The Riksdag, the Government, public authorities and agencies, and municipalities are examples of important actors in our public sector. Sweden has a large public sector, but what are the tasks of these actors and what are their roles in relation to each other?
It is the Riksdag that passes laws in Sweden. Decisions taken by the Riksdag apply to the whole country, so the Riksdag can be said to take decisions at the national level. The Riksdag does not, for example, decide whether a municipality should shut down a school or whether an upper secondary school should start charging for school lunches. It does, however, decide what charges the state should impose on its citizens, for example in the form of taxes.
Once the voters have chosen the 349 members who are to represent them in the Riksdag, the Riksdag appoints a prime minister. After this, the prime minister appoints the ministers who will be part of the Cabinet. The Government must enjoy the support of, or at any rate be tolerated by the Riksdag, otherwise it may be forced to resign. Whenever it wants, the Riksdag is free to hold a vote of confidence to see whether the Government still enjoys the Riksdag’s support. This is known as parliamentary government.
The Constitution states that the Government governs the country. It does this by presenting proposals – “Government bills” – on which the Riksdag then adopts a position. To put it simply, one can say that the Government proposes and the Riksdag decides.
The Swedish Government
There are some 330 public authorities and agencies in Sweden. Their task is to ensure that decisions taken by the Riksdag and the Government are implemented. If, for example, the Riksdag decides to send a peacekeeping force to Liberia, it is in practice the responsibility of the Swedish Armed Forces to ensure that this is carried out. If the Government decides on a new norm for social welfare allowance, it is the social welfare agencies that must ensure that the correct amount is paid out.
The public agencies are responsible to the Government and fall under the various Government ministries. In Sweden the agencies are independent and ministers may not attempt to control their business in detail.
Public agencies (the Swedish Government)
Sweden has 290 municipalities, each of which is run by a municipal council. In the municipal councils, a body of local politicians takes decisions regarding the municipality. These decisions can, for example, concern whether the municipality is to build a new swimming pool facility or to open a new child daycare centre.
The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions
Sweden has 18 county councils and two “regions” whose main responsibility is the provision of health care. Political decisions in the county councils are taken by an elected council.
Sweden has been a member of the European Union (EU) since 1995. Decisions taken by the EU affect everyone living in Sweden. Many of the decisions that the Riksdag adopts originate from EU decisions.
Europa - the website of the European Union
A number of international organisations are active in Sweden and monitor various issues. The best-known, worldwide organisation is the United Nations, which is an international organisation for peace and security. Sweden is one of the UN’s 191 members. The UN is an important cornerstone of Swedish foreign policy. Many of the foreign policy decisions that the Riksdag makes are based on decisions from the UN.
The United Nations