Grundlagarna

Grundlagarna is the collective term for Sweden’s four fundamental laws that make up the constitution. They establish the framework for government, define citizens’ rights, and regulate how laws are made and changed. The four laws are designed to protect the rule of law, limit governmental power, and safeguard democratic procedures.

The four fundamental laws are:

- Regeringsformen (RF) – the Form of Government. It outlines the organization and powers of the state, the roles of the Riksdag (parliament), the Government, and the courts, and it sets out basic rights and the principle of separation of powers.

- Tryckfrihetsförordningen (TF) – the Freedom of the Press Act. It protects freedom of the press and includes the public access to official documents, a cornerstone of the public’s right to information known as offentlighetsprincipen.

- Yttrandefrihetsgrundlagen (YGL) – the Freedom of Expression Act. It protects freedom of expression in media other than print, such as radio, television, and online platforms, within defined limits.

- Successionsordningen (SO) – the Act of Succession. It regulates who may inherit the Swedish throne and the rules governing dynastic succession; the monarch’s role today is largely ceremonial.

Amendment and constitutional process: Changes to the grundlagarna require a special procedure — two successive decisions by the Riksdag with an election between them, and the second decision must reflect the same proposal as the first. This two-step process ensures stability and broad political consensus before fundamental changes are made.

Significance: The grundlagarna constitute the highest level of law in Sweden, setting the structure of government and protecting essential civil liberties, including freedoms of expression and the press, and defining the monarchy’s constitutional status.