Rättskällorna

Rättskällorna, or the legal sources that form the basis of Swedish law, consist of several distinct categories that together provide the authority for legal norms. The primary source is the written law, comprising the Constitution, acts passed by the Riksdag, and royal decrees. These statutes hold the highest authority and form the foundation of the legal system. Above all these lies the Constitution, which sets out the fundamental principles and limits on power.

Secondary sources include legal conventions and norms that have developed over time and have gained acceptance through continuous practice. International treaties, when adopted by the Riksdag, become part of domestic law and may take precedence in specific contexts. Administrative regulations, issued by competent state agencies, elaborate on legislative mandates and are binding when they fall within the scope approved by law.

Tertiary sources are derived from custom, judicial decisions, and legal commentary. While individual court decisions are not law in the same sense as statutes, through the principle of *stare decisis* they create persuasive precedent that guides future rulings. Legal scholarship, such as authors and treatises, provides analysis and interpretation that aids courts but does not constitute binding authority.

The Swedish legal system places statutes and the Constitution at the apex, followed by obligatory regulations, then judicial decisions and scholarly works. Together, these rättskällorna ensure a coherent, hierarchical framework that balances legislative intent with jurisprudential development.