The fundamental laws protect our democracy. They contain the basic rules for political decision-making in Sweden. The fundamental laws therefore have a very special function in society.
The fundamental laws take precedence over all other laws. This means that the content of other Swedish laws may never conflict with the provisions set out in the fundamental laws.
The procedure for amending a fundamental law is more complicated than for other laws. This is designed to protect our democracy by providing time for reflection and ensuring that the consequences have been thoroughly considered before changes are made.
For an amendment to be made, the Riksdag must take two identical decisions and these decisions must be separated by a general election. This long drawn-out procedure is designed to ensure that the Riksdag does not take any hasty decisions that can limit people's freedoms and rights.
The four fundamental laws are the Instrument of Government, the Act of Succession, the Freedom of the Press Act and the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression. The Riksdag Act occupies an intermediate position between a fundamental law and ordinary law.