Fundamentallakien

Fundamentallakien, meaning "fundamental law" in Swedish, refers to a collection of Swedish laws that are considered to be of a higher order and more difficult to amend than ordinary legislation. These laws establish the basic principles of Swedish governance and protect fundamental rights and freedoms. The most prominent of these are the Fundamental Laws of the Realm, which include the Instrument of Government (Regeringsformen), the Freedom of the Press Act (Tryckfrihetsförordningen), the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression (Yttrandefrihetsgrundlagen), and the Act of Succession (Successionsordningen).

The Instrument of Government outlines the structure of the Swedish state, the powers of the government and the Riksdag (parliament), and the principles of democratic governance. The Freedom of the Press Act and the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression safeguard freedom of speech and the press, establishing principles of public access to information and the right to publish. The Act of Succession determines the line of succession to the Swedish throne.

Amendments to these fundamental laws require a more rigorous legislative process than ordinary laws. Typically, a proposal must be passed by the Riksdag, then a general election must be held, and the subsequent Riksdag must pass the same proposal again. This ensures that changes to the foundational principles of Swedish society are carefully considered and have broad democratic support. The concept of fundamentallakien is central to the Swedish legal and constitutional framework, providing stability and safeguarding democratic values.