The foreigner, seeking Swiss citizenship, must first show that he has resided in Switzerland during the two years preceding his application, and that there is nothing in his relations to his native country that will involve prejudice to the Confederation by his admission to Swiss citizenship. These conditions being satisfactorily complied with, he is granted by the Federal Council authority to be received as a citizen of a Canton and of a Commune; and for which permit he pays the Confederation thirty-five francs. The Federal Council, with considerate regard for the serious undertaking of the applicant, allows two years within which the permit may be used, and if, at the expiration of that period, it be desired, will renew it upon the payment of a small additional tax. On receiving the permit the holder sets out to find communal citizenship, as the first essential step. This, as described, is practically a matter of purchase. With this acquired, he must supplement it with cantonal citizenship, and of that Canton in which the Commune is located, otherwise it is of no avail. The agreement for communal membership is always predicated upon the favorable action of a Canton, and the consideration is not paid until its action is had. The cantonal citizenship is the _pons asinorum_,--it is the cap-stone, and the most difficult to secure. The permit from the Federal Council is freely given; the communal admission a question largely of francs, with some slight inquiry as to character and condition; but the Canton considers the petition from a different and higher stand-point. The Canton is not particularly concerned about the applicant being able-bodied and possessed of those qualities and conditions which insure contribution from him rather than distribution to him from the common property of the Commune. The Canton has regard to whether the applicant will be a desirable citizen, and not to the material aspects which are paramount with the Commune. It occurs, not infrequently, that a successful purchaser of communal membership fails as a petitioner to pass the cantonal ordeal.[61] The granting of a cantonal or communal naturalization without the previous approval of the Federal Council is void; and the federal authority to acquire citizenship is equally futile, until followed up by cantonal and communal naturalization according to the laws of the Canton. This involved process that hedges Swiss citizenship, and the cost of its selection in a desirable Commune, have deterred many foreigners who have taken up their permanent residence in Switzerland, from making any attempt for its acquisition. The number of this class at present is estimated to be nearly ten per cent. of the whole population; and the Federal Council is considering the policy of amending the law, so that naturalization may be more easily effected, in order to convert a great portion of these strangers into Swiss citizens. When Swiss