MaktkartanPublished: Text updated:
The Riksdag's power of scrutiny
The Instrument of Government charges the Riksdag with scrutinising the government and the state administration. This is called the power of scrutiny and is exercised in several ways at once.
The Committee on the Constitution
The Committee on the Constitution examines ministers' conduct in office and how government business has been handled. The examination is reported in committee reports, and ministers are called to hearings.
Any member may refer a minister for examination. The committee describes what happened and assesses whether the handling followed the applicable rules.
Questions and interpellations
A member can put a written question to a minister, who must answer within a set time. An interpellation is a larger question, answered orally in the chamber and followed by a debate.
During question time, ministers answer members' questions directly in the chamber.
Vote of no confidence
The Riksdag can declare that a minister does not have its confidence. At least 175 members must vote in favour. A vote of no confidence means the minister must be dismissed.
The Ombudsmen and the National Audit Office
The Parliamentary Ombudsmen supervise whether agencies and officials follow laws and rules. Anyone may file a complaint, and the decisions are public.
The National Audit Office examines state activities and how public funds are used. Its audit reports are submitted to the Riksdag.
The principle of public access
The right to access official documents follows from the Freedom of the Press Act and is part of scrutiny: it lets media and individuals see the underlying material for themselves.