The ghost of the king: Traces of 'Royal Majesty' in the Swedish constitution of 1974

Summary, in English

The 1974 Instrument of Government forms the core of Swedish constitutional law. It replaced its partly defunct predecessor of 1809 and scrapped the separation of powers between King and Riksdag that characterised the previous constitutional system. By abolishing the formal power of the King in Council (Kungl. Maj:t, “Royal Majesty”), it aimed at establishing a modern written constitution, which laid down the legal framework for political power in a clear manner. The role of the King was reduced to a purely ceremonial figure, and the phrase “Royal Majesty” was abandoned as the locus of power. However, the former role of the King as “Royal Majesty” is still visible in the constitutional system of Sweden. The article explores this phenomenon as an example of the tension in Swedish constitutional law between the modernist paradigm and the historical structures.

• Author: Henrik Wenander
• Editor: Kjell Å Modéer
• Department/s: Department of Law; Public Law
• Publishing year: 2021
• Language: English
• Pages: 167-176
• Publication/Series: Rättshistoriska studier
• Volume: 29
• Document type: Book chapter
• Publisher: Institutet för rättshistorisk forskning
• Topic: Law
• Keywords: Statsrätt; Konstitutionell rätt; 1974 års regeringsform; Monarki; Statschefen; Rättshistoria; Public law; Constitutional law; 1974 Instrument of Government; Monarchy; Legal history
• Status: Published
• Research group: Public Law
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 0534-2724; ISBN: 978-91-86645-15-1