konstitutionen

The konstitutionen, or constitution, is the fundamental legal framework of a state. It defines the organization and operation of government, allocates powers among institutions, and protects the basic rights of citizens. It also sets the rules by which laws are created and changed and often establishes limits on state authority.

Constitutions exist in different forms. Some are codified in a single document; others are spread across several foundational laws or statutes, sometimes referred to as grundlag or basic laws. They can be rigid, requiring special procedures to amend, or flexible, allowing changes through ordinary legislation.

Common features include the separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judiciary; checks and balances; and mechanisms for constitutional review. Many constitutions guarantee fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, religion, equality before the law, and due process. They also define electoral rules and the procedures for government formation and dissolution.

Historical development: The concept has ancient roots in legal charters and social contracts and matured in the modern era with written constitutions such as the United States Constitution. Today most democracies have some form of constitutional framework that limits the exercise of political power and enshrines civil liberties.

In the Swedish context, the term konstitutionen is frequently treated as synonymous with grundlag; Sweden’s constitutional framework rests on four fundamental laws that regulate government structure and citizen rights and are designed to be difficult to amend.