fullmäktigens

Fullmäktigen is a position in the Swedish parliamentary system, specifically in the upper chamber of the Riksdag, the country's parliament. In literal translation, fullmäktigen is Swedish for "plenipotentiary." Fullmäktigen was a position created to provide some representation for the people in the upper chamber of the Riksdag, which was initially formed in 1521 but saw significant reform in the 19th century.

The position of fullmäktigen initially allowed for the counties to send an equal number of representatives to the upper chamber, one of whom was chosen as the plenipotentiary. However, the fullmäktigen had specific voting powers and could only vote in certain circumstances. The fullmäktigen served to ensure that the counties had a unified and agreed-upon stance in the upper chamber. Fullmäktigen also represented the collective interests of the counties and other regional governments.

The position of fullmäktigen remained an integral part of the Swedish Parliament until 1971, when significant changes were made to the way the upper chamber was structured. In the following year, the legislation that supported the fullmäktigen position was repealed, effectively removing the position from the Riksdag's organizational framework. Today, the term fullmäktigen is mainly used in historical contexts and is seen as an interesting relic of the Swedish parliament's past structure. The changes of the early 1970s were part of a broader effort to refashion the Swedish system of government to better accommodate the changing needs of the population.