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Portrait of Martin Sunnqvist. Photo.

Martin Sunnqvist

Professor

Portrait of Martin Sunnqvist. Photo.

Maktfördelning, funktionsfördelning och maktfördelning igen

Author

  • Martin Sunnqvist

Summary, in 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 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.

Department/s

  • Department of Law
  • Public Law
  • Human Rights Law
  • Dispute resolution
  • Legal history
  • LU Profile Area: Human rights

Publishing year

2024

Language

Swedish

Pages

445-460

Publication/Series

Statsvetenskaplig tidskrift

Volume

126

Issue

3

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Fahlbeckska stiftelsen

Topic

  • Law

Keywords

  • Konstitutionell rätt
  • Constitutional law

Status

Published

Research group

  • Public Law
  • Human Rights Law
  • Dispute resolution
  • Legal history

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0039-0747