The Swedish political system

Sweden is governed at three different levels.
1. Parliament decides things at national level.
2. Sweden is divided into 21 counties. The county councils decide things at regional level,
3. Ineach municipality, the municipal council decide things at local level.

Swedish citizens who are 18 years or older
can vote in Parliament, County and Municipal elections.

People who live in Sweden
but are not citizens
can vote in Municipal elections.
You must be registered in Sweden
to vote in Municipal elections.

Elections in Sweden are free
Nobody else can decide how you vote.

Elections are secret because
you do not have to tell anybody what you voted for.

Elections are direct.
You vote directly for the politicians
who you want to decide things.

Parliament and the Government decide things at national level  (På nationell nivå styr riksdag och regering)

Parliament (Riksdagen)

A political party must get at least 4 percent of all votes
to get a place in Parliament

Parliament decides things by voting.
More than half the members have to say yes
to make a decision
Parliament also checks the work of the Government.

Government (Regeringen)

Each Minister is the leader of a Department
The Foreign Minister is the leader of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs
and the Finance Minister is the leader of the Finance Department,
for example.

The Government gives Parliament suggestions for new laws.
Parliament votes yes or no to the suggestions.
If most Members of Parliament say yes
the Minister´s department and
public authorities then work to make sure
that everybody obeys the law.

The County Administrative Board  and the

County Council  decide things at national level (På regional nivå styr länsstyrelsen och landstingsfullmäktige)

Each of Sweden´s 21 counties has its County Administrative Board
which works for the Government.
A Board is another name for a Committee.
The Government chooses a County Governor
to lead the County Administrative Board.

Each county also has a County Council.
The County Council organises medical care in the county.
Swedish citizens choose the members of the County Council Board.
The County Council Board chooses a County Administration Board
which leads the work of the County Council.

The Municipal Council  decides things at national level (På lokal nivå styr kommunfullmäktige)

The Municipality organises schools, care of old people,
social services and refugee reception.
People who have had a permanent residence permit
(permanent uppehållstillstånd, PUT)
in Sweden for three years can vote for politicians in the Municipal Council.

Sweden´s Basic Laws ( Sveriges grundlagar)

 
Sweden has four Basic Laws
which say how Sweden shall be led
and what rights the citizens have.

 
The four basic laws are:
Constitution Act (Law)
Law of Succession
Freedom of the Press Act
and the Freedom of Speech Act

How Sweden should be governed (Hur Sverige ska styras)

The law also says which freedoms
and rights every citizen has:

• Swedish citizens have the right to free speech, which means that they can say what

• They have freedom of information, which means the right to receive information from public authorities.
• They have freedom to meet, which means the right to organise meetings where they say what they think.
• Swedish citizens have freedom to demonstrate, which means they have the right to demonstrate.
• They have freedom of association, which means they have the right to start and become a member of any club or society.
• Sweden has freedom of religion Everybody has the right to have their own religion or not have a religion.

Who can become king or queen (Vem som får bli kung eller drottning)

Press freedom (Tryckfrihet)

Freedom of Speech (Yttrandefrihet)

EU

You can read more about Sweden´s work in the EU
on the EU information web site:
www.eu-upplysningen.se