Вы находитесь на странице: 1из 6

Riksdag & Election of

Government
Influence of the EU on Riksdag

Reduction of legislative powers of Riksdag some legislation now enacted


by European bodies
- Remedied with an EU Affairs Standing Committee, every party in
Riksdagen has a seat

History of the Riksdag

4 estates of 16th century


Bicameral parliament introduced in 18th century to help aid
underrepresentation
Unicameral parliament introduced in 1970

Government formation

Power relies on being tolerated by parliament, not winning majority


Maximum term: 4 years
Speaker suggests PM who is voted on: if no agreement reached 4 times
then extraordinary election is held
Speaker talks to all political parties & 3 deputy speakers, then proposes
candidate
- Candidate only needs 175 of 349 MPs to not vote against him
Most governments are minority governments with coalitions (especially
with non-socialist parties), no majority party since 1971

Appointing Ministers

PM choses ministers
No formal requirements; only one being Minister must be Swedish citizen
for 10 years. If coalition, usually negotiated how positions are split,
usually a gender balance also
Minister need not be member of Riksdag but if he is, gives up certain
rights such as voting or working in committees (this is done by a sub), but
still keeps governmental seat

Strong or weak Riksdag

Comparatively strong (e.g. government cant speed up the budget as in


France)
Sovereignty votes of no confidence on bills and MPs/PM (no alternative
needs to be given like Germany)
MP can make their own bills, not only amending and supplementing

Weak
Limited MP immunity, e.g. tax evasion
Argued that Riksdag is not the place where political decisions are made
(in govt. and committees)
Puppet show readings of govt. proposals usually dont result in
amendments
MPs have many roles, can lead to connections that can unfairly influence
Riksdagen
Being a member of a standing committee for a long time can create great
knowledge in a limited area; hard then to gain comprehensive view of the
entire picture

Majoritarian or Consensual

Left-right block resembles two party politics


Dominance of the Social Democrats for the large part of 20 th Century

Core Executive: Government


Offices & Central Administration

3 core areas; Riksdag, administration, EU


- Riksdag: introducing bills, defending them vis--vis government
- Admin: interpreting and executing Riksdag policies
- EU: defending and maintaining relations with other EU states and
promoting Swedish interests
Institutionally similar to other countries; difference is regulation e.g.
ministerial responsibility seen in negative light

Composition of government

Core executive includes all organisations and procedures within


central government, wider than term executive
Constitution doesnt detail how government should be organised or
decision making process, done by PM instead
20-22 Ministers usually, historically varied between 9-14
Most decision making collective
Decision making procedure based on traditions; not stated within
Constitution

Advantages & Disadvantages with Swedish Central


Administration
Advantages

Harder for MP to exploit system of semi-independent authorities

E.G. ministerial rule can result in MP trying to exert influence in areas


to please supporters
Government agencies spread out throughout the country, not possible if
they has been an integrated part of ministry

Disadvantages

Ambition to decentralise creates less rigid staffing structure

The Judiciary
Political vs. legal sphere

Political aspiring to optimal solutions and goal set with the view of
satisfying political majority
Judicial aspires the right answer
Legitimacy of judicial sphere based on image of the impartial arbiter who
is above politics

Judicialisation of the political system

Can influence politics in 3 ways


1. Conflicts between various bodies e.g. executive vs. parliament,
national vs. subnational and between public authorities are solved
by judiciary
2. Advising and reviewing old and new laws
3. Establishing general practice when admin decisions are appealed
against & when public body actions are scrutinised
Reasons for above include judges taking a more active role with newer
judges being appointed and some political issues being transferred into
judicial and legal ones as they become easier to deal with

Organisation of Swedens judiciary

Two types of court: administrative & civil and criminal

No clear distinction between functions of judiciary and government; latter


can sometimes act as court of appeal (both regulated under same chapter
in Constitution)
No constitutional court, instead has Council on Legislation
Judicial review is limited (must conflict with rule of fundamental law or
superior statute)
Lack of constitutional court & construction of judicial review lead some to
believe Sweden has weak judiciary
- Counteracted by its appeal systems (can be handled by government
entities as well as courts)
- Rule of law upheld by government entities as they could review the
substance of an appeal
- Courts can also review substance, making appeals strong
- Play strong role in decision making process (chairmen of committees
usually judges for new legislation)
Allowing courts into the political system helps to guarantee the rule of
law

Regional and local government


Two levels; ln (20) and kommuner (290)
Local government structure

Emphasised as one of the cornerstones of Swedish democracy in


Regeringsformen (Ch. 1 S. 1)
Local authorities can take action relating to their own circumstances, as
long as the role doesnt belong to another authority

Role of local government

Mainly stated in Regeringsformen and Kommunallagen


- Attend to matters that affect their area, as long as the role is not
allocated to another authority

Not permitted to run for profit businesses, but the rule is flexible e.g.
can receive dividends on capital from limited companies
Right to levy taxation
Right to standby decision content unless its e.g. illegal

Reason for Soc. Democrat dominance

Gained substantial support from the electorate


Ability to change its policies and appearance according to the country
situation
Maintaining the right-left pragmatism and dividing non-socialist parties
by appeasing some of them
Institutional structure outside Riksdag; workers parties and unions
generally give economic support

Separation of powers

Most visible at a supranational level e.g. EU


Government and Riksdag can dismiss each other

Consensual tradition

More evident in the policy making process than formation of government


Standing committes allow MPs to discuss issues before party politics
becomes involved, scentists and academics can also contribute
Based on pragmatism, expertise and compromise (Lewin)
Most obvious at county council level

Swedish Political History

Вам также может понравиться