Portal:Constitution of Sweden

The Swedish Constitution consists of four fundamental laws (Grundlagar):

• The 1974 Instrument of Government (Regeringsformen)
• The 1810 Act of Succession (Successionsordningen)
• The 1949 Freedom of the Press Act (Tryckfrihetsförordningen)
• The 1991 Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression (Yttrandefrihetsgrundlagen)

Furthermore, there is the 1974 Riksdag Act (Riksdagsordningen), specifying the working order of the Swedish Parliament. It is consider to have special status, and certain parts of it are harder to change than ordinary law, yet it does not qualify as a fundamental law.

To amend or to make a revision of a fundamental law, the Parliament needs to approve the changes twice in two successive terms, with a general election having been held in between. The change can be dismissed but not formally approved by a popular vote coinciding with such a general election, although this option has never been utilised. If the people do not dismiss a change, it still has to be ratified by the newly elected Parliament.

Fundamental laws

Current

• Instrument of Government (1974)
• Act of Succession (1810)
• Freedom of the Press Act (1949)
• Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression (1991) [1]

Supplementary

• The Riksdag Act (1974)

Compilation

• Constitution of Sweden (2016)

Historic

• Instrument of Government (1809)
• The Riksdag Act (1866)