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 APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090019-6

'''FIGURE 2. Stockholm Cultural Center. The new Riksdag is temporarily located in these facilities. (U/OU)''' (picture)

preparing legislation for presentation to the Riksdag, and for handling relations with it, and issuing executive orders to central administrative agencies. These semiautonomous agencies, which are usually headed by career civil servants, directly administer national laws. They operate independently of the ministries, deriving their authority by statute rather than from directives of the responsible ministry. Their routine administrative work includes the inspection and control of subordinate officers, and they sometimes act as administrative courts of appeal. Decisions, rulings, and regulatory decrees issued by the agencies may be invalidated by the cabinet or by the Supreme Administrative Court, but not by the individual ministers.

3. Legislative

The Swedish Riksdag, dating from 1435, is one of the oldest enduring parliaments in the world. The early Riksdag was composed of representatives from the four estates, but the Riksdag Act of 1866 dissolved this system and created a bicameral legislature, with the Upper House composed of representatives elected by provincial and local councils and the Lower House elected directly by voters in the constituencies. The bicameral system lost much of its "separation and balance" purpose with the advent of universal suffrage in 1921 and the subsequent full development of parliamentary government. Mounting agitation for the elimination of the Upper House, prompted in good measure because of its cumbersome, staggered mode of election, more fruit in 1970. The government approved a constitutional reform that replaced the bicameral arrangement with an expanded unicameral legislature. The reconstituted single chamber has 350 seats, just 34 less than the combined strength of the previous houses. The elections in September 1980 were the first held for the new Riksdag and marked the concomitant adoption of a new electoral system under which elections for all parliamentary seats as well as for provincial and local offices are held concurrently every 3 years.

The first session of the single chamber Riksdag convened in January 1971. Of its 350 members, 310 are elected from the 28 districts or constituencies on the basis of population. The remaining 40 seats - the so-called compensatory seats - are awarded on the basis of total national returns and tend to favor the major parties (see below, under Electoral Procedures). Candidacy to the Riksdag is open to all Swedish citizens who are 20 years of age on Election Day and who are registered voters.

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090019-6