propositionen

Propositionen is a term used in several languages to denote formal proposals presented to a legislative or deliberative body for discussion, modification, and decision. In political contexts, a proposition is a draft law, policy measure, or constitutional amendment that a governing body or members of that body are invited to approve or reject. Propositions are typically introduced by the government or by legislators and pass through stages of examination, debate, and voting before they become law or are discarded.

In Sweden, the term proposition (propositionen in definite form) refers specifically to government bills presented to the Riksdag. A proposition includes a rationale, the proposed legal text, and often an impact assessment. It is reviewed by parliamentary committees, debated in the plenary session, and, if approved, enacted into law. Swedish propositions are published with a year and a number (for example, Prop. 2023/24:1), and they represent the government’s policy proposals for consideration by Parliament.

Outside of a parliamentary system, the word can also describe other forms of formal proposals. In some jurisdictions, propositions are ballot measures or referenda that voters decide directly, rather than a bill moving through the legislature. In English-language contexts, a proposition may be synonymous with a bill or measure, including both government initiatives and citizen-initiated proposals.

In logic and philosophy, a proposition is a declarative statement that expresses a claim which can be assessed as true or false, distinct from acts of proposing or voting. The common linguistic root is Latin proponere, meaning to put forward or to place before.