Parliamentary documents, laws and legislative history

The work of the Riksdag is documented in the parliamentary documents. At the Riksdag Library, you will find a complete collection of Swedish parliamentary documents, laws and their legislative history.

Parliamentary documents

The parliamentary documents include government bills, records from the meetings of the Chamber, committee reports and private members’ motions. At the Riksdag Library, you will find all parliamentary documents in printed form. The full collection is available at the Library and can be consulted at the Library for reference purposes. Parliamentary documents from 1867 onwards are also available for loan. You are welcome to contact us if you need help with searching the parliamentary documents.

Find parliamentary documents online

Parliamentary documents from 1521 to the present day are also available in electronic form.

Documents from the bicameral Riksdag to the present day are available on the Riksdag website under the heading Documents and laws.

The oldest material can be found on the website of the Swedish National Library. This material consists of Riksdag documents from early Riksdags and parliament-like meetings, as well as documents from the Riksdag of the Estates (1521–1866).

The National Library website (in Swedish)

The librarian Lotta Åberg Brorsson reads parliamentary documents. She is standing on a ladder. The parliamentary documents is visible in the background. — Photo: Melker Dahlstrand

Laws and legislative history

The Riksdag Library has a complete collection of the Swedish Code of Statutes (SFS) and the legislative history to all laws in printed form. At the Library, you will also find older laws and ordinances from the time pre-dating publication of the Swedish Code of Statutes. On the page Documents and laws you can search for and read legislation currently in force.

Search documents and laws (in Swedish)

If you wish to find repealed and current legislation from the Swedish Code of Statutes and some legislative history, an overview is available in Swedish on the Government Offices’ website.

Websites and databases containing information about legislation (in Swedish)

From handwritten manuscripts to printed records

Work is being undertaken at the Riksdag Library to publish the handwritten records of the Riksdag of the Estates. This work has been in progress since 1935.

Records preserved from 1627

The records of the Riksdag of the Estates are available as handwritten, original records from 1627 onwards. The handwritten records are kept at the Swedish National Archives in Stockholm. The Nobility, the Burghers and the Peasantry all chose to print their records from 1786, while the Clergy did not start until 1810. The Riksdag of the Estates was abolished in 1866.

Target groups for the printed records of the Riksdag of the Estates include researchers and interested members of the public. As individuals were given considerable scope, the records can be a treasure trove for genealogists, local historians and others wishing to find information about specific individuals, places or parliamentary matters. The records contain the history both of Sweden and of the Riksdag. All of the printed records are available at the Riksdag Library.

Parliamentary documents, laws and legislative history