Editing History of the Riksdag (section)

== Constitutional reform ==
{{main|Constitution of Sweden}}

[[File:2011-06-11 01 Parliament House of Sweden (Riksdagshuset) in Gamla Stan, Stockholm.jpg|thumb|262x262px|The ''Riksdagshuset'' as seen from the west (from the [[Vasabron|Vasabron bridge]])]]
[[File:Riksdagshuset Stockholm 2011.jpg|thumb|[[Parliament House, Stockholm|Riksdagshuset]], the parliament house of the Riksdag|260x260px]]
In the 1960s, debates intensified over [[Constitutional amendment|constitutional reform]] in Sweden. The fundamental question was over the [[Government|system of government]]. Even though a ''de facto'' [[parliamentary system]] was firmly established, somewhat similar to the situation in the United Kingdom, there were demands for a more democratic constitution. One of the main issues was whether the monarchy would survive constitutional reform and this blocked the issue for a long time. According to the old instrument of government from 1809, the monarch ruled the country despite the country having de facto transitioned to a parliamentary system.<ref name=":0" />

In 1945, Swedes above the age of voting who were in relief or aid schemes were not permitted to vote.<ref name=":3" />

Women first served as members of the Riksdag in 1922, however only in the 1960s did women's representation increase. Also, beginning in the 1960s they received more meaningful political appointments.<ref name=":3" />

Effective from 1970, a reform of the Riksdag had been agreed upon. Though not technically part of the constitution it showed that the parties in the Riksdag were able to agree upon fundamental changes of the political system, which transformed the Riksdag from a bicameral legislature into a unicameral one.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/tageerlanderserv00ruin |url-access=registration |quote=riksdag bicameral. |last=Ruin |first=Olof |title=Tage Erlander: serving the welfare state, 1946–1969 |series=Pitt series in policy and institutional studies, 99-0818751-1 |year=1990 |publisher=University of Pittsburgh Press |location=Pittsburgh, Pa. |isbn=9780822936312 |id={{LIBRIS|5791923}} |page=[https://archive.org/details/tageerlanderserv00ruin/page/93 93]}}</ref> This would have 350 seats, all of which would be filled by direct election.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b4sf0y1bf3UC&q=riksdag+bicameral&pg=PA63 |last=Scott |first=Franklin D. |title=Scandinavia |edition=Rev. and enl. |series=The American foreign policy library, 99-0107809-1 |year=1975 |publisher=Harvard U.P. |location=Cambridge, Mass. |isbn=0-674-79000-6 |id={{LIBRIS|5117677}} |page=63}}</ref> However, the second general election to the unicameral Riksdag only gave the government support from 175 members, while the opposition could mobilize an equal force of 175 members, resulting in what became known as the "lottery Riksdag", in which the Speaker had to draw [[sortition|lot]]s to resolve deadlocked votes.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RnixAwAAQBAJ&q=lottery&pg=PA147 |editor-last1=Broughton |editor-first1=David |editor-last2=Donovan |editor-first2=Mark |title=Changing party systems in Western Europe |chapter=Sweden: A Mild Case of 'Electoral Instability Syndrome'? |year=1999 |publisher=Pinter |location=London |isbn=1-85567-327-4 |id={{LIBRIS|6470870}} |page=143}}</ref> On 6 March 1974 it was passed in law that all public power in Sweden arises from the people. It was also decided that the Riskdag is the "foremost representative of the people".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=26 February 2024 |title=The Instrument of Government – 50 years |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/en/news/the-instrument-of-government-50-years/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=www.riksdagen.se |language=en}}</ref> In 1974, it was decided that the number of seats from 1977 were to be reduced to 349. The new instrument of government adopted in 1974 left the monarch as a ceremonial head of state without political power.<ref name=":0" /> The new instrument of government read as follows:<ref name=":0" />
“All public power in Sweden proceeds from the people. Swedish democracy is founded on the free formation of opinion and on universal and equal suffrage. It is realised through a representative and parliamentary form of government and through local self-government. Public power is exercised under the law.”