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FIGURE 1. Structure of the government (U/OU) (chart)
In addition to his cabinet responsibilities, the King appoints various other government officials, grants pardons, convenes the Riksdag, and opens the January session. He appoints and receives ambassadors, makes treaties, declares war, acts as commander-in-chief, and represents the Swedish state abroad.
The powers of the crown, already largely curtailed in practice, are likely to be further reduced. Proposed constitutional amendments are aimed at depriving the King of power to appoint the cabinet, a duty which some members of the Riksdag would transfer to its speaker. Another proposed amendment would exclude the King from all cabinet meetings. If adopted, such constitutional changes would for all practical purposes eliminate the monarchy and pave the way for the creation of a republic under presidential rule. The vast majority of Swedes have indicates that they wish to retain the monarchy, however, and such changes are not likely to come about without popular support.
b. Council of State
Executive power rests with the Council of State and the party or parties it represents. The Prime Minister is dominant, because he selects the other ministers, who are then formally appointed by the King. Furthermore, if the Prime Minister is incapacitated or resigns, the rest of the cabinet must also resign. The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the political party in power. With the exception of the ministers without portfolio, all ministers are generally members of the Riksdag, to which the cabinet is responsible. Ministers are entitled to address the Riksdag, even if they are not members. Since World War II all heads of ministries have been Social Democrats.
In addition to the 12 ministries, the present cabinet includes six ministers without portfolio; two legal consultants, and one consultant each for family affairs, educational matters, civil service, and foreign policy.[1] In January 1969 the Ministry of Industrial Affairs was formed to coordinate the activities of the official "economic units". These formerly semiautonomous government components are responsible for such diverse activities as the production and allocation of energy, technical development, atomic energy development, and the management of state-owned companies. The ministry channels government funds to these various enterprises, which still retain a significant measure of autonomy.
Major executive decisions regarding the preparation of legislation, the execution of laws, and the issuance of decrees are made in cabinet meetings presided over by the Prime Minister. The weekly sessions of the King-in-Council are merely the formal registration of these decisions. The King is informed in advance about the most important matters, more as an act of courtesy than anything else.
In contrast to other Western European governments, the Swedish ministries, with the exception of Foreign Affairs and Justice, do not directly administer national laws. They are small units, usually with no more than 100 persons, including the clerical staff. Their function is to aid the King-in-Council in
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090019-6
- ↑ For a current listing of key government consult Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of Foreign Governments, published monthly by the Directorate of Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency.
