Who Makes the Laws in Sweden
The Constitution takes precedence over all other laws. In other words, the content of other laws must never conflict with what is in the Constitution. Sweden is a member of the European Union, of the EU. As a result, the Riksdag is not the only body empowered to decide which laws apply in Sweden. It shares this role with the EU institutions. The Reichstag decides on the adoption of new laws. Most legislative proposals are initiated by the government. About 200 bills are submitted to the Reichstag each year by the government. Some of them propose entirely new legislation, while others propose amendments to existing laws. Basic laws protect our democracy. They contain the basic rules for political decision-making in Sweden. The fundamental laws therefore occupy a very special place in society.
One of the most important tasks of the Reichstag is to enact laws. Laws are rules that everyone in a country must follow. Legislation is a way to change things in society. As a rule, it is the government that submits proposals for new laws. However, proposals may also come from one or more members of the Reichstag. Amendments to the Basic Laws must be adopted twice by the Reichstag by a simple majority of the votes cast, with elections in between. [1] Within 15 days of the first adoption of an amendment, at least one-tenth of all Members may request a referendum, which must be seconded by at least one-third of all Members. [1] The referendum takes place at the same time as the Reichstag elections and the amendment is considered rejected if a simple majority of voters reject it. provided that the majority is the majority of all valid votes. [1] If the people do not reject an amendment, it still has to be ratified by the newly elected Reichstag. [1] Such a referendum never took place. [1] In Sweden, human rights are mainly protected by the Constitution and other laws and regulations.
In addition, the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms has been in force in Sweden since 1995. There are also other international intergovernmental agreements establishing human rights. Some bills include proposals for new laws that require extensive deliberation and debate before a vote can take place, while others include policy proposals or major or minor amendments to existing laws. An increasing proportion of legislation concerning Sweden is adopted by the European Union. Some of these laws apply directly, without prior approval from the Riksdag, while others must be transposed into the applicable Swedish law before they can enter into force. Basic laws are more difficult to amend than other laws. Allow time for reflection and ensure that the consequences have been carefully weighed before changes are made. It is to protect our democracy. Members of the Riksdag debate and adopt new laws and legislative amendments in plenary. Proposals usually come from the government in the form of government bills. Photo: Melker Dahlstrand The most important of the basic laws is the instrument of government (Swedish: Regeringsformen, RF). It sets out the fundamental principles of political life in Sweden, which define rights and freedoms.
The Swedish Constitution consists of four basic laws: the instrument of government, the Inheritance Act, the Freedom of the Press Act and the Basic Law on Freedom of Expression. In addition to the Basic Laws, Sweden has passed a law on the Riksdag. It has a unique status between constitutional law and common law. Some central government agencies are also regulators, i.e. they exercise control themselves. In this way, the State reviews and supports the work of district councils, regions and municipalities. The Swedish School Inspectorate, for example, is a regulatory body that inspects schools to ensure they comply with laws and regulations. Read the full version of the government instrument and other basic laws on the Documents and Laws page: Perhaps one of the keys to Sweden`s success as a nation is the rigorous and systematic way in which government proposals are turned into law. Here`s how it happens. National level: The Riksdag, which has the power to pass laws, represents the people at the national level. The government governs Sweden by implementing the decisions of the Riksdag and introducing new laws and legislative amendments.
The government is supported in this regard by government departments and agencies. Ombudsmen for Justice (OJ) – or parliamentary ombudsmen, as they are officially called – are elected by the Reichstag to ensure that government agencies and officials comply with applicable laws and regulations in the performance of their duties. The instrument of government generally describes how the Reichstag is elected and how its work is organized. The procedures for forming a government and the rules governing the work of the government are also established. It contains rules on when the Reichstag must legislate and on matters that may be decided by the government. It also defines how the Riksdag amends the Constitution. New laws can only be enacted by the Riksdag. An adopted law may be stopped or amended only if the Reichstag adopts a new law.
A law can regulate everything from shoplifting penalties to phasing out a nuclear power plant. The amendment generally modernized and simplified the text and strengthened several fundamental rights and freedoms.