regeringsfunktion

Regeringsfunktion is a term used in political science to describe the set of activities through which a government exercises sovereign authority and governs a state. It covers both policy formulation and policy implementation, the administration of public services, fiscal management, and the conduct of national and international relations. The notion emphasizes how authority is organized, delegated, and coordinated across ministries, agencies, and other state actors to achieve common objectives.

The concept rests on the functions governments are expected to perform, such as maintaining public order, providing public goods, redistributing resources, ensuring macroeconomic stability, defending the state, and representing the country abroad. In parliamentary systems, these functions are typically exercised by the cabinet and ministries, supported by the civil service; the legitimacy of action often hinges on parliamentary confidence and constitutional rules. In other systems the distribution of executive power may differ, but the underlying need to coordinate policy across sectors remains central.

In Sweden, the term should not be confused with regeringsformen, the Instrument of Government, which codifies constitutional rules for government power. The Government Offices (Regeringskansliet) are responsible for coordinating the implementation of the government's policies and ensuring coherence across ministries.

Analyses of regeringsfunktion commonly address efficiency and effectiveness, accountability and transparency, regulatory capacity, crisis management, and administrative modernization. Challenges include inter-ministerial coordination, bureaucratic fragmentation, and balancing political leadership with professional administration.