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III. CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION.
other officials are dealt with by one of two officials: the Attorney-General
(justitiekanslem), an officer of State appointed by the Government, and
the Solicitor-General of the Riksdag (justitieombudsmannen), appointed
by Riksdag. The Press, whose extensive liberty is ensured by a special
fundamental law, also contributes to the prevention of evil practices on the
part of public servants.
In the filling up of vacant posts, merit and ability are to be the sole
grounds to be considered; in appointing to the subordinate posts, attention is
generally paid to the number of years’ service the several candidates have to show.
With the exception of the lowest offices it is generally requisite to have
obtained university degrees, or else ordinarily to have passed the
"Student"-examination, in order to enter the service of the State. Officials are, a great
part of them, appointed by the King-in-Cabinet, subsequent (except in the case
of higher officials) to formal application as soon as the post has been publicly
declared vacant. The remuneration received is usually apportioned partly as a
"salary proper", partly as "supplementary payment in regard to place of service",
and partly as "payment for time of service"; and this last-named may be drawn
only during such time as the official in question is actually at work — with
compensation for the portion of his remuneration which he loses during his holidays.
The salaries in most of the central administrative boards, as a rule, are in three
grades: 4 000, 5 800 and 8 100 kr. (of which 2 200, 3 600 and 5 000 kr.
respectively are regarded as salary proper), with periodic increments. These
last are as follows: in the lowest grade, three increases of 500 kr. each, after
five, ten, and fifteen years; in the intermediate grade, two of 500 kr., after
five and ten years; and in the highest grade, one of 600 kr. after five years.
The heads of central administrative boards generally receive from 9 000 to
11 000 kr. Only in the case of some few administrative officials, including
the provincial governors, is the remuneration higher. Ministers receive 15 000
kr., if without a department; 17 000 kr., if with one. The Foreign Minister
has 24 000 kr. and his residence free. The Prime Minister receives an additional
sum, bringing his total emoluments to 21 500 kr. — The pension consists of
the amount of the salary proper plus the periodic increment, but without the
supplementary payments for time and place of service (see above); the pension for
a head of a board is, as a rule, 6 000 kr.; the highest pension is 8 000 kr.
For persons in the local administration (such as the Customs, the Railway
Service, the Post Office etc.) and for teachers, military and naval officers and
others, the amount of remuneration and pensions, and the regulations
concerning age of pension vary considerably. In many of these bodies and
services the position of members of the staff is not quite so independent as is
usually the case with Swedish officials, inasmuch as in certain cases an official
may be moved from place to place without his own consent.
Proposed Reorganization of the State Departments.
On 11 December, 1908, there was appointed a special committee —
the Departments Committee — for the reorganization of the State
Departments; and this body issued its report on 31 December, 1912. The report
contains thorough-going and noteworthy proposals for the central
administration of Sweden; but as these proposals have not yet reached their
final stage, a detailed account would appear to be out of place in the present
edition of this work.
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