riksdagen

Riksdagen, or the Parliament of Sweden, is the national legislature and the supreme decision-making body of Sweden. It has 349 members elected for four-year terms through proportional representation. Members are elected in multi-member constituencies using a modified Sainte-Laguë method, with a national electoral threshold of 4 percent or 12 percent in a constituency.

Riksdagen enacts laws, decides on the government’s budget, and oversees the administration. It approves the Prime Minister and the cabinet; government ministers may be subject to motions of no confidence. The Riksdag also ratifies international treaties and supervises executive power through inquiries and hearings.

The Riksdag operates through committees; standing committees prepare most policy decisions and draft legislation, and the chamber votes on bills and motions. The Speaker (talman) presides over debates and chairs the presidium, which also includes four Deputy Speakers.

Sessions are held in regular cycles each year in Stockholm; extraordinary sessions may be convened. The legislative process typically includes readings, committee work, and votes on proposed laws and budgets, with opportunities for amendments and debates before final adoption.

History and constitutional framework: The institution has its roots in medieval assemblies that evolved into a national legislature. After the 1809 constitution it became the central legislative body; in 1971 Sweden adopted a new unicameral system, and since then the Riksdag has consisted of 349 members elected for four years. Sweden is a constitutional monarchy, and while the monarchy remains ceremonial, the government is formed by a Prime Minister and cabinet that require support from the Riksdag.