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

Wenander, Henrik LU orcid (2021) In Rättshistoriska studier 29. p.167-176
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... (More)
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. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Statsrätt, Konstitutionell rätt, 1974 års regeringsform, Monarki, Statschefen, Rättshistoria, Public law, Constitutional law, 1974 Instrument of Government, Monarchy, Legal history
host publication
Legal History : Reflecting the Past and the Present. Two Current Perspectives for the Future - Reflecting the Past and the Present. Two Current Perspectives for the Future
series title
Rättshistoriska studier
editor
Modéer, Kjell Å
volume
29
pages
10 pages
publisher
Institutet för rättshistorisk forskning
ISSN
0534-2724
ISBN
978-91-86645-15-1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7bf5d33f-1c8e-4207-a688-096b508685c9
date added to LUP
2021-04-20 09:29:05
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:55:15
@inbook{7bf5d33f-1c8e-4207-a688-096b508685c9,
  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.}},
  author       = {{Wenander, Henrik}},
  booktitle    = {{Legal History : Reflecting the Past and the Present. Two Current Perspectives for the Future}},
  editor       = {{Modéer, Kjell Å}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-86645-15-1}},
  issn         = {{0534-2724}},
  keywords     = {{Statsrätt; Konstitutionell rätt; 1974 års regeringsform; Monarki; Statschefen; Rättshistoria; Public law; Constitutional law; 1974 Instrument of Government; Monarchy; Legal history}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{167--176}},
  publisher    = {{Institutet för rättshistorisk forskning}},
  series       = {{Rättshistoriska studier}},
  title        = {{The ghost of the king: Traces of 'Royal Majesty' in the Swedish constitution of 1974}},
  volume       = {{29}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}