own internal organisation. Therefore, there exists a variety of structures and terminology for the subnational entities between canton and municipality, loosely termed districts. Most cantons are divided into "Bezirke" (German for districts, singular "Bezirk"). They are also termed "Ämter" (Lucerne, singular "Amt"), "Amtsbezirke" (Bern, "Amtsbezirk"), "district" (in French) or "distretto" (Ticino and part of Graubünden). The "Bezirke" generally provide only administration and court organization. However, for historical reasons districts in cantons Graubünden and Schwyz are their own legal