How long has there been a parliament in Sweden? The answer to that question is not entirely straightforward. It depends on how we define a parliament.
As early as 1435, representatives of different social groups were called to a meeting in the town of Arboga to discuss and determine affairs affecting the country as a whole. The Arboga meeting is therefore sometimes referred to as Sweden's first parliament.
However, it was not until 1527 and later 1544 at King Gustav Vasa's two assemblies in Västerås that representatives of all four estates - the Nobility, the Clergy, the Burghers and the Peasantry - were called on to participate. The term "Riksdag" was first used in the 1540s.
The 17th century saw the establishment of clearer parliamentary procedures. The committee organisation began to emerge and written regulations on the work of the Riksdag were drawn up. In the late 17th century King Karl XI gained increasing power which meant that the Riksdag's position was weakened.
During the Age of Freedom in the 18th century the pendulum swung once again, and the power shifted to the four estates. A party system evolved with two parties known as the Hats and the Caps.
A parliamentary system with certain similarities to that of today emerged. The working traditions of today's Riksdag, particularly those of the committees, have their roots in the Age of Freedom.
The dominance of the estates was successively weakened by economic crises, antagonisms between the estates and corruption, and it was finally brought to an end through a bloodless coup d'état by King Gustav III in 1772. Once again, the power shifted into the hands of the King.
In 1809 a new Instrument of Government was adopted in Sweden. It set out how the power was to be divided between the Riksdag and the King.
The courts and public authorities were granted an independent status. Sweden was also the first country in the world to establish an Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsmen. The Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsmen is a body to which citizens can turn with complaints about the authorities.
One of the new fundamental laws in 1809 was the Instrument of Government, which was largely influenced by the principle of a separation of powers. An important factor was that a distinction was made between legislative, judicial and executive power.
The new Instrument of Government remained in force until 1974, despite numerous changes over the years. The first Riksdag Act - which is a law setting out the procedures for the work of the Riksdag - was introduced in 1810.
Between 1809 and 1974 substantial changes were made to the constitution in order to ensure the representation of the new social classes.
In 1865 the parliament of the four estates was abolished and replaced by a bicameral (two-chamber) system. The First Chamber was elected indirectly by the county councils and municipal assemblies in the larger towns and cities. It was considered to represent "education and wealth". Only men were eligible on the basis of certain criteria relating to age, income and wealth.
Elections to the Second Chamber were only open to men, and in order to vote it was necessary to meet certain economic criteria such as ownership of real estate or payment of tax on an annual taxable income. Eligibility for election only applied to those aged 25 or above. These limitations meant that just 21 per cent of Sweden's men over the age of 21 were entitled to vote in elections to the Second Chamber.
Why didn't everyone in Sweden enjoy the right to vote? From the 1860s a lively debate emerged on the question of voting rights, and demands for universal franchise became increasingly vociferous.
In 1909 a reform was passed in the Riksdag giving Swedish men the right to vote in elections to the Second Chamber. In 1921 a universal and equal franchise was introduced for men and women alike, and the Riksdag finally achieved a system of democratic representation for all citizens.
Nevertheless, it was still possible, even after 1921, to exclude certain groups from the right to vote. An example was individuals who had been declared incapable of managing their own affairs by a court of law. This limitation of the franchise disappeared in 1989 when the Riksdag abolished incapacitation.
Alongside the universal franchise reform, a parliamentary system of government developed and gained acceptance. This means that the government requires the Riksdag's confidence and support for all major decisions.
In 1971 the bicameral system was abolished and a single chamber with 350 members was introduced. Changes were also made to the organisation of the parliamentary committees. The system of different committees for legislative and budgetary matters was abandoned and 16 committees for different specialised areas were established instead.
Three years later, in 1974, Sweden adopted a new Instrument of Government and a new Riksdag Act. The principles of parliamentarianism were incorporated into the constitution and the Speaker acquired a central role in the formation of a new government after an election.
The disadvantages of having an even number of members soon became evident. In the 1973 Riksdag election the socialist and non-socialist blocs received 175 seats each. This meant that several decisions in the Riksdag had to be determined by lottery.
On 10 January 1975, the ceremonial opening of the Riksdag, which from that year was called the opening of the Riksdag session, was held in temporary premises at Sergels torg. The 1975 Riksdag session ended after the spring following a decision to move the beginning of the Riksdag's working year from the spring to the autumn. Consequently, the 1975/76 Riksdag session was opened in October 1975. As of the 1976/77 session, the Chamber has had 349 members.
Two important decisions were taken in 1994. The first was to extend the electoral period from three to four years and the second to make the budget procedure more efficient. The latter means that the budget year now coincides with the calendar year and that the Budget Bill is presented and dealt with during the autumn.