Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Maktfördelning, funktionsfördelning och maktfördelning igen

Sunnqvist, Martin LU orcid (2024) In Statsvetenskaplig tidskrift 126(3). p.445-460
Abstract (Swedish)
In the Swedish Instrument of Government from 1809, there was a balance of power between the King and the Parliament. From these two basic spheres of power (con-stituent powers), power was further divided into five parts (constituted powers). Through the introduction of parliamentarianism in the early 20th century, a redistri-bution of power took place in practice, but on paper the balance of power remained between King and Parliament. Through the 1974 Instrument of Government, popu-lar sovereignty was introduced, and the head of state would lack political power. The concept of separation of powers was not used, as there was no question of balance between the King and the Parliament. But the legislative, executive and judicial powers... (More)
In the Swedish Instrument of Government from 1809, there was a balance of power between the King and the Parliament. From these two basic spheres of power (con-stituent powers), power was further divided into five parts (constituted powers). Through the introduction of parliamentarianism in the early 20th century, a redistri-bution of power took place in practice, but on paper the balance of power remained between King and Parliament. Through the 1974 Instrument of Government, popu-lar sovereignty was introduced, and the head of state would lack political power. The concept of separation of powers was not used, as there was no question of balance between the King and the Parliament. But the legislative, executive and judicial powers remained, albeit under the designation ‘division of functions’ rather than ‘separation of powers’, something that was also accompanied by certain dif-ficulties when the judicial power and the activities of the administrative authori-ties were to be defined in relation to each other. The statements that there was no separation of powers should be seen in the light of the fact that the balance of power between the King and the Parliament disappeared. Such statements have more to do with the constituent than the constituted powers. Through constitu-tional amendments implemented in the 2010s, and amendments which are now being prepared, the independence of the judiciary has been strengthened and will probably be strengthened even more. The principle of separation of powers is con-sidered fundamental for rule of law both by the European Court of Human Rights and within EU Law. There is therefore much to suggest that the 1974 Instrument of Government has developed into a constitution now based on the principle of sepa-ration of powers. In the article, the constitutional development in Sweden is anal-ysed using the distinction between constituent and constituted powers, following inspiration from the 18th-century French writer Sieyès.
(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Konstitutionell rätt, Constitutional law
in
Statsvetenskaplig tidskrift
volume
126
issue
3
pages
16 pages
publisher
Fahlbeckska stiftelsen
ISSN
0039-0747
language
Swedish
LU publication?
yes
id
04015dc8-3b44-4755-b0b9-8832517152fc
alternative location
https://journals.lub.lu.se/st/article/view/26676/23345
date added to LUP
2024-10-23 17:13:27
date last changed
2024-10-24 12:57:20
@article{04015dc8-3b44-4755-b0b9-8832517152fc,
  abstract     = {{In the Swedish Instrument of Government from 1809, there was a balance of power between the King and the Parliament. From these two basic spheres of power (con-stituent powers), power was further divided into five parts (constituted powers). Through the introduction of parliamentarianism in the early 20th century, a redistri-bution of power took place in practice, but on paper the balance of power remained between King and Parliament. Through the 1974 Instrument of Government, popu-lar sovereignty was introduced, and the head of state would lack political power. The concept of separation of powers was not used, as there was no question of balance between the King and the Parliament. But the legislative, executive and judicial powers remained, albeit under the designation ‘division of functions’ rather than ‘separation of powers’, something that was also accompanied by certain dif-ficulties when the judicial power and the activities of the administrative authori-ties were to be defined in relation to each other. The statements that there was no separation of powers should be seen in the light of the fact that the balance of power between the King and the Parliament disappeared. Such statements have more to do with the constituent than the constituted powers. Through constitu-tional amendments implemented in the 2010s, and amendments which are now being prepared, the independence of the judiciary has been strengthened and will probably be strengthened even more. The principle of separation of powers is con-sidered fundamental for rule of law both by the European Court of Human Rights and within EU Law. There is therefore much to suggest that the 1974 Instrument of Government has developed into a constitution now based on the principle of sepa-ration of powers. In the article, the constitutional development in Sweden is anal-ysed using the distinction between constituent and constituted powers, following inspiration from the 18th-century French writer Sieyès.<br/>}},
  author       = {{Sunnqvist, Martin}},
  issn         = {{0039-0747}},
  keywords     = {{Konstitutionell rätt; Constitutional law}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{445--460}},
  publisher    = {{Fahlbeckska stiftelsen}},
  series       = {{Statsvetenskaplig tidskrift}},
  title        = {{Maktfördelning, funktionsfördelning och maktfördelning igen}},
  url          = {{https://journals.lub.lu.se/st/article/view/26676/23345}},
  volume       = {{126}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}