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

Henrik Wenander

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

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Legal History
Subtitle of host publication	Reflecting the Past and the Present. Two Current Perspectives for the Future
Editors	Kjell Å Modéer
Place of Publication	Stockholm
Publisher	Institutet för rättshistorisk forskning
Pages	167-176
Number of pages	10
ISBN (Print)	978-91-86645-15-1
Publication status	Published - 2021

Publication series

Name	Rättshistoriska studier
Publisher	Institutet för rättshistorisk forskning
Volume	29
ISSN (Print)	0534-2724

Subject classification (UKÄ)

Law

Free keywords

Public law
Constitutional law
1974 Instrument of Government
Monarchy
Legal history

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1 Book chapter

The Swedish Monarch as the Head of State: Between Democratic Ideals and Royal Traditions
Wenander, H., 2022, Jahrbuch des öffentlichen Rechts der Gegenwart. Mohr Siebeck, Vol. 70. p. 203-222 20 p. (Jahrbuch des öffentlichen Rechts der Gegenwart; vol. 70).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research

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Cite this

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abstract = "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. ",

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The ghost of the king: Traces of 'Royal Majesty' in the Swedish constitution of 1974. / Wenander, Henrik.
Legal History: Reflecting the Past and the Present. Two Current Perspectives for the Future. ed. / Kjell Å Modéer. Stockholm: Institutet för rättshistorisk forskning, 2021. p. 167-176 (Rättshistoriska studier; Vol. 29).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research

TY - CHAP

T1 - The ghost of the king: Traces of 'Royal Majesty' in the Swedish constitution of 1974

AU - Wenander, Henrik

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

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AB - 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.

KW - Statsrätt

KW - Konstitutionell rätt

KW - 1974 års regeringsform

KW - Monarki

KW - Statschefen

KW - Rättshistoria

KW - Public law

KW - Constitutional law

KW - 1974 Instrument of Government

KW - Monarchy

KW - Legal history

M3 - Book chapter

SN - 978-91-86645-15-1

T3 - Rättshistoriska studier

SP - 167

EP - 176

BT - Legal History

A2 - Modéer, Kjell Å

PB - Institutet för rättshistorisk forskning

CY - Stockholm

ER -

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

Abstract

Publication series

Subject classification (UKÄ)

Free keywords

UN SDGs

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Research output

The Swedish Monarch as the Head of State: Between Democratic Ideals and Royal Traditions

Cite this