Sweden · Overview
The legal system of Sweden
A Nordic civil-law system whose constitution is spread across four fundamental laws and which is famous for its independent, agency-driven administration and its 1766 principle of public access to official documents. An EU member outside the eurozone.
Legal tradition
Sweden belongs to the civil law (nordic) tradition. A Nordic civil-law system whose constitution is spread across four fundamental laws and which is famous for its independent, agency-driven administration and its 1766 principle of public access to official documents. An EU member outside the eurozone.
How power is divided
Parliamentary government with a ceremonial monarch, strong independent public agencies that ministers may not instruct on individual cases, and separate general and administrative courts.
Where law comes from
- Fundamental Laws
- The four Grundlagar.
- EU law
- Directly applicable and, in its field, paramount.
- Acts of the Riksdag
- Primary legislation.
- Ordinances
- Issued by the government under statutory delegation.
The legal profession
The title advokat is reserved for members of the Swedish Bar Association; representation in court is otherwise relatively open.
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