the Swedish Government System

From south to north km From east to west 500 km

SWEDEN Is a Constitutional Monarchy and a Parliamentary Democracy

Sweden The King is Head of State..only performing ceremonial functions

Constitution The Instrument of Government Act of Succession Freedom of Press Act Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression

Questions Does a country need a Constitution? And, if so, why do it need a Constitution? 3 most important parts of an Constitution?

A Parliament with a long history First Parliament 1527 Parliament with representatives of the Nobility, Clergy, Bourgousie and Farmers Bi-cameral system 1921 Universal suffrage 1971 One chamber system

Parliamentary democracy 349 Members of Parliament Nominated by political parties General elections every 4th year Speaker of Parliament elected by the P Speaker of Parliament suggests new PM to the Parliament after elections

Members of Parliament Are supposed to work full- time as parliamentarians Have salaries, office space and paid assistants. Can travel for free within Sweden Are provided with a small flat if he/she lives outside Stockholm Are usually members of one or several Committees

THE OLDEST MP DR LENNART LEVI Dr L Levi (C)

The Chamber of the Parliament

Parliament Social Democrats 130 MP’s Left Party 22 MP’s Green Party 19 MP’s Conservative Party 97 MP’s Center Party 29 MP’s Liberal Party 28 MP’s Christian Democratic Party 24 MP’s

16 Standing Committees Constitution Finance Taxes Defence Foreign Affairs Envir/Agriculture Social Affairs Education Transport Social Insurances Industry/Trade/Com Culture Civil Affairs Justice Labour Market European Affairs

A Standing Committee 17 Members of Parliament Seats according to the size of the party in the Riksdag A Chancellery with some ten civil servants serving the Committee

Parliamentary democracy Parliament approves the new Prime Minister The Prime Minister forms the Cabinet All government decisions are made collectively by the Cabinet The Cabinet meet once every week Ministers are not allowed to take own decisions.

SWEDEN Three levels of government: CENTRAL (STATE) GOVERNMENT REGIONAL GOVERNMENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT

State Government 13 Ministries 200 government agencies, boards and councils state employees (6 % of the total labour force) 21 County Governors and administrations

Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt

Coalition government ”the Alliance”with 4 parties

Prime Minister’s Office ”Rosenbad”

Swedish Ministries Prime Minister’s Office Finance Industry Labour Market Justice Culture Environment Social Affairs Defence Integration and gender equality Education Foreign Affairs Agriculture

State revenue SEK M Direct taxes Indirect taxes Taxes on capital Taxes on consumption Other taxes and fees – Income from state companies Income from selling state assetts

State budget 2010

Regional Government 21 COUNTIES County Councils/Regional Boards Health care, Dental care, Culture, Regional planning and development

Regional political map

Local Government 290 Municipalities Housing, roads and streets, pre-schools, schools, care of elderly, physical planning, emergency services, transport and communication, social services, technical services

Financing of the public sector The State is financed by taxes, customs duties, fees County councils are financed by local taxes, fees and grants from central government Municipalities are financed by local taxes, fees and grants from central government

Control mechanisms The Transparency legislation The Parliamentary Ombudsman The National Auditors The Standing Committee on the Constitution The Chancellor of Justice The Ombudsman against discrimination Ethnicity and Religion, Gender, Disability, Sexual orientation, Age.

Control mechanisms Media Civil society Bloggers

Control of government, questions How can we control the politicians and the civil servants? Is transparency in government a solution? What are the limits?

Swedish inventions

Swedish Companies Ericsson Telecom Volvo Vehicles/engines Scania Vehicles/engines SKF Ball bearings de Laval Agricultural equipm Atlas Copco Mining equipment LKAB Mining IKEA Furniture/food

Well-known brands

Swedish export Machinery Wooden products Metal products (iron) Music Computer games Vehicles (Volvo, Saab) Telecom products

Sweden’s Coat of Arms

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