Transcript Constitution

the Swedish Government
System
From east
to west
500 km
SWEDEN
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Is a Constitutional Monarchy and
a Parliamentary Democracy
Sweden
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The King is Head of State
..only performing ceremonial functions
Constitution
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The Instrument of Government
Act of Succession
Freedom of Press Act
Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression
Questions
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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..
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1435 First Parliament
1527 Parliament with representatives of the
Nobility, Clergy, Bourgousie and Farmers.
1865 Bi-cameral system
1921 Universal suffrage
1971 One chamber system
Parliamentary democracy
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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 fulltime as
parliamentarians
Have salaries, office
space and paid
assistants.
Can travel for free within
Sweden
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Are provided with a
small flat if he/she lives
outside Stockholm
Are usually members of
one or several
Committees
Dr L Levi (C)
THE OLDEST MP
DR LENNART LEVI
The Chamber of the Parliament
2006 - 2010 Parliament
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Social Democrats 130
MP’s
Left Party 22 MP’s
Green Party 19 MP’s
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Conservative Party 97
MP’s
Center Party 29 MP’s
Liberal Party 28 MP’s
Christian Democratic
Party
24 MP’s
16 Standing Committees
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Constitution
Finance
Taxes
Defence
Foreign Affairs
Envir/Agriculture
Social Affairs
Education
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Transport
Social Insurances
Industry/Trade/Com
Culture
Civil Affairs
Justice
Labour Market
European Affairs
A Standing Committee
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17 Members of
Parliament
Seats according to the
size of the party in the
Riksdag
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A Chancellery with
some ten civil servants
serving the Committee
Parliamentary democracy
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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:
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CENTRAL (STATE) GOVERNMENT
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
State Government
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13 Ministries
200 government agencies, boards and
councils
250 000 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
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Prime Minister’s Office
Finance
Industry
Labour Market
Justice
Culture
Environment
Social Affairs
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Defence
Integration and gender
equality
Education
Foreign Affairs
Agriculture
State revenue SEK M
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Direct taxes
503 465 423
Indirect taxes
407 068 494
Taxes on capital
190 736 229
Taxes on consumption
424 099 528
Other taxes and fees
– 2 370 848
Income from state companies 44 025 710
Income from selling state assetts 50 000000
State budget 2010
Regional Government
21 COUNTIES
County Councils/Regional Boards
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Health care,
Dental care,
Culture,
Regional planning and development
Regional political map
Local Government
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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
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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.
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Control mechanisms
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Media
Civil society
Bloggers
Control of government, questions
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How can we control the politicians and the
civil servants?
Is transparency in government a solution?
What are the limits?
Swedish inventions
Swedish Companies
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Ericsson
Volvo
Scania
SKF
de Laval
Atlas Copco
LKAB
IKEA
Telecom
Vehicles/engines
Vehicles/engines
Ball bearings
Agricultural equipm
Mining equipment
Mining
Furniture/food
Well-known brands
Swedish export
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Machinery
Wooden products
Metal products (iron)
Music
Computer games
Vehicles (Volvo, Saab)
Telecom products
Sweden’s Coat of Arms
THANK YOU !