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Constitutional Law

Constitutional law
   
    The Swedish Constitution consists of four separate documents:
the Instrument of Government passed in 1974, the Act of Succession
dating from 1810, the Freedom of the Press Act of 1949, and the
Freedom of Expression Act of 1991. In addition, there is a Parliament
Act of 1974, which occupies a position midway between constitutional
and ordinary statute law.
    The Instrument of Government is the most important
constitutional document. It went into effect in 1975, when it replaced
the 1809 Instrument of Government. The new Constitution brought
about no radical changes in the prevailing system of government. The
reform largely involved a formal incorporation of current practices into
the written Constitution. Thus, the new Constitution is consistently
based on the principles of popular sovereignty, representative
democracy, and parliamentarism. A Parliament elected by the people
occupies the pre-eminent position among the branches of
government; it is the foundation for the democratic exercise of power
through the Cabinet.
    The reforming of the Constitution did not end with the enactment
of the new Instrument of Government. In 1976 and 1979, Parliament
passed laws amending the Constitution. The aim of both amendments
was to strengthen the constitutional protection of the human rights and
fundamental freedoms. The new Freedom of Expression Act protects
freedom of expression on the radio and television, in films, videos and
sound recordings, etc., and is based on the same principles as the
Freedom of the Press Act. Thus, for example, the ban on censorship
and freedom of establishment now applies to the entire field of modern
mass media. Only when it comes to the use of radio broadcasting
frequencies might the principle of freedom of establishment not apply
as it does for the freedom of the press. Further, films and videos for
public screening may also be subject to preliminary scrutiny.
    In 1994 the Instrument of Government was amended in order to
make it possible for Sweden to join the European Union. The
agreement on Sweden's entry into the EU was ratified by Parliament in
December that year.

The King

    The King of Sweden—since September 1973 Carl XVI Gustaf—
exerts no political power and takes no part in politics. He represents
the nation. According to the Constitution he is the Head of State. In
this capacity he performs only ceremonial duties and functions as the
official representative of Sweden. One of these official duties is to
op

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