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176
III. CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION OF SWEDEN.
should he find such a course desirable for the welfare of the
kingdom. Of this right the Government makes very exceptional use —
often not in one case in the space of a whole decade.
The King of Sweden is the supreme judge according to a theory that
dates far back into the past: his functions as such are, however,
conferred upon the High Court of Justice (Högsta Domstolen). Only in case
the King is present, which as a rule does not occur, does he possess
two votes in addition to a casting one. In cases of law interpretation,
the two votes of the King are always asked for. The King has the
right to pardon. — The right of bestowing the dignities of nobility is
one of the prerogatives of the King. The right is, however, but seldom
excercised nowadays — only in five cases since 1865.
The King shares the legislative authority with the Riksdag, he
possesses the right of absolute veto, which, however, is very seldom
exercised. The King has, moreover, one sphere of legislation of his
own — the so-called Administrative and Economic Legislation —
embracing not merely instructions or regulations for public offices and
institutions, but also laws referring, within certain bounds defined by
usual practice, to the public economy and to industries.
The four-chamber system in the Riksdag was retained in 1809. Its
defects were, it is true, clearly seen, but at the critical juncture in which
the country then was, the complex problem of fixing a fresh basis of
representation was too venturesome a task to be attempted. The
matter was thus for the time left, and from 1830 onwards it was repeatedly
brought up and discussed. In 1848, Government brought in a bill
for reforming the representation, but it was rejected by the subsequent
Riksdag. After another decade had passed, the question was raised again,
and, in 1862, the Cabinet, whose most prominent member was Baron
Louis Be Geer, formulated a new proposal, which was at length
definitely adopted in December 1865, whereupon in the next year (June
22, 1866) a new Organic Law for the Riksdag came into force.
The composition and methods of working of the Diet, as regulated by the
new law, will be discussed at more length subsequently. Here it may suffice to
mention that it consists of two chambers, both constituted by general elections
without regard to station or profession. According to the fundamental laws of
1809, the Riksdag was to meet every fifth year, a regulation that was altered by
the Riksdag of 1844/45 to every third year. The new law stipulates that the
Riksdag should assemble every year. No direct change was made in the powers
of the Riksdag by the alteration in its composition of 1866.
In case of need, the Riksdag has the functions of choosing a King,
an heir to the throne, and a regent. It also shares the legislative
authority with the King. Here it must be noted that alterations in the
fundamental laws may be rejected at once, but can only be accepted
in such wise that they are declared to stand over until the first session
of the Riksdag after a new election has been held for the second
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