Page:The Constitution of Sweden (2016).pdf/15

THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW IN SWEDEN 1975, although it was frequently amended during its 165 years of existence.

One of the first important changes was the 1840 ministerial reform, in which the King’s chancellery, a predecessor of today’s Government Offices, was divided into ministries. The heads of the ministries no longer merely reported to the King and the ministers in the Council of State, but themselves became members of the Council. This made the work of government more effective.

The most radical constitutional changes of the 19th century were introduced when long-delayed representational reforms were finally enacted in 1866. These had been on the agenda ever since the new Instrument of Government was adopted in 1809. The old Parliament of the Four Estates was replaced by a bicameral Parliament and a new Riksdag Act was adopted. A particularly important amendment was that after 1867, Parliament would meet each year. Initially it met only in the spring, but after 1949 it met in the autumn, too.

The 125 (later 150) members of the First Chamber were elected by the county councils and town councils in major towns outside the county councils. Between 1866 and 1909 elections to the First Chamber were held every nine years, between 1909 and 1921 every six years and after this every eight years. About one eighth of the members of the Chamber were replaced or re-elected each year. Elections to county councils and town councils took place in accordance with a graduated voting scale which gave more votes to the wealthy and those on high incomes. This, in association with highly restrictive eligibility requirements, led to the First Chamber being dominated by landowners and high-ranking State officials and officers. The 190 (later 230) members of the Second Chamber were elected directly by enfranchised male citizens. The right to vote required an income or property above a certain limit. Until 1920, elections took place every third year and afterwards every fourth year. The Second Chamber was dominated by the peasantry. Legislative decisions required a consensus of both Chambers. In tax and budget matters the rules governing decisions were the same, but if the Chambers made different decisions then a joint vote was held.

Making the form of government more democratic was implemented in stages in the early decades of the 20th century. In principle, the suffrage reform of 1909 gave practically all men the right to vote in elections to the Second Chamber. At the same time, a proportional electoral system was introduced, based on a party system which was still in its infancy. Ten years later the right to vote in local government elections became universal and equal for both men and women. In 1921 women finally obtained the right to vote in Riksdag elections.

Independently of and alongside the 1809 Instrument of Government a different form of government gradually evolved. More and more, the King was compelled to take the views of the Riksdag into consideration in his choice of government ministers. Power over appropriations was the most important means of pressure the Riksdag possessed. The King’s right to decide government matters himself first shrank and then in the end virtually disappeared. The Councillors of State became the 14