Swedish democracy is founded on the free formation of opinion and on universal and equal suffrage. When the ancient swedish land in 1809 was split into two parts. Sweden s unbloody revolution of 1772 was legitimized by the parliament in new versions of the instrument of government in 1772 and 1789, making the king a constitutional autocrat. All public power in sweden proceeds from the people. To an analysis of the principles and practice of the constitution, and of the nature and functioning of swedish parties, the.
The constitution of sweden contains an introduction describing the swedish form of government and how it developed, followed by the law texts in their entirety in english translation, as of 1 january 2015. State papers relating the change of the constitution of. The estates could assemble only when summoned by him. Jacob sprengtporten, in 1772 had secured sveaborg for gustavus iii. Which country has the oldest written constitution answers. Foreign observers regarded her as the freest country in the world.
From 1814 to 1905 the act of succession also regulated succession to the norwegian throne, due to the union of sweden norway. She cooperated with prince frederick adolf of sweden and gustaf adolf reuterholm. The swedish constitution consists of four fundamental laws. Swedish democracy is founded on the free formation of opinion and on universal and equal suf frage. However, like those constitutions, the swedish constitution of 1772 is no longer used or in effect today.
It shall be realised through a representative and parliamentary polity and through local selfgovernment. It came about after the succession crisis which occurred after the death. In 1974, why did the swedish government decide to strip. State papers relating the change of the constitution of sweden.
Between 1720 and 1772 sweden had the most advanced constitution in europe. What state constitution is the oldest and in force today. When sweden was split in 1809, and finland was created as a russian grand duchy, this constitutional autocracy was very well fitted, and remained in force. Under the finnish constitution, executive power is vested in the king and the government, with the king possessing only residual powers. The swedish constitution of 1772, was also a written and codified constitution like those used in connecticut and corsica. Jacek jedruch, constitutions, elections and legislatures of poland, 14931993, summit, nj, ejj books, 1998, isbn 0781806372.
He was the eldest son of adolf frederick, king of sweden and queen louise ulrika a sister of king frederick the great of prussia, and a first cousin of empress catherine the great of russia by reason of their common descent from christian august of. It came about after the succession crisis which occurred after the death of charles xii of sweden, when the monarch died childless during the great northern war, leaving two. In addition to the fundamental laws, sweden has a riksdag act. The authoritarian constitution of 1772 was abolished and power was returned to parliament by the new instrument of government adopted on june 6, 1809. It shall be realised through a representative and parliamentary polity and through local self government. The swedish constitution consists of four fundamental laws swedish. The constitution of sweden the fundamental laws and the riksdag act. The constitution of 1772 in finland was to remain in force until 1919. Sweden s bloodless revolution of 1772 was legitimized by the parliament in new versions of the instrument of government in 1772 and 1789, making the king a constitutional autocrat. Finland became autonomous grand duchy of russian empire, under direct control of czar alexander i. The white ribbon on his arm was the sign to recognice the revolutionaries. However, the swedish counterpart withered quickly, while the valhalla society took root in the suomenlinna swedish. However, like those constitutions, the swedish constitution of 1772 is no.
Swedens bloodless coup detat of 1772 was legitimized by the riksdag of the estates in new versions of the instrument of government, swedish constitution of 1772 and the union and security act from 1789, making the king a constitutional autocrat. It established once again a division of power between the parliament and the king. Gustav iii instituted the constitution of 1772, which gave himself absolute power, stripping parliament of a lot of the power and liberties it. Swedens constitution of 1974 with amendments through 2012. The pretext was that it was necessary to restore order in the anarchic polishlithuanian commonwealth. As another strong contender as the worlds oldest written constitution, the commonwealth of massachusetts drafted and adopted its state constitution in 1780. The revolution of 1772, also known as the coup of gustav iii was a swedish coup detat performed by king gustav iii of sweden on august 19, 1772 to introduce absolute monarchy against the riksdag of the estates, resulting in the end of the age of libertyand the introduction of the swedish constitution of 1772. This has a unique status in between constitutional and ordinary law.
King gustav iii stages a coup detat against the parliament in stockholm with the support of hovpartiet. It was originally established to provide the parliament riksdag with the. Sweden s constitution of 1974 with amendments through 2012 subsequently amended. Her ideal was the swedish constitution of 1772, which she saw as a good tool for an enlightened aristocracy, and the war and the union and security act had made her a leading part of the opposition. It was made a part of swedish uniforms until his son gusraviv was forced to resign the revolution of 1772 he was born to. Swedish act of succession historipedia official wiki. Sweden was the first country to establish the office of ombudsman. Gustav iii, king of sweden 177192, who reasserted the royal power over the riksdag parliament. Swedens constitution of 1772 took effect through a bloodless coup detat, the revolution of 1772, carried out by king gustav iii, who had become king in 1771, establishing a brief absolute. European and middle eastern perspectives swedish research institute in istanbulayval. The real reason was the avarice of three imperialistic, absolute states whose political systems completely contradicted the polish traditions of democracy, civil liberty, and selfgovernment. In 1766 he married sofia magdalena, daughter of king frederick v of denmark. It dates back to 1809, created by the constitution.
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