Swedish society
Sweden's four fundamental laws.
Published 2026-07-11 · Last reviewed 2026-07-11
Sweden has four fundamental laws that regulate how the country is governed and protect democracy, succession to the throne, freedom of the press and freedom of expression. This guide explains what each law does and how to distinguish them in citizenship-test practice.
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The four laws in one minute
- The Instrument of Government describes how Sweden is governed and protects fundamental rights and freedoms.
- The Act of Succession determines who can inherit the Swedish throne.
- The Freedom of the Press Act protects printed publications and access to official documents.
- The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression protects expression in media including radio, television, film and certain digital publications.
Why is a fundamental law different from an ordinary law?
The fundamental laws contain the basic rules of Sweden's democracy and take precedence over ordinary legislation. Another act or regulation must not conflict with them. This makes it harder for a temporary political majority to change the structure of the state or basic freedoms quickly.
A constitutional amendment normally requires two identical decisions by the Riksdag, with a general election between them. Voters therefore have an opportunity to influence the composition of Parliament before the second decision.
The Instrument of Government
The Instrument of Government is the most fundamental of the four. It states that all public power in Sweden proceeds from the people and describes the roles of the Riksdag, Government, courts, public authorities, regions and municipalities.
It also protects central freedoms and rights, including freedom of expression, information, assembly, demonstration, association and religion. It explains how the Riksdag is elected, how a government is formed and how Parliament examines the work of the Government.
The Act of Succession
The Act of Succession dates from 1810 and is the oldest of Sweden's four current fundamental laws. It contains the rules that determine who can inherit the position of King or Queen.
The head of state has representative and ceremonial duties but no political power. Political authority is exercised through the democratic institutions described in the Instrument of Government.
The Freedom of the Press Act
The Freedom of the Press Act protects the right to publish books, newspapers and other printed material without prior censorship. It also contains rules about responsibility for published material and protection for people who provide information to the media.
The principle of public access to official documents is grounded here. As a general rule, anyone can request public documents from authorities. Secrecy can limit access, but the restriction must have support in law.
The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression
This law complements the Freedom of the Press Act and protects expression in media such as radio, television, film, sound recordings and certain websites with constitutional protection. Its purpose includes free exchange of opinion, free information and free artistic creation.
It does not automatically cover every internet post. Protection depends on the publication form and, in some cases, a responsible editor. For basic test preparation, remember the main distinction: printed publications belong to the Freedom of the Press Act, while the expression law covers the other specified media forms.
The Riksdag Act is important but is not one of the four
The Riksdag Act describes how the Swedish Parliament is organized and how it works. It has an intermediate position between a fundamental law and an ordinary act, but it is not counted among the four fundamental laws.
This is a common source of wrong answers. If a question asks for the four fundamental laws, the Riksdag Act must not replace one of the four names in the list.
How to identify the correct law in a question
- Government, democracy or fundamental rights: think Instrument of Government.
- Who inherits the throne: think Act of Succession.
- A printed newspaper or access to an official document: think Freedom of the Press Act.
- Radio, television, film or a constitutionally protected website: think Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression.
- The Riksdag's internal procedures: think Riksdag Act, which is not one of the four.
Build understanding instead of memorizing four names
First learn the names, then connect each law to a practical situation. Explain in your own words why requesting an authority document belongs to the press law and why government formation belongs to the Instrument of Government.
Practise rejecting plausible wrong options as well. Knowing why the Riksdag Act is not a fundamental law and why the expression law does not cover every online message makes the knowledge reliable when a question uses unfamiliar wording.
Common questions
What are Sweden's four fundamental laws?
The Instrument of Government, the Act of Succession, the Freedom of the Press Act and the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression.
Which is Sweden's oldest current fundamental law?
The Act of Succession from 1810 is the oldest of the four current fundamental laws.
How is a Swedish fundamental law amended?
The Riksdag normally has to make two identical decisions, with a general election held between them.
Is the Riksdag Act a fundamental law?
No. It has a special intermediate position between fundamental and ordinary law but is not one of the four.
What is the difference between the two media laws?
The Freedom of the Press Act covers printed publications and public access to official documents. The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression covers specified media such as radio, television, film and certain protected digital publications.