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III. CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION.
never really obtained a footing in the country, even though attempts to
introduce it were not wholly wanting.
Gustavus Vasa (1523—60) effected a thorough change in this system of
enfeoffment. The fiefs were diminished in extent and entrusted to Bailiffs,
often commoners by birth, entirely dependent on the King; and these were
subjected to a strict scrutiny of their revenues and of their administration.
Between the King and his bailiffs were placed intermediaries in the persons of
Governors (ståthållare). To administer the State finances, which had been
materially improved at this time by the resumption of church-lands, there was
established a central government office the Treasury (kammaren), whose
president became one of the chief officers of state. Another prominent official
instituted in the time of Gustavus and his sons, was the Lord High Admiral
(riksamiral). Definite method and system had not yet, however, been
introduced into the administration: everything depended, as before, on the personal
influence and action of the King.
It was not until the days of Gustavus II Adolphus (1611—32) and Axel
Oxenstierna (1632—44) that Sweden obtained a well-ordered system of administration;
and this received its final expression in the Constitution Act of 1634, which at
once placed Sweden in the first rank among the nations in respect of
administration and served as a model for other states. The administration of the
Kingdom was permanently centralized in Stockholm and was entrusted to the
following Five Central Boards: Svea Hovrätt (for the administration of justice),
Krigsrådet (military council), Amiralitetet (naval affairs), Kansliet (foreign and
some home affairs), Räkningekammaren (finance etc.). Each of these
institutions was under the presidency of one of the five great state officials: the
Lord High Steward, the Lord High Marshal, the Lord High Admiral, the Lord
High Chancellor, the Lord High Treasurer; and amongst the assessors were to
be found other Councillors of the Realm. The Chancery (kansliet) was the
most important of the five central boards: besides its own administrative work,
it had to see to all the secretarial business of the government, including that
of the other boards.
The Kingdom was divided into certain defined areas for civil administration or
counties (läns) each under a Governor (landshövding). He was to have nothing
to do with military matters; but in the border provinces Governors-General
might be appointed to exercise military authority also. There were minute
regulations to secure the accountability and the responsibility of officials; but
these were only partially put into application.
The most important changes made in the administration during the remainder
of the seventeenth century were that the number of central boards was
increased, and that, during the period of absolute rule under Charles XI and
Charles XII, the five high offices of state were left vacant. Moreover, the
Councillors of the Realm (riksråden) were gradually excluded from the central
boards, which thus became more independent.
During what is called the Period of Liberty (1718—72) this divorce between
the Council (rådet) and the administrative central boards was carried further,
and the former again became the centre of the administrative system.
Government business was prepared in the Chancery; and the president of that board
who was at the same time Secretary for Foreign Affairs, was the foremost
member of the Council. The Chancery was now, as at an earlier period,
subdivided into a number of offices, the heads of which, usually entitled
Secretaries of State, had to introduce measures concerning their several special
subdivisions.
During the Gustavian Period (1772—1809), the Council was abolished by the
constitutional revolution of 1789; but even before that date it had already lost
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