Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - First part - III. Constitution and Administration - 1. Constitution - The Union with Norway, by E. Arosenius, Ph. D., Royal Central Bureau of Statistics, Stockholm - 2. State Administration - Historical Account and the present State Administration in general, by E. Söderberg, Ph. D., First Actuary at the Royal Central Bureau of Statistics, Stockholm
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190 III. CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION OF SWEDEN.
More cheerful than the political history of the Union is that of
the closer drawing together of the two nations in other respects at
the same time. In this respect, too, the last years have been less
satisfactory, and a Commerce Treaty, dating from 1874, between Sweden and
Norway had to be dissolved again, in 1897, after Sweden had reverted to
a new system of duties, and had found it impossible to gain the consent
of Norway to the alterations in the arrangements which had become
necessary to prevent abuses arising from the difference in duties. But,
on the other hand, in a number of cases, agreements have been entered
into between the Swedish and Norwegian legislatures, and an approach
by such means attained, which makes the two nations more allied with
each other than with other peoples. In several civil matters, especially
as regards industry and commerce, Swedes and Norwegians mutually
enjoy privileges which are not granted to foreigners. Finally, with
regard to the state of feeling between the two nations, this too, as a
rule, is better than what might be expected from the bitter political
struggles, and neither in Sweden nor in Norway has the hope yet
been abandoned that the Union, which appears destined by Nature
herself, shall some day become a reality in the hearts of both peoples.
2. state administration.
Just as the political Constitution of Sweden has a history of its own,
marking it off from the constitutions of other countries, so the building
up of the fabric of administrative government has been of a nature
different in Sweden from elsewhere. It may probably not be unconnected
with that instinct for organization which we have already had occasion to
note as a distinguishing trait of Swedish national character that the
administration of public affairs was established on a firm basis and
was being carried on with considerable efficiency at an earlier date
than in most other European countries; indeed, Swedish administrative
government has served as a model for some of its neighbouring peoples.
A distinctive characteristic of the State Administration in Sweden is that
every action on the part of any public authority or body can be appealed
against to the next higher authority, in ascending scale to Government itself.
This is even the case with regard to the appointment of civil servants. Another
characteristic of the Swedish system of administration consists in all documents
and papers emanating from any of the public offices of State, being held to be
of a public nature, so that any one may demand a copy thereof and publish
the same. Some few exceptions exist viz.: the minutes of proceedings before
the King in Council, and the documents and papers of the Foreign Office
bearing reference to diplomatic relations with abroad; these are kept back until
after the lapse of fifty years; it need hardly be added that plans of
mobilization and other papers of a character to prohibit their publication, in view of the
safety of the country, are also kept from publicity.
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