three cases, votes require a majority in both councils in order to pass: emergency legislation, votes on subsidies, guarantees, or any expenditure of more than 20 million CHF on a non-recurring basis, or 2 million CHF on a recurring basis. In any case, where a majority of the council is required, the president of the council will vote. Until 2014, votes in the chamber were conducted with members raising their hands to be counted. After Politnetz, a Swiss political information platform, recorded a 2012 vote regarding an import ban on reptile skins, it found that the official vote count differed from what was shown in the video. In what was called "Stöckligate", Politnetz, shows that several votes on the matter all resulted in miscounts. (The name Stöckligate refers to a colloquial name for the Council of States. A stöckli is a second home built on a farm for the elder farmer after the property has been deeded to the heirs. The name is applied to the chamber as it is viewed as having older members than the National Council.). As a result of the affair, council member This Jenny introduced a bill to require electronic voting. Since 1 March 2014, votes in the Council of states are conducted electronically with a tally shown on electronic display boards. The rule changes also allowed for disclosure of how members voted. The recorded votes are made public for votes on overall bills, final votes, or votes that require a qualified majority. Names and votes will be published if 10 members make the request. Membership Council members earn a base salary of 26,000 CHF per year plus a 440 CHF per diem for attending sessions of the council or the committees. Members also receive 33,000 CHF per year for staff and material expenses. Members also receive food, travel and hotel allowances and a pension contribution. The Swiss government estimates that a member typically receives 130,000 to 150,000 CHF per year. Seats by party |- !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:left;" colspan=2| Parties !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:left;" | Ideology !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;"| 2003 !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;"| 2007 !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;"| 2011 !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;"| 2015 !style="background-color:#E9E9E9;text-align:right;"| 2019 |- | width=5px style="background-color: " | | style="text-align:left;" |Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC) | style="text-align:left;" | Christian democracy | style="text-align:right;" | 15 | style="text-align:right;" | 15 | style="text-align:right;" | 13 | style="text-align:right;" | 13 | style="text-align:right;" | 13 |- | style="background-color: " | | style="text-align:left;" |FDP.The Liberals (FDP/PRD) | style="text-align:left;" | Classical liberalism |