Grundvallarlög

Grundvallarlög are legal provisions that establish the basic constitutional framework of a state. They are typically placed at the top of the legal order and have higher status than ordinary legislation. Grundvallarlög define the structure of government (for example, the separation of powers, elections, and the organization of the executive, legislative, and judiciary), protect fundamental rights, and set rules governing how the constitution itself can be amended.

The process for changing grundvallarlög is usually more onerous than for ordinary laws. Common requirements include supermajorities in the legislature, approval by two successive parliaments, or approval in a referendum. These conditions are designed to provide stability and guard against rapid changes that could undermine fundamental rights or the framework of government.

Content typically covered includes: the distribution of powers, basic rights and freedoms, the method of government formation and dissolution, procedures for constitutional amendments, and emergency powers or national security provisions. In some jurisdictions, grundvallarlög form part of a written constitution; in others they are separate but equally entrenched acts known collectively as the constitutional framework.

Note that the exact meaning and status of grundvallarlög differ between countries and languages. The term is used in some Nordic-language legal literature to describe constitutional acts with a fundamental character, but the precise legal status and naming (for example grunnlög, grundlag, or grundlagar) vary by jurisdiction.