ståndsriksdagen

Ståndsriksdagen, or the Estates Parliament, was the representative assembly of the Swedish realm under the old constitutional system, including Finland when it was part of Sweden. It existed from the medieval period until 1866 and met by invitation of the monarch to discuss state affairs, taxes, and legislation.

The body was composed of four estates: the nobility, the clergy, the burghers (bourgeoisie), and the peasants. Each estate had its own assembly and voting rights, and decisions typically required the assent of the estates as a whole. The exact procedures and weight of representation varied over time, but the Estates wielded considerable influence, particularly over taxation and lawmaking. The assembly was presided over by speakers chosen by the estates and met in Stockholm, though sessions could be convened in other towns.

Historically, the Ståndsriksdagen acted as a check on royal power, especially during periods of constitutional struggle. During the Age of Liberty (1719–72), the estates gained leverage at the expense of the monarchy, though royal authority was restored in later decades. The 1809 Instrument of Government introduced a constitutional framework that limited monarchic power and formalized parliamentary processes, while remaining under the overarching Estates system for much of the period.

In 1866, the Estates Parliament was replaced by a bicameral Riksdag, inaugurating a modern representative system and ending the era of the four-estate assembly. The term Ståndsriksdagen remains a central concept in Swedish political history, referring to the historic era and its distinctive parliamentary structure.