betänkanden

A betänkande is a formal report prepared by a Swedish parliamentary committee (utskott) for the Riksdag. It assesses a matter referred by the Parliament or a government proposal and forms the main basis for the chamber's decisions. Betänkanden accompany or follow propositions (government bills) and can also address inquiries, policy reviews, or budgetary issues.

Contents typically include a background, an analysis of the issue, proposed resolutions or amendments, and reasons for the committee’s recommendations. Many betänkanden present a main proposal (förslag till riksdagen) and may include minority opinions or dissenting statements if sides disagree.

Procedure: When a matter is referred to a committee, expert testimony, hearings, and written submissions may be gathered. The committee drafts the betänkande, which is then approved by the majority of members and presented to the Riksdag as the committee’s report. The document is publicly available.

Significance: Betänkanden are central to Swedish legislative work, because they translate policy debate into concrete parliamentary recommendations. They differ from government propositions, which are the government's formal proposals, and from official inquiries that conclude with a betänkande rather than a government bill.