The Riksdag Act
June 22, 1866 as amended up to and including the year 1953.
We, CARL, by the Grace of God, King of Sweden, Norway, the Goths and the Wends, hereby make known that as the Estates of the Realm in the manner conforming to the fundamental law have adopted the proposal brought forward by us regarding a new Riksdag Act, this Riksdag Act in accordance with Article 82 of The Instrument of Government shall have the force of a fundamental law exactly as follows word for word:
We, the undersigned Estates of the Realm of Sweden, counts, barons, bishops, nobles, clergy, burghers and peasants, who are now, on our own behalf and on behalf of our brethren at home, assembled at a general Riksdag, hereby make known that as the King in Council by means of a gracious proposition of January 5, 1863, has delivered for our consideration a proposal for a new Riksdag Act, in accordance with Article 81 of The Instrument of Government, we have, following the procedure prescribed by the fundamental law for such important business, adopted the aforementioned graciously presented proposal as follows:
General Principles.
Art. 1.
1. The Swedish people are represented by the Riksdag, divided into two houses, the Upper House and the Lower House, which in all matters shall have equal competence and authority. In the exercise of their duties members of the Riksdag (Riksdagmen) can not be bound by other instructions than the fundamental laws of the realm.
2. Should it be deemed necessary in view of the particular importance or character of some measure to ascertain the opinion of the people before the decision, the King and the Riksdag may, by a law enacted jointly, provide that a referendum shall be held, in accordance with the provisions of Article 49, Section 2, of The Instrument of Government.
Art. 2.
By virtue of The Instrument of Government and without special summons the Riksdag shall convene annually on the 10th of January, or, if that be a holiday, on the following day. Nothing shall prevent the King, however, if he considers it necessary, to summon the Riksdag at an earlier date.
The spring session of the Riksdag shall adjourn not later than May 31; however, if it is considered that the business pending can be finished by not later than June 15, the Riksdag may, after consultation with the Speakers' Conference referred to in Article 50, decide that the session shall continue up until the last named date. If the Riksdag according to Article 58 has postponed the consideration of business pending to the autumn session, the Speakers shall summon the Riksdag to an autumn session beginning on the first suitable day after October 15; the session shall continue thereafter as long as it is necessary. The Riksdag shall adjourn not later than December 31; however, the King may, when particular reasons warrant, decide to postpone the adjournment of the Riksdag, with a corresponding extension of expiring terms of office. The adjournment shall take place not later than the day before the beginning of the spring session of the next Riksdag.
During the time when the Riksdag is not in session, the King may also, if he deems it necessary, summon the Riksdag to an extra session.
If the Riksdag is not in session, sixty-five members of the Upper House or one hundred members of the Lower House may request the summoning of the Riksdag to an extra session, in which case special reasons prompting the action shall be given and the summons issued not later than twenty days after the request has been presented. Provisions for the summoning of the Riksdag on certain special occasions are contained in Articles 91, 92, 93, 94 and 108 of The Instrument of Government.
Art. 3.
Riksdagmen are elected to both houses for a definite period of time. The King has the right, however, to order new elections throughout the entire realm to one or both houses before the expiration of this period.
Art. 4.
No one shall prevent a Riksdagman from exercising his duties as a representative; however, in wartime an exception may be made for military personnel, when they are ordered by the King into the service of the realm.
Art. 5.
The King has the right to dissolve the Riksdag, provided he orders new elections to one or both houses. If the Riksdag has been dissolved, it shall convene within three months of the dissolution on a date set by the King and it may not be dissolved again until four months from the beginning of the last meeting have elapsed.
The Composition of the Houses.
A. Upper House.
Art. 6.