Parliamentary control

One of the Riksdag's principal tasks is to scrutinise Government activities. This scrutiny is known as parliamentary control, and there are a number of instruments available to assist the Riksdag in this task.  

 

The various instruments of parliamentary control are set out in Sweden's Constitution:   

• All members of the Riksdag have the right to address questions to the Government. This is one of the ways in which the Riksdag is able to monitor the Government's actions. 
• The Committee on the Constitution is responsible for ensuring that the Government observes existing regulations. All members of the Riksdag have the right to report Government ministers to the Committee on the Constitution.
• If the Riksdag no longer has confidence in a minister or in the prime minister it can decide to make a declaration of no confidence.
• It is the task of the Parliamentary Ombudsmen to ensure that all members of the public are treated in compliance with existing laws in their dealings with public agencies. The Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsmen is an authority under the Riksdag.
• The National Audit Office examines what central government funds are used for and how efficiently they are used. The National Audit Office is an authority under the Riksdag. 

Parliamentary control is designed to ensure that the Government and public agencies comply with Swedish law, that they work efficiently and that the citizens feel that they can trust the way in which the public agencies exercise their powers.

 

Control at every stage

When we talk about control, it is often about examining something after it has been completed. But a functioning parliamentary control is about monitoring and examining the work of the Government and public agencies at different stages. Using the various instruments at its disposal, the Riksdag can examine what goes on before, during and after a decision is taken.

 

The Riksdag examines legislative proposals from the Government

The Riksdag's scrutiny of the Government goes beyond the instruments of parliamentary control. When the Riksdag decides whether or not to approve a new law it first makes a thorough examination of the legislative proposal from the Government.

Read more about how laws are made 

 

When the members of the Riksdag examine proposals for new laws, they are divided into different working groups known as parliamentary committees. The committees examine whether the legislative proposals comply with earlier legislation and with the Government's stated objectives. They also look at whether the proposals are in compliance with what the committee has said previously to the Government on the same matter.

Read more about how the committees work