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■2-20
III. CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION.
in connection with this change proportional representation was introduced.
The conditions of membership of the First (upper) Chaniber were also
altered.
The composition and methods of working of the Riksdag are described in the
following section. According to.the fundamental law of 1809, the Riksdag was
to meet every fifth year; this regulation was altered by the Riksdag of 1844—45
to every third year; according to the new law, the Riksdag assembles every year.
In case of need, the Riksdag has the right to choose a King, an successor
to the throne, and a regent. It also shares the legislative authority with
the King. Here it must be noted that alterations in the fundamental laws
(proposals for which may also be put forward by the delegation of the
Riksdag which is called the Constitution Committee) mas^ be rejected at once,
but can only be so far accepted that they are declared to "stand over"
until the first session of the Riksdag after a new election has been held
for the Second Chamber, when they shall either be adopted unamended, or
rejected. Other legislative bills can be passed in the same session in
which they are brought forward. With regard to changes in the
ecclesiastical law, the Convocation (Kyrkomötet) has the right of veto.
The legislative power of the Riksdag embraces fundamental law, civil
and criminal law, communal law, ecclesiastical law, and the criminal law as
applied to the Army. In regard to the so-called "Administrative and
Economic Legislation" (see above), the Riksdag can only address its desires to
the King. As a rule, however, the Government takes the opinion of the
Riksdag on all important questions of this nature; and it also often happens
that the King invites the Riksdag to unite with him in legislating on
them.
The power of the Riksdag is more comprehensive with regard to the
Budget Estimates. The original estimates proceed from the Government;
and the Riksdag does not, as a rule, vote "ordinary" (i.e., annual) grants
if the proposal comes from a private member. The budget estimates are
considered in detail by the Riksdag, and as far as possible, there is voted
for each item of expenditure a definite sum, which may not be exceeded.
Only in the event of money having been saved has the Government, in
certain cases, the power of using it for purposes of a kindred nature
within the compass of the department where such saving has been made.
In case the Chambers have arrived at different conclusions respecting a
grant, a new vote is taken of both the chambers together. In other cases,
the Chambers have the power of veto over each other.
The Riksdag alone has the power of decision respecting the negotiation
of loans, and, in accordance with a custom dating from 1789, it manages
these matters through a board of seven members chosen by itself — the
National Debt Board (Riksgäldskontoret). In former days the Riksdag
alone guaranteed the solidity and conducted the administration of the
Bank of Sweden (Riksbanken); but in 1897, in conjunction with the
Bank’s prospective assumption of the sole right of issuing notes, the King
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