Swedish Riksdag of the Estates votes for bicameral replacement (1866)

In June 1866, the Riksdag of the Estates in Stockholm voted to dissolve itself and establish a new bicameral legislature. This decision transformed the traditional estate-based assembly into a two-chamber parliament, marking a significant shift in Sweden's constitutional structure.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. The Riksdag of the Estates was the highest authority in Sweden next to the King until its dissolution in 1866. It was a Diet made up of the Four Estates, which historically were the lines of division in Swedish society. Representation by estate was abolished in 1866, when the modern bicameral parliament was established, amid great discontent with the old Estates' inability to represent large segments of the population.

The Vote. On 22 June 1866, all estates voted in favor of dissolving the Riksdag of the Estates. Simultaneously, they established a new assembly, Sveriges Riksdag, which would function as a bicameral legislature. This new structure consisted of an upper chamber and a lower chamber, replacing the previous system of representation by estate.

New Structure. The new parliament was defined as having two chambers: the First Chamber (Första kammaren) with 155 members and the Second Chamber (Andra kammaren) with 233 members. This change was implemented through reforms to the 1809 Instrument of Government, effectively ending the era of Ständestaat representation.

Sources

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