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Chapter 1 SessionsArticle 1 General elections to the Parliament shall be held in September. Provisions on the holding of extra elections are contained in the Instrument of Government, Chapter 3, Article 4, and Chapter 6, Article 3. Article 2 (1) After an election to the Parliament, the Parliament shall convene in ordinary session on the date prescribed in the Instrument of Government, Chapter 3, Article 5. (2) The Parliament shall convene in ordinary session on the first Tuesday in October each year in which a general election to the Parliament is not held, unless the Parliament has fixed another day in September or October when the session shall begin, on a proposal from the Speaker's Conference at the preceding session. If an extra election has been declared before the day fixed, and if on account of the election, the Parliament has not assembled in session by July at the latest, no session shall start in accordance with this paragraph. Article 3 (1) The Parliament shall assemble in extraordinary session if so ordered by the Government or the Speaker. (2) It is incumbent upon the Speaker to summon an extraordinary session if at least one hundred and fifteen members of the Parliament so request and state their reasons for so doing. The session shall then begin within twenty days of the submission of the request. (3) A summons to an extraordinary session shall be published in the official gazette not later than the day prior to the start of the session Article 4 (1) An ordinary session which has begun during August, September or October shall be prorogued no later than 31 May the following year. If special grounds exist the Parliament can prolong the session up to and including 15 June, but no longer. Other sessions continue for as long as the Parliament finds necessary. If a motion has been raised calling for the holding of a referendum on a matter concerning a fundamental law, the session shall continue until the motion has been considered, notwithstanding what has been stated above in this article. A session shall be prorogued not later than the day on which the next ordinary session shall begin. (2) If the Government has ordered an extra election, it may decide to suspend a session for the remainder of the electoral period. The Parliament shall be dissolved immediately after the decision has been announced at a meeting of the Chamber. Article 4.1 The Speaker's Conference shall make recommendations to the Parliament concerning prolongation to a date later than 31 May of a session which has begun during August, September or October. Article 5 (1) The report of the Election Review Committee of the Parliament on the examination of the warrants of election of members and alternate members shall be read at the first meeting of the Chamber in the new session. A report on the examination of a warrant which has been received during a session shall be read as soon as possible. (2) A roll-call shall be taken at the first meeting. The election of a Speaker and Deputy Speakers shall then be held in the cases referred to in Chapter 8, Article 1. Article 5.1 The first meeting of the Chamber during a session shall begin at 11 a.m. The Secretariat of the Chamber shall if possible notify members in writing, or by cable, of the time of the first meeting. Article 6 An ordinary session shall be formally opened at a special meeting of the Chamber not later than the third day of the session. The Head of State shall declare the session open at the request of the Speaker. In the unavoidable absence of the Head of State, the Speaker shall declare the session open. At this meeting the Prime Minister shall deliver a Statement of Government Policy unless special reasons indicate otherwise. The Speaker shall determine the procedure at this meeting after consultation with the Deputy Speakers. Article 6.1 The formal opening of the session shall take place at 2 p.m. on the first day of the session unless the Speaker determines otherwise. Article 7 (1) The Speaker or in his stead one of the Deputy Speakers presides over the business of the Parliament. (2) The Speaker's Conference shall deliberate on measures to promote the methodical conduct of the business of the Parliament and shall then consider what longer adjournment of Parliament business shall be made during the session. (3) The Speaker's Conference consists of the Speaker, the Deputy Speakers, one representative from each party group in the Parliament which represents a party which polled no less than four per cent of the national vote at the immediately preceding Parliament election, the Chairmen of the Parliament Committees and the Deputy Chairman of the Parliament Board of Administration. The representatives of the party groups shall be appointed at the beginning of each ordinary session for the period up to the beginning of the next ordinary session. The procedure prescribed in Chapter 7, Article 12 (1) shall apply mutatis mutandis to their selection. Article 7.1 The Speaker's Conference shall convene at the summons of the Speaker. Article 7.2 (1) In the unavoidable absence of the Chairman of a Committee his place shall be taken by the Deputy Chairman. Deputies need not be appointed for the representatives of the party groups. (2) The Speaker's Conference shall meet behind closed doors. If the Conference wishes to obtain information from any person who is not a member of the Conference, it may summon him to attend a meeting. The Clerk of the Chamber and the Director of the Administration Office may participate in the deliberations of the Conference. Article 7.3 Minutes shall be kept of the meetings of the Conference. The decisions of the Conference shall be communicated to those to whom the decisions refer. Article 8 A member of the Parliament may be granted leave of absence from his duties after the case has been considered. If a member has been granted leave of absence for a period of at least one month, his duties shall be carried out by an alternate member during the period of his absence. Article 8.1 An application for leave of absence from the duties of a member of the Parliament shall state the grounds on which the application is based. The application shall refer to leave of absence for a specific period. The application shall be considered by the Speaker if it refers to leave of absence for a period under one month and by the Parliament if it refers to a longer period. An application which is made during a period when the Parliament is not in session shall however be considered by the Speaker even if it refers to leave of absence for a longer period. Article 9 When an alternate member takes over by virtue of a provision in the Instrument of Government or of this chapter, Article 8, the Speaker shall summon the alternate to take up his duties. In so doing it is incumbent on the Speaker to observe the order of precedence between alternate members which has been determined by virtue of the Parliamentary Elections Act. Where special grounds exist, however, the Speaker may depart from the prescribed order. Article 9.1 An alternate member who is to take up duty as a member of the Parliament shall receive written confirmation to this effect. The confirmation shall state which member the alternate is to replace and the time at which the appointment starts and finishes. A certificate may be issued separately confirming the last day of the appointment. The Speaker shall notify the Chamber when an alternate replaces a member and when a member resumes his seat. Article 10 If a member of the Parliament resigns his mandate, the alternate who has been carrying out his duties in his stead shall continue to perform his duties until a new member has been appointed. Chapter 2 Meetings of the ChamberArticle 1 The Speaker shall preside over the meetings of the Chamber. The Speaker is debarred from uttering an opinion on the substance of any matter under deliberation which has been included in the order paper. Article 2 (1) In the unavoidable absence of the Speaker, one of the Deputy Speakers shall preside. If all the Deputy Speakers are prevented from being present, the meeting shall be presided over by that member present who has been a member of the Parliament for the longest period of time. If two or more members have been members of the Parliament for an equally long period the one who is the senior in age shall take precedence. The same procedure shall apply before a Speaker and Deputy Speakers have been elected. (2) The provisions of Article 1 limiting the Speaker's right to speak shall apply also to any other member who presides over the business of the Chamber. Article 3 Each member shall have his own seat in the Chamber. Article 3.1 The members shall take their places in the Chamber by constituencies. There shall be special seats for the Speaker and Deputy Speakers and also for Ministers. Article 4 (1) Meetings of the Chamber shall be public. A meeting may take place behind closed doors, however, if the security of the Realm so requires, or if otherwise necessary having regard torelations with another state or an international organization. This is a matter for decision by the Parliament. If the Government is to make an announcement to the Parliament at a meeting, the Government can also order that the meeting shall take place behind closed doors. (2) A member or an official of the Parliament may not make unauthorized disclosure of what has taken place at a meeting behind closed doors. The Parliament can, however, decide in a particular case to waive the order for absolute secrecy in whole or in part. Article 4.1 Special seats shall be provided in the Chamber for the public. Any member of the public who creates a disturbance may be evicted forthwith. If a disturbance should occur among the public, the Speaker may order all members of the public to leave. Visitors to the Public Gallery shall surrender on request their outdoor clothing, carrying bags and the like, and any objects capable of being used to create a disturbance in the Chamber, for deposit during their visit in premises provided for this purpose. Any person failing to comply with such a request may be refused admittance to the Public Gallery. Provisions concerning security controls are contained in the Act on Security Controls at Meetings in the Chamber and Committees of the Parliament. Further provisions concerning access to the Public Gallery are to be found in Articles 34 and 36 of the Act on Safety Precautions in the Parliament. Article 5 A recording for radio or television transmission may be made from a public meeting of the Chamber by agreement with the Speaker's Conference. Article 6 (1) A summons to a meeting other than a meeting referred to in Chapter 1, Articles 5 or 6, is issued by the Speaker. The summons shall indicate whether or not the meeting is a plenary session at which the report of a committee may be raised for decision. (2) The summons shall be posted in the premises of the Parliament not later than 6 p.m. on the day previous to the meeting and at least fourteen hours in advance. In very special circumstances the summons may, however, be posted later. In such a case, the meeting may be held only if more than half the members of the Parliament consent thereto. Article 6.1 A summons to a meeting should be published, if possible, in one or more daily newspapers. If the intention is that a meeting shall continue after 7 p.m., the Speaker shall inform the Chamber orally and by posting a notice to that effect before 5 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Article 6.2 When an election is to be held this shall be specifically stated in the summons. Article 7 (1) The Speaker shall prepare an order paper for each meeting at which matters are on the table of the House. Exceptions may be made for matters which are expected to be dealt with behind closed doors. It shall be clear from the order paper whether or not the meeting is a plenary session at which the report of a committee may be raised for decision. (2) The Speaker shall present business at the meeting in the order in which it is listed on the order paper. Elections to be held at a meeting shall be equated with business. Article 7.1 A motion calling for the holding of a referendum on a matter concerning a fundamental law, a nomination for the appointment of a new Prime Minister or a motion on a declaration of no confidence shall be entered as the first item on the order paper. If there are several such matters they shall be taken up in the order in which they are given above. In other respects business shall be entered in the following order unless the Speaker determines otherwise: 1) elections, 2) Government bills and communications from the Government reporting certain activities, 3) proposals and reports from Parliament bodies other than committees, 4) private members' motions, 5) Committee reports in the order the committees are listed in Chapter 4, Article 2.1. Article 7.2 To each item shall be appended a note about tabling. If a committee or the Speaker has requested that a matter shall be taken up for decision after it has been tabled only once, a special note shall be entered. Article 7.3 Directions governing annotations on the order paper in special cases are given in Article 10.1, Chapter 3, Article 6.1, Chapter 5, Article 1.3, Chapter 6, Article 1.1, Chapter 6, Article 1.2 and Chapter 6, Article 2.2. Article 7.4 The order paper shall be posted before each meeting in the chamber and at such other places as the Speaker determines. It shall also be distributed to members and to committees. The order paper shall be available for consultation in the Secretariat of the Chamber together with the documents pertaining thereto. Article 8 A decision to terminate a meeting or to suspend a meeting in progress shall be made by the Chamber without previous deliberation. Article 9 (1) The Speaker shall put the questions for decision. If he finds that a motion is in violation of a fundamental law or of the Parliament Act he shall refuse to put the question, giving the reasons for his refusal. If the Chamber insists nevertheless that the question be put, the Speaker shall refer the matter to the Committee on the Constitution for decision. The Speaker may not refuse to put the question on any matter the Committee has declared not to be in violation of a fundamental law or of this Parliament Act. (2) The provisions laid down in Paragraph (1) shall not apply to consideration of whether Chapter 2, Article 12 (3) of the Instrument of Government is applicable in respect of a particular proposal. Article 10 (1) Every member of the Parliament and every Minister is entitled, with the exceptions prescribed in this Parliament Act, to speak freely at a meeting on all questions under consideration and on the legality of all that takes place at the meeting. (2) The Head of State may make a Declaration of Office before the Chamber. (3) The Speaker may decide, after consultation with the members of the Speaker's conference appointed by the party groups, that a debate may take place at a meeting in the Chamber on matters not connected with other matters under consideration. Such a debate may be restricted to a particular subject or may be divided up according to subject. Article 10.1 Notification of a debate in accordance with Article 10 (3) shall be placed on the order paper for the meeting at which the debate shall take place. Article 11 No one may participate in the deliberations of the Chamber on a matter which concerns him personally or which concerns a close relative. A Minister may, however, participate in the discussion of a matter relating to his performance of his official duties. Article 12 (1) No one may express himself improperly about another person at a meeting or indulge in personal insult or otherwise conduct himself in word or deed in a manner inconsistent with good order. The member who has the floor shall restrict his intervention to the subject under deliberation. (2) Should any member offend against the requirements of Paragraph (1) and fail to comply with the Speaker's admonition, the Speaker may debar him from speaking for the duration of the debate. Article 13 The Speaker shall confer with the members of the Speaker's Conference appointed by the party groups concerning the arrangement of the Chamber's deliberations. Article 14 (1) The Parliament may prescribe limits, in supplementary provisions to this Parliament Act, to the number of speeches which a speaker may make during the deliberation of a question and to the duration of each speech. In this context a distinction may be made between different categories of speakers, such as Ministers and spokesmen for a majority or a minority in a committee, or spokesmen of party groups, speakers who have complied with the Speaker's request that they shall give notification in advance of their intention to speak and speakers who have failed to do so. (2) The right to speak may also be restricted pursuant to Paragraph (1) on the proposal of the Speaker in connection, in particular, with the deliberation of a specific question. The decision shall be taken without prior debate . (3) When applying this article it shall always be borne in mind that any member who wishes to speak on a question may speak for six minutes. The right of refutation and rejoinder set forth in Article 15 (2) stands irrespective of any decision made under this article. Article 14.1 (1) A member who wishes to speak in a debate in the Chamber should, if possible, notify the Secretariat of the Chamber not later than the day prior to the meeting at which the debate will begin. Such notice shall indicate how long the intervention is expected to last. (2) A speech by a member who has failed to give advance notice may not exceed six minutes unless the Speaker considers that grounds exist for allowing an extension. (3) The provisions of Paragraph (1) and (2) shall not apply when a question is answered. Article 14.2 (1) Speeches at a specially arranged debate unconnected with other business may not exceed fifteen minutes or, in the case of speeches by Ministers or by specially-appointed spokesmen from each party group, thirty minutes. (2) A party group shall notify the Speaker of the name of a spokesman under Paragraph (1). Article 15 (1) Before a particular question is debated, the Speaker shall determine from among those who have given advance notice the order in which speakers shall take the floor. Members who ask leave to speak in the course of a debate shall speak in the order in which they give notice to the Speaker. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1), a Minister has the right to make a brief intervention in response to another speaker. With the Speaker's permission a member may be given the floor, irrespective of the Speaker's list, for the purpose of making a rejoinder to another speaker. Article 15.1 Irrespective of the order of speakers, the Speaker may give the floor to a member to make a rejoinder which contains information, or corrects a statement in the remarks delivered by the preceding speaker, or in order to refute an allegation. The time limit for a rejoinder may not exceed three minutes unless the Speaker grants an extension to six minutes on special grounds. Each speaker is entitled to two rejoinders in the context of the same principal intervention. Article 15.2 Irrespective of the order of speakers, a member may express his concurrence with the immediately preceding speaker during a debate without stating his reasons. Article 15.3 Brief remarks by a Minister on a particular subject in refutation of another speaker may not exceed ten minutes. If the Speaker has already given leave to a member to make a rejoinder, that member may speak before the Minister. Article 15.4 Speakers shall address the House from the rostrum or from their place in the Chamber. Article 16 (1) A complete record shall be kept of proceedings in the Chamber. No one shall be entitled to speak without his remarks being entered in the record. A decision may not be changed when the record is approved. (2) The record of meetings of the Chamber and the documents deemed appropriate for inclusion in the appendix to that record shall be published unless they are required to be kept secret under special provisions. Article 16.1 Statements made at meetings shall be recorded and shall be made available without delay for consultation at the Secretariat of the Chamber. If a speaker has filed no complaint against the record by noon of the fifth day following the meeting he shall be assumed to have approved it. If a speaker confirms the accuracy of the record he should sign or initial the record. Article 16.2 (1) The record shall be approved by the Chamber on the seventh day following the meeting, if the Parliament meets on that day, or otherwise at the next following meeting. Records of meetings held prior to longer recesses of the Parliament and records which have not been approved by the end of a session shall be approved at a date to be decided by the Speaker. Notice of the date for such approval shall be published in the newspaper or newspapers in which meetings of the Chamber are announced. The record shall be approved in the presence of the members who are in attendance. (2) At the meeting for the approval of a record, a member has the right to request correction of a speech the record of which has been approved by another member in accordance with 2.16.1. Chapter 3 Introduction of BusinessArticle 1 (1) The Government shall submit proposals to the Parliament by means of Government Bills. (2) A Government Bill shall always be accompanied by the Cabinet minutes on the matter, by an account of earlier deliberation of the matter, by a motivation, and by the opinion of the Law Council, if such exists. Article 1.1 A Government Bill shall be submitted by delivering it to the Secretariat of the Chamber. The Speaker shall give notice of the Bill at a meeting of the Chamber after it has been distributed to the members of the Parliament. Article 2 (1) The budget year begins on 1 July. The Government shall present a Bill setting out its budget proposals for the next fiscal year not later than 10 January, or, if this is impossible due to a recent change of Government, as soon as possible thereafter. This Bill shall contain a finance plan and a national budget. The Government shall present a special supplementary Bill finalizing the budget. This proposal shall be presented before the end of April unless some obstacle exists to prevent it. (2) Other Bills concerning appropriations for the next fiscal year shall be presented not later than 10 March unless the Government finds that consideration of the Bill can be postponed until the following session. At the 1989/90 session, however, such a Bill shall be presented not later then 25 February. (3) Bills for new or considerably increased appropriations, or new guidelines for central Government activities under Chapter 9, Article 1 of the Instrument of Government, should contain an estimate of future costs for the purpose to which the Bill relates. If proposals concerning appropriations are based on a plan covering a period which is longer than that for which the appropriations are calculated in the Bill, the plan should be described. Article 3 Government Bills other than those referred to in Article 2 shall be presented not later than 31 March if the Government considers that the Bills should be dealt with during the current session. Article 4 (1) The provisions of Articles 2 (2) and 3 concerning the time when Government Bills shall be introduced, apply only to ordinary sessions to be prorogued no later than 31 May under Chapter 1, Article 4. (2) These provisions do not apply 1) if the budget Bill has been introduced later than 10 January by virtue of Article 2; 2) in respect of a Bill whereby, pursuant to law, the Government submits to the Parliament for its consideration a statutory order which it has already issued; 3) if the Government finds that there are special grounds for presenting the Bill later. Article 5 (1) The Government should submit its Bills, if possible, at such times as to prevent an accumulation of work in the Parliament. The Government shall confer with the Speaker in this matter. (2) Bills may also be submitted when the Parliament is not in session. Article 6 The Government may communicate information to the Parliament in writing or a Minister may communicateinformation to the Parliament orally at a meeting of the Chamber. Article 6.1 If a Minister is to communicate information orally to the Parliament at a meeting of the Chamber, a note to this effect should be entered in the order paper for the meeting. Article 6.2 The Government shall report to the Parliament each year, when it submits its budget Bill, on the work of commissions appointed by decision of the Government. Article 7 A Committee has the right to present proposals to the Parliament on matters within its jurisdiction. Article 8 (1) Other bodies which are appointed by the Parliament in whole or in part may present proposals to the Parliament on questions which concern the competence, organization, personnel or activities of the body concerned. (2) The Parliament can direct that such a body may also present proposals to the Parliament in other cases. (3) Special provisions are laid down concerning annual reports to the Parliament by Parliament bodies. Article 8.1 The proposals and annual reports of Parliament bodies referred to in Article 8 shall be filed with the Secretariat of the Chamber and shall be notified by the Speaker to a meeting of the Chamber after they have been distributed to members. Article 8.2 (1) The Speaker's Conference may submit proposals to the Parliament on questions which concern the conduct of Parliament business. The Speaker's Conference is also free in other cases to introduce proposals in the Parliament on questions which concern the Parliament or Parliament bodies if the proposals are based on a report by a commission which has been appointed by the Speaker's Conference on the instructions of the Parliament. (2) The Parliament Board of Administration may submit proposals to the Parliament on questions which concern the administration services of the Parliament or its authorities if these questions fall within the jurisdiction of the Boar(i Article 8.3 Special provisions are laid down concerning the right of the Trustees of the Bank of Sweden, the Parliamentary Ombudsmen, and the Auditors of the Parliament to submit proposals on questions other than questions referred to under Article 8 (1), first sentence. Article 9 (1) Members of the Parliament shall submit proposals to the Parliament by means of private members' motions. (2) Matters of varying nature may not be combined in one and the same motion. Article 9.1 (1) Private members' motions shall be filed with the Secretariat of the Chamber. Private members' motions shall be handed in not later than 5 p.m. on the last day for submitting motions. Private members' motions should be delivered in four copies and include information as to the party to which the member introducing the motion belongs and the number of his seat in the Chamber. (2) Private members' motions shall be notified to the Chamber by the Speaker. Article 10 (1) Private members' motions may be introduced within fifteen days of the day on which the budget Bill was notified to the Chamber. If the session ends before the time allowed for the introduction of private members' motions has expired, a new fifteen-day period is instated from the beginning of the next ordinary session. (2) If, in some case, the budget is adopted for a period other than the fiscal year, the Parliament shall determine what extension shall be allowed for the introduction of private members' motions. Article 11 (1) In addition to what follows from Article 10, a private member's motion relating to a Government Bill may be submitted within fifteen days of the date on which the Bill was notified to the Chamber. In the case of business which requires to be settled quickly, the Parliament may decide, if pressing grounds exist, and on a proposal from the Government, to curtail the period during which private members' motions may be submitted. The Parliament can decide to extend by not more than ten days the period during which private members' motions may be submitted in connection with a Bill containing a plan under Article 2 (3). (2) Private members' motions may also be tabled in connection with written communications from the Government. In this connection the provisions of Paragraph (1) apply, unless otherwise provided under Article 19. (3) In calculating the period during which private members' motions may be submitted under this article, a week or more may be discounted from a date falling within a period in which the Parliament is in recess. Article 11.1 Requests for an extension of the period allowed for the introduction of private members' motions under Article 11 (1), last sentence, may be presented no later than the second meeting after the meeting at which the Bill was submitted to the Chamber. A decision on an extension shall be reached not later than at the next following meeting. Article 11.2 {...} Article 11.3 The Speaker's Conference shall determine which days shall be discounted from the time allowed for the introduction of private members' motions under Article 11 (3). Article 12 (1) If a Government Bill has been postponed from one session to another, private members' motions arising out of the Bill may be introduced 1) at the first session of an electoral period, within seven days of its opening; or 2) if a Bill has been introduced so late in a session that the period prescribed in Article 11 for the introduction of private members' motions has not expired when the session ends, no later than the second day of the next ordinary session; or, if the Parliament has decided in advance to examine the Bill at an extraordinary session, within seven days of the date of that decision. (2) In applying Paragraph (1), a written communication, such as is referred to in Article 11 (2) shall be equated with a Government Bill. Article 13 The provisions of Articles 11 and 12 shall also apply to private members' motions arising out of proposals or reports by such agencies of the Parliament as are referred to in Article8. Article 14 If the Parliament has been summoned to convene in extraordinary session in response to a request by Parliament members, private members' motions on questions which gave rise to the summons are to be introduced within four days after the start of the session. Article 15 Private members' motions in connection with an occurrence of major importance may be introduced during a session by a minimum of ten members acting jointly, if the occurrence could not be foreseen or taken account of during the time allowed for the introduction of private members' motions under Article 10 or generate the right to introduce motions by virtue of other provisions of this chapter. Article 16 (1) The Committee on the Constitution shall report to the Chamber for final approval decisions held in suspense on matters concerning the fundamental laws or the Parliament Act. If, under the provisions of the Instrument of Government, the procedure prescribed for amendments of fundamental laws is to be applied in any other case, a decision in the matter which is held in suspense shall be reported by the committee dealing with the matter. (2) The Committee on the Constitution shall also report to the Chamber decisions on exemptions from the respites which are laid down in Chapter 8, Article 15, of the Instrument of Government. Article 17 Motions calling for the holding of a referendum on a matter concerning a fundamental law or on a declaration of no confidence shall be raised at a meeting of the Chamber. A motion shall be delivered in writing for the record as soon as it has been raised. Article 18 (1) If a prosecutor calls upon the Parliament to give its consent, in accordance with the Instrument of Government, Chapter 4, Article 8 (1) to the prosecution or restraint of a member of the Parliament, the prosecutor shall make a written application to the Speaker to this effect. The above provisions relative to a prosecutor shall apply also to any other person who calls upon the Parliament to give its consent to the prosecution of a member of the Parliament on grounds of his acts or omissions. (2) If the document of application is so incomplete that the Parliament cannot take it up for consideration, or if the applicant has not demonstrated that he has grounds for taking such action or demanding that it be taken by an authority, the Speaker shall reject the application. In all other cases he is to report the matter at a meeting of the Chamber. Article 18.1 The applicant shall state in the document of application the circumstances on which the application is grounded. Article 19 (1) Government Bills and private members' motions may be withdrawn until such time as the appropriate committee has presented its report on the matter. Bills held in suspense under the Instrument of Government, Chapter 2, Article 12 (3) may be withdrawn until such time as the Committee has presented a new report in accordance with this Parliament Act, Chapter 4, Article 8 (4). (2) If a Government Bill is withdrawn, private members' motions arising out of the Bill lapse. (3) If a Government Bill has been withdrawn, private members' motions arising out of the withdrawal may be introduced within seven days from the date on which the withdrawal was notified in the Chamber. Article 19.1 Withdrawal shall be effected by means of a written communication, which shall be delivered to the Secretariat of the Chamber. The Speaker cancels proposals which have been withdrawn or which have become void as a result of the withdrawal and shall report this to the Chamber. If the proposal has been submitted to a committee, the committee shall be informed of its withdrawal. Article 20 The provisions generally applicable to the calculation of statutory time-limits shall apply also in respect of time-limits for action under the provisions of this chapter. Chapter 4 The Preparation of BusinessArticle 1 (1) Bills, written communications other than written communications under the Instrument of Government, Chapter 2, Article 10 (2) or implying the withdrawal of a Bill, a private member's motion, or a proposal or report from an agency of the Parliament under Chapter 3, Article 8, shall be referred to a committee for consideration. The same shall apply to applications under Chapter 3, Article 18, which have been reported to the Chamber by the Speaker. (2) Before a matter is referred to a committee it shall lie on the table of the Chamber until its next meeting, unless the Chamber decides to refer it to a committee forthwith. Article 2 (1) The Parliament shall appoint from among its members for each electoral period a Committee on the Constitution, a Committee on Finance, a Committee on Taxation and at least twelve other Committees. (2) The Parliament can appoint additional committees during a session for a period not exceeding that stated in Paragraph (1). Article 2.1 (1) The Parliament shall appoint the following sixteen committees on the eighth day following the first meeting of the Chamber during the new session: 1. a Committee on the Constitution, 2. a Committee on Finance, 3. a Committee on Taxation, 4. a Committee on Justice, 5. a Committee on Civil Law Legislation, 6. a Committee on Foreign Affairs, 7. a Committee on Defence, 8. a Committee on Social Insurance, 9. a Committee on Health and Welfare, 10. a Committee on Cultural Affairs, 11. a Committee on Education, 12. a Committee on Transport and Communications, 13. a Committee on Agriculture, 14. a Committee on Industry and Trade, 15. a Committee on Labor Market, and 16. a Committee on Housing. (2) The committees are elected in the order in which they are listed above. Article 2.2 If the Parliament appoints an additional committee it shall state its primary function. Article 3 Each committee shall consist of an odd number of members, and no fewer than fifteen. Article 3.1 Each committee shall consist of seventeen members. Article 4 In addition to its mandate under the Instrument of Government, Chapter 12, Article 1, the Committee on the Constitution shall prepare matters concerning the fundamental laws and the Parliament Act. Article 5 (1) In addition to its mandates under the Instrument of Government, Chapter 8, Article 6, and Chapter 9, Articles 4 and 11 the Committee on Finance shall prepare for consideration by the Chamber matters relating to the general guidelines of economic policy, to final determination of the budget, and to matters affecting the activities of the Bank of Sweden. (2) In addition to its mandate under the Instrument of Government, Chapter 8, Article 6, the Committee on Taxation shall prepare matters relating to central and local government taxation. Article 6 (1) The Parliament shall prescribe the principles according to which other matters shall be divided among the committees. In this connection it shall be observed that matters falling within the same subject area shall be referred to one and the same committee. It may be decided, however, that there shall be a committee for the preparation of business relating to such laws as are referred to in the Instrument of Government, Chapter 8, Article 2, irrespective of subject area. (2) The Parliament may depart from the principles thus established, and also from Article 5, if this is found to be necessary in a particular case in view of the interdependence of different subjects, the particular nature of a matter, or working conditions. Article 6.1 In addition to its mandate under Article 4, the Committee on the Constitution shall prepare matters relating to legislation in the fields of constitutional and general administrative law, financial support for the press and political parties, legislation concerning radio, film and television, and other matters relating to freedom of speech, the formation of public opinion, and freedom of worship; other matters relating to the Parliament, the Parliamentary Ombudsmen, the Parliament's official agencies other than the Bank of Sweden or the Auditors of the Parliament; matters concerning the consent of the Parliament to the prosecution of a member or restriction of a member's personal liberty; and matters of general significance for local self-government. Article 6.2 In addition to its mandate under Article 5 (1), the Committee on Finance shall prepare matters relating to monetary, credit, exchange control and national debt policies, and to the Auditors of the Parliament. It shall also prepare matters of general significance for local government budgets; matters concerning national statistics, accounting, audits, and administrative efficiency; Government property and public procurement in general; and other matters of administrative finance which do not relate solely to a particular subject. The Committee shall further prepare budgetary matters, examine estimates of public revenues, and draw up the national budget. Article 6.3 In addition to its mandate under Article 5 (2), theCommittee on Taxation shall prepare matters concerning tax assessment, the collection of taxes, and population registration. Article 6.4 The Committee on Justice shall prepare matters which concern the courts the leasehold and rent tribunals, the public prosecution authorities, the police service and the correctional system, as well as matters pertaining to the Penal Code, the Code of Judicial Procedure and laws which replace, or are closely associated with, provisions contained in these Codes. Article 6.5 The Committee on Civil Law Legislation shall prepare matters which concern the Marriage Code, the Code on Parenthood and Guardianship, the Inheritance Code, the Commercial or Debt Recovery Code, and laws which replace or refer to provisions contained in these codes, insofar as these matters do not come within the purview of another Committee. It shall also prepare matters relating to insurance contract law, company and association law except for housing law, the law on bills of exchange and cheques, the law of torts, the law of intellectual property, transport law, bankruptcy law, private international law, and legislation in other matters of the nature of general private law. The Committee shall further prepare matters relating to consumer protection, and the debt recovery system. Article 6.6 The Committee on Foreign Affairs shall prepare matters concerning the relations and the agreements of the Realm with other states and with international organizations, Sweden's representation abroad and assistance for the development of other countries as well as other questions concerning foreign trade and international economic co-operation, all insofar as these matters are not the subject of preparation by another committee. Article 6.7 The Committee on Defence shall prepare matters concerning military defence, civil defence, peacetime rescue services, economic defence, psychological defence, local government emergency services, non-combatant national service, and matters concerning coordination within the total defence system. Article 6.8 The Committee on Social Insurance shall prepare matters concerning national insurance, occupational injury insurance, and financial support for students. It shall also prepare matters relating to Swedish citizenship, and issues relating to foreigners and immigrants. Article 6.9 The Committee on Health and Welfare shall prepare matters concerning child and youth care services, care of the elderly and handicapped, measures to deal with narcotics and alcohol abuse, and other questions relating to the social services. It shall also prepare matters relating to alcohol policy, support for families with children, health and medical care, and social issues in general. Article 6.10 The Committee on Cultural Affairs shall prepare matters concerning culture in general, popular education, youth activities, international cultural cooperation and sports and outdoor activities. It shall also prepare questions concerning church affairs and matters concerning radio and television insofar as these matters are not the subject of preparation by the Committee on the Constitution. Article 6.11 The Committee on Education shall prepare matters concerninghigher education and research, the school system, and adult education. Article 6.12 The Committee on Transport and Communications shall prepare matters concerning railways, postal and telegraphic services, telephone services, roads, road transport, shipping, civil aviation and meteorological services. Article 6.13 The Committee on Agriculture shall prepare matters concerning agriculture, forestry, horticulture, hunting, fishing and water rights. It shall also prepare matters on nature conservation and other matters concerning environmental management not the subject of preparation by another committee. Article 6.14 The Committee on Industry and Trade shall prepare matters concerning general guidelines for industrial policy, associated research questions, and matters relating to industry and handicrafts, trade, state-owned enterprises, prices and competition in trade and industry, the banking and stock exchange system, and commercial insurance activities. Article 6.15 The Committee on the Labor Market shall prepare matters concerning labor market policy, regional policy, labor law, working hours, statutory holidays, the working environment, public service staff policy, and equality between men and women in working life. Article 6.16 The Committee on Housing shall prepare matters concerning housing policy, rents, tenant ownership law, leasehold law, land development planning, building and construction, physical planning, expropriation, the formation of property units, and land survey. It shall also prepare matters relating to the county administration, including the local tax authorities, the division of the realm into administrative districts, and such local government matters as do not fall within the purview of any other committee. Article 7 Matters other than the Budget Bill may be shared between two or more committees only where special grounds exist. No supplementary budget bill or other matter relating to economic policy may be so shared at the 1989/90 session of the Parliament. Article 8 (1) A committee shall submit a report on any matter that has been referred to it, and which has not been withdrawn. A committee may, however, transfer a matter to another committee if the other committee consents, or reaches an agreement with one or more committees to prepare the matter through representatives on a joint committee. Such a committee shall submit a report to the Parliament. (2) Reports on business the preparation of which has been postponed from one electoral period to another shall be referred to the committee appointed by the newly-elected Parliament. (3) Reports on matters the preparation of which has been postponed from one electoral period to another shall be submitted prior to 1 November. The Parliament may, however, decide that a report on such a matter may be submitted also after this date. (4) When notifying to the Chamber a decision held in suspense under Chapter 3, Article 6, the committee shall append a report on the matter. (5) If draft legislation has been held in suspense under the Instrument of Government, Chapter 2, Article 12 (3) thecommittee shall submit a new report on the matter. Article 8.1 Decisions by the Committees on Finance and Taxation on matters under the Instrument of Government, Chapter 8, Article 6, shall be reported to the Government in a written communication. Article 8.2 A decision to permit a report to be submitted after the end of October in a matter the handling of which has been postponed from one session to another within the same electoral period is made at the request of the committee responsible for handling it. The committee shall obtain the opinion of the Speaker's Conference. Article 9 (1) A matter on which a committee has reported shall be sent back by the Chamber for further consideration if at least one third of those voting favor so doing. Remittal under this article may not be made more than once in respect of one and the same matter. (2) The Chamber can also refer the matter to another committee for further consideration. If application is made simultaneously for referral to another committee and for remittal to the same committee, the latter application shall be considered first. If the application to remit is approved, the request for referral to another committee lapses. Article 10 (1) A Government authority shall furnish information and deliver an opinion when requested to do so by a committee, unless it follows otherwise from Article 12 (2). The Government is, however, under no such obligation. An authority not subordinate to the Parliament can refer such a request from a committee to the Government for decision. (2) If, when considering a matter, at least one third of the members of a committee ask under Paragraph (1) for information and an opinion to be obtained from an authority, the committee shall act accordingly, provided that it does not find that the associated delay in dealing with the matter would cause serious detriment. The committee shall give an account in its report of its reasons for turning down a request of this nature. (3) The Committee on the Constitution may not declare that the Instrument of Government, Chapter 2, Article 12 (3) shall not apply in respect of a particular draft law unless the Law Council has given its opinion on the matter. Article 11 Committees shall also convene out of session if the work of the Parliament so requires. Article 11.1 (1) A committee shall convene for the first time within two days after it has been elected at the summons of the Speaker. The committee shall meet subsequently as convened by its Chairman. The Committee on Finance may also be convened at the request of the Government for the purposes indicated the Instrument of Government, Chapter 9, Article 4. If the Committee is to convene in this manner at the request of the Government, the summons shall be issued by the Speaker. (2) A personal summons shall be sent to all members and alternate members. The summons should if possible be posted in the premises of the Parliament by 6 p.m. at the latest on the day prior to the meeting. Article 11.2 A committee may meet concurrently with the Chamber only if the deliberations in the Chamber concern matters other than thesettlement of business or elections, and the committee has unanimously consented in advance. Article 11.3 (1) Until the election of a chairman has taken place, that member among those present who has been a member of the Parliament longest shall preside. If two or more members have been members for an equal length of time, then the member who is senior in age has precedence. (2) At a joint meeting of the Finance and Taxation Committees under the Instrument of Government, Chapter 8, Article 6 the committee chairman who has been a member of the Parliament longest shall preside. If both have been members of the Parliament for an equal length of time, the one who is senior in age has precedence. Article 11.4 Minutes shall be kept of committee meetings. Article 12 (1) Committee meetings shall take place behind closed doors. If special reasons exist, a committee may permit a person who is not a member, alternate member. or official of the committee to be present. The committee may, however, decide that a meeting shall be wholly or entirely public, insofar as it relates to the gathering of information. (2) During any public part of a committee meeting, a representative of a state authority is not required to furnish information which is subject to the authority's rules regarding secrecy. Article 12.1 Sound or video records of a public part of a committee meeting may be made by agreement with the committee. Article 12.2 (1) Special places shall be available for the public at the public part of a committee meeting. Any member of the public creating a disturbance may be evicted forthwith. If disorder develops among the public, the chairman may evict all members of the public. (2) Visitors attending the public part of a committee meeting shall surrender on request their outdoor clothing, carrying bags and the like, and any objects capable of being used to create a disturbance at the meeting, for deposit during their visit in premises provided for this purpose. Any person failing to comply with such a request may be refused admittance to the meeting. (3) Provisions concerning security controls are contained in the Act on Security Controls at Meetings in the Chamber and Committees of the Parliament. Article 13 No one may be present at a meeting of a committee when matters which affect him personally, or someone closely associated with him, are being discussed or decided. Article 14 (1) Voting in a committee shall be open. In the event of a tied vote, the opinion which is supported by the chairman shall prevail. (2) A member who has lost in a vote in a committee may add his dissenting opinion and motions to the committee's report. The committee report must not, however, be delayed thereby. Article 15 Neither a member, an alternate member, or an official of a committee may disclose without authority any matters which the Government, or the committee, have decided shall be kept secret out of consideration for the security of the Realm or forother reasons of extreme importance, arising from relations with a foreign state or international organization. Article 16 No member, alternate member, or official may divulge, without the consent of the Committee, what has transpired in the Committee on Finance in regard to matters covered by the Instrument of Government, Chapter 9, Article 11, before agreement has been reached or the deliberations have otherwise been concluded, or a proposal as envisaged in the said article has been laid before the Committee. Chapter 5 The Approval of BusinessArticle 1 (1) A committee report shall lie on the table at two meetings of the Chamber before any decision is taken in the matter, unless the Parliament decides, at the proposal of the committee or the Speaker, that the matter shall be settled after having been tabled only once. (2) Motions under the Instrument of Government, Chapter 2, Article 12 (1) that a draft law shall be held in suspense may be made when the committee's recommendations on the proposal have been notified to the Chamber. Article 1.1 (1) A committee report shall not be notified to the Chamber until it has been distributed to the members of the Parliament. (2) The Speaker shall confer with the chairman and vice chairman of the committee before raising any proposal under Article 1 (1). When the Speaker raises such a proposal, notice to this effect shall be given in the Chamber at the same time as notice is given that the committee's report is being tabled. Article 1.2 If, when a matter comes up for decision, a member wishes to make a motion which is not recorded in the committee report, he shall notify the Speaker of the motion as soon as possible. Such a motion should be in writing and should be distributed to members before the matter is decided; the motion should not contain a motivation. Article 1.3 Motions referred to in Article 1 (2) are to be in writing and included, if possible, in the order paper of the Chamber. Article 2 (1) Motions calling for the holding of a referendum on matters concerning a fundamental law or on a declaration of no confidence shall lie on the table of the Chamber until the second meeting following that at which the motion was raised and a decision taken no later than at the next following meeting. (2) The foregoing provisions shall apply mutatis mutandis to proposals by the Speaker on the appointment of a new Prime Minister. In this context the time-limit prescribed in the Instrument of Government, Chapter 6, Article 2 (2) shall be observed. Article 3 (1) Matters under deliberation may not be raised for decision until the Chamber has declared the debate concluded on the proposal of the Speaker. The report of a committee may be raised for decision only at a meeting notified as a plenary session in the summons under Chapter 2, Article 6. and entered in the order paper under Chapter 2, Article 7 as a plenary session. (2) Matters shall be decided by acclamation or, if a member so requests, by a division. If a qualified majority is required for approval, the matter shall always be decided by a division. (3) If necessary, a matter may be dealt with under separate decisions. If a motion has been filed under Article 1 (1) that a draft law shall be held in suspense, and a motion has also been filed for the proposal to be rejected, the Parliament is to consider the latter motion before any vote is taken on approval of the proposal forthwith. Article 3.1 If there are motions for draft laws to be held in suspense pending decision, in accordance with the Instrument of Government, Chapter 2, Article 12 (3) and if in the division the proposal has failed to obtain the necessary support, the proposal shall be referred to the Committee on the Constitution for consideration in accordance with the Instrument of Government, Chapter 2, Article 12 (5). After consideration by the Committee, the matter shall be reported back to the Chamber again for deliberation in accordance with Article 1 (1). If the Committee on the Constitution has declared that the Instrument of Government, Chapter 2, Article 12 (3) applies to the proposal, and if no decision has been reached, it shall be sent back to the committee dealing with the matter. Article 4 When a matter is to be decided by acclamation, the Speaker shall put to the vote each motion made during the Chamber's deliberations. The question should be worded so that it can be answered by a "yes" or a "no". The Speaker shall announce what he concludes is the result of the decision and confirm it by striking his gavel, unless a division is requested. Article 5 (1) When a matter is to be decided by a division, a second motion shall be put as counter-proposal to the motion which, in the Speaker's opinion, has won the approval of the Parliament, or, if there has been no vote by acclamation, to the motion decided upon by the Speaker. If there are more than two motions in contention it shall first be decided by applying Article 4 which motion shall be the counter-proposal. (2) The division shall be open. The Speaker shall announce the result of the division and confirm the decision by striking his gavel. Article 5.1 (1) When a division is to be taken the Speaker shall formulate a proposal on which to vote. If, in certain cases, approval by a qualified majority is required, this shall be stated in the proposal which is put to the vote. (2) When members have taken their seats in the Chamber after due warning has been given, the proposal which is to be put to the vote shall be read and put to the Chamber for approval. (3) A division may be taken by having members rise in their seats. If the Speaker finds that such a procedure still leaves room for doubt about the result of the division, or if a member asks for a count to be taken, a new ballot shall be held using the vote-recording machine or, when such cannot be used, by roll-call. Article 5.2 (1) In a division taken by having members rise in their seats, the Speaker shall first call upon those members who wish to vote "yes" to rise and call thereafter upon the members who wish to vote "no" to the proposal to rise. (2) In a division taken using the vote-recording machine, the panel recording how each member has voted shall be photographed. (3) In a division taken by means of a roll-call, the Speaker shall call upon two members to join him at the Speaker's table to act as tellers. The Deputy Speakers shall be called first and the other members thereafter in the number order of their seats inthe Chamber. Answers shall be one of the following: "yes", "no", "abstain". Article 6 (1) In the event of a tied vote on a motion concerning which motion shall constitute a counter-proposal to a Government proposal, the issue shall be decided by lot. (2) In the event of a tied vote in a principal division, the matter shall be laid on the table. In the event of a tied vote in a principal division when the matter is raised again, the Speaker shall put the motion to the Chamber that the matter be sent back to the committee. The matter shall be sent back in this manner if at least half of those present and voting support the proposal. Failing a decision to send the matter back to the committee, the fall of the lot shall determine what is the decision of the Parliament. (3) After a matter has been sent back to a committee, it shall be raised again for decision by the Chamber in its entirety. If there is a tied vote again in the principal division, the matter shall be decided forthwith by lot. Article 7 If the decision of a legislative matter has been split up into two or more part-decisions, the Parliament may decide immediately following the last part-decision, on the Speaker's proposal, or that of another member, that the matter shall be sent back to the committee for further examination. If the Parliament decides that the matter shall be sent back, the part-decisions become void. Decisions may not be made more than once to refer matters back to committees under this article. Article 8 (1) If support by a qualified majority is required for a decision, and more than one decision is proposed, the Parliament shall first select one of the proposals on the basis of the rules generally in force. A decision shall then be made as to whether this proposal shall be approved or rejected. The provisions of the first sentence shall apply also when there are several draft laws which are mutually incompatible and motions have been raised for any of them to be held in suspense in accordance with the Instrument of Government, Chapter 2, Article 12 (3). (2) If two or more motions are made concurrently which call for the holding of a referendum on the same fundamental law proposal, or on a declaration of no confidence against the same Minister, only one division shall be held. Article 9 {...} Article 10 (1) The Parliament may postpone the consideration of a matter to the next ordinary session by special decision. A matter which concerns the budget for the coming fiscal year may only be postponed, however, if this can be done without detriment to final approval of the budget. Decisions on postponements can be repeated. (2) If an ordinary session is terminated prematurely due to an extra election, matters which the Parliament has not had time to decide upon shall be considered postponed, without the need for a special decision, to the first ordinary session after the election. (3) Draft laws which have been held in suspense for a period of twelve months under the Instrument of Government, Chapter 2, Article 12 (3) shall be considered before the expiry of the next calendar year. Other matters shall be decided before the expiry of the calendar year following the year in which the matters were raised. If a draft law is closely connected with draft legislation held in suspense under Chapter 2, Article 12 (3) of the Instrument of Government, the Parliament maydetermine that it shall be decided upon within the time stipulated for testing the legislation held in suspense. If a matter referred to in this paragraph cannot be decided within the period prescribed because an extra election has been ordered, it shall be decided upon as soon as possible after the newly-elected Parliament has been convened. Article 10.1 A decision to postpone business shall be taken at the request of the committee dealing with the matter. The committee shall obtain the opinion of the Speaker's Conference. The Chamber may also, when considering a committee report, decide on a postponement without such a request having been made . Article 10.2 Decisions under Article 10 (3.3) are taken on a motion from the committee within whose purview the matter belongs. Article 11 The Parliament may decide to consider at an extraordinary session a matter which has been postponed. Article 11.1 A decision taken at an extraordinary session to consider a matter which has been postponed shall be reached on the basis of a proposal made by the committee dealing with the matter or by the Speaker. The Speaker's Conference shall be consulted in the matter. Article 12 (1) A decision on a matter concerning a fundamental law shall be reached at the first session during the electoral period at which a definitive decision may first be taken in accordance with the Instrument of Government, Chapter 8, Article 15 unless the decision is rejected before then or the decision is postponed to another session. As regards postponement, the relevant provisions of Articles 10 (1)-(2) and 11 shall be applicable. Such a matter shall be finally determined before the next general election to the Parliament. (2) If a proposal concerning an amendment to a fundamental law which has been held in suspense or another decision which has been reached according to the same procedure is rejected at a referendum, the committee dealing with the matter shall report such rejection to the Chamber. Article 12.1 Articles 10.1 and 11.1 shall apply mutatis mutandis in respect of the postponement of matters concerning fundamental laws. Article 13 Decisions reached by the Parliament on Government Bills, and other decisions, of which the Government shall be informed, shall be communicated to the Government in writing. Article 13.1 (1) The written communications of the Parliament shall be prepared by the Secretariat of the Chamber and signed by the Speaker. (2) The committee which has prepared a matter shall be informed of the Chamber's decision in the matter. Chapter 6 Interpellations and Questions to MinistersArticle 1 (1) Interpellations shall deal with a specific subject, and shall include a statement of motivation. Interpellations should be made only in respect of matters of broad public interest. The Speaker shall decide whether or not an interpellation may be made. If the Speaker concludes that the interpellation shouldnot be permitted, he shall refer the matter to the Parliament for decision. The Parliament shall take its decision without prior deliberation. (2) If a Minister fails to reply to an interpellation within four weeks from the date on which the Speaker or the Parliament permitted the interpellation to be made, the Minister shall prior to expiry of this period inform the Parliament orally why no reply will be given, or why a reply has been deferred. No deliberations shall follow such an announcement. (3) An interpellation lapses if no reply is given during the session at which it was made. Article 1.1 (1) An interpellation shall be filed with the Secretariat of the Chamber. The Speaker shall notify the Chamber, without delay, at a meeting, of his decision to allow the interpellation, or propose that it be disallowed. A motion to disallow an interpellation shall be decided at the next following meeting, and be included in the order paper for that meeting. If the Speaker or the Parliament allows an interpellation, the Speaker shall forward it to the Minister concerned without delay. (2) The interpellation shall be posted in the Parliament at the latest when it is notified to the Chamber, or the Speaker makes a motion to disallow it. (3) A member who files an interpellation with the Secretariat of the Chamber after the end of April, at a session which is to be concluded by 31 May at the latest in accordance with Chapter 1, Article 4 shall state in the interpellation his reasons for not filing it earlier. Article 1.2 (1) When a Minister proposes to answer an interpellation, the Speaker shall decide at which meeting the reply shall be given after consultation with the Minister and the interpellant. Notification that the interpellation will be answered shall be posted no later than 11 a.m. on the day before the meeting and shall be included in the order paper. (2) Replies to interpellations may be distributed to members in advance. If the reply has been distributed, the Minister can confine his statement to a summary of the reply. Article 1.3 (1) The following provisions shall apply at the 1988/89 session. (2) When a Minister replies to an interpellation, his reply shall be given in an oral statement lasting no longer than ten minutes. The Minister may be given the floor twice more in the debate on the interpellation, for no more than six minutes each time. (3) The interpellant may be given the floor three times at most, his first intervention to last no more than six minutes, and the other two no more than three minutes. The same shall apply to members who have given notice that they wish to speak in the debate no later than the day prior to the meeting at which the reply is to be given. (4) Other speakers may be given the floor at most twice, the first intervention to last no more than six minutes, and the second no more than three minutes. (5) In a debate on an interpellation, brief remarks by a Minister under Chapter 2, Article 15 may not exceed three minutes. There is no right of reply to such remarks. Article 2 A question shall deal with a specific subject. It may include a brief introductory explanation. When a question is answered, only the member who has put the question and the Minister who gives the reply may take part in the discussion. The Speaker may however agree that in the event of the unavoidable absence of the member who put down the question, another member may take part in the debate in his place. The Parliament can limit the right of utterance pertaining to these speakers over and above the limits prescribed in Chapter 2,Article 14. Article 2.1 Questions shall be filed with the Secretariat of the Chamber. The member who puts the question shall sign it in his own hand. The Speaker shall forward the question without delay to the Minister concerned and give notice of the question at the next meeting. Article 2.2 (1) The provisions of Article 1 (3) and of Article 1.2 (1) shall apply mutatis mutandis also to a question. Unless there are special reasons for proceeding otherwise, questions shall be answered at one or two question times each week. A question should be answered during the first question time falling six days after the date on which the question was filed with the Secretariat of the Chamber. (2) When a Question is answered, the first intervention of each member shall not exceed three minutes, the second shall not exceed two minutes and each subsequent intervention shall not exceed one minute. Article 2.3 (1) The following provisions shall be applied at the 1988/89 session in place of Article 2.2. (2) Questions shall be answered at a question time to be held each Thursday that the Parliament is in session. At such a question time, questions will be answered that have been filed with the Secretariat of the Chamber no later than 1 p.m. on the Tuesday of the same week. (3) If the work situation of the Parliament so demands, the Speaker may decide that answers to questions may be given on a day other than a Thursday. The Speaker may also decide that a question shall be answered in conjunction with an interpellation. (4) Notice of when a question will be answered shall be posted no later than the day before the meeting, and shall be included in the order paper. (5) After a Minister has replied to a question, the first intervention from each member who speaks shall last no more than two minutes, and each subsequent intervention no more than one minute. When a Minister answers a question in conjunction with an interpellation, the rules concerning interventions in a debate on an interpellation shall apply. (6) A question that is not answered on the day indicated in Paragraph (2) or (3) shall lapse, unless the member who put down the question notifies the Secretariat of the Chamber no later than 1 p.m. on the following Tuesday that the question is to be held over until the next question time. (7) Notwithstanding Chapter 2, Article 15.4, the Speaker may indicate at question time the place in the Chamber from which a member shall speak. Chapter 7 General Provisions on Elections in the ParliamentArticle 1 The provisions of Articles 2-12 shall apply to elections which are the concern of the Chamber. The provisions of Article 2 (2), 6, 8-10, and 12 (2) shall apply only insofar as the Parliament has not prescribed otherwise. Article 1.1 In addition to the elections which the Chamber holds under the Instrument of Government and the Parliament Act, it shall hold elections for 1) the Swedish Delegation to the Nordic Council, 2) the Swedish Delegation to the Council of Europe, 3) the Swedish Delegation to the Parliamentary Committee of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and 4) the Board of the Bank of Sweden Jubilee Fund Foundation. Article 2 (1) Elections shall be prepared by a Nominations Committee selected from among the members of the Parliament. (2) The Nominations Committee shall be appointed at the first meeting of the Chamber during the electoral period of the Parliament, for a term ending at the expiry of the electoral period. Each party group representing a party with not less than four per cent of the national vote at the immediately preceding election to the Parliament shall hold one seat on the Nominations Committee. In addition thereto, ten seats shall be distributed proportionally between the same party groups. The members shall be appointed according to the procedure described in Article 12 (1). Article 2.1 The Speaker shall determine the number of members each party group may appoint to the Nominations Committee. When so doing he shall determine the proportional distribution of the seats according to the principles of calculation set forth in Article 4 (2). Article 2.2 The Nominations Committee shall prepare all elections held by the Chamber except for the election of a Regent, a Deputy Regent, a person who shall hold office as a Temporary Regent, the Speaker, the Deputy Speakers, the Clerk of the Chamber and the Parliamentary Ombudsmen. Provisions concerning the preparation of the election of Ombudsmen are contained in Chapter 8, Article 10.2. Article 2.3 (1) The Nominations Committee shall hold its first meeting at the summons of the Speaker on the same day as it is appointed. The Committee shall be convened thereafter by its chairman. (2) The provisions of Chapter 4, Article 12 (1.1-1.2) and Chapter 4, Article 11.1 (2) and 11.2 to 11.4 shall apply also to the Nominations Committee. Article 3 (1) If at an election of two or more persons a common list is presented which contains the names of the same number of persons as are to be elected, and if the list has been approved by all the members participating in the meeting of the Nominations Committee or by all but one member, the Speaker shall put the question that the list be approved and declare those listed to be elected. Election shall be by secret ballot, however, if so requested by at least as many members as equals the number obtained if the total number of all members entitled to vote is divided by the number of members to be elected, increased by one. This election shall take place at a later meeting. (2) If special provisions prescribe that the holder of a specific appointment shall be elected separately, the election shall be held by acclamation. The election shall be held by secret ballot, however, if any member so requests. If this is unanimously proposed by the Nominations Committee, the election shall be held at a later meeting. Article 4 (1) Elections shall be held by secret ballot unless otherwise prescribed in Article 3 or in any other main provision of the Parliament Act. If two or more persons are to be elected by secret ballot, the seats shall be allocated proportionately between the parties. In this context, party is understood to mean any group of members taking part in an election under a specific designation. (2) The distribution of seats between the parties shall be carried out by allocating seats one by one to the party which polls the highest comparison figure on each occasion. The comparison figure is equal to the number of votes obtained by the party aslong as it has not been allocated a seat, and is calculated thereafter by dividing the number of votes obtained by a party by the number of seats it has already been allocated, increased by one. When the comparison figures are tied, the allocation shall be made by lot. Article 4.1 (1) Ballot papers shall be identical in size, material and color. A ballot paper shall be a single sheet, sealed and unmarked. It may contain particulars of the election to which it applies. (2) A ballot paper shall be invalid if it is marked with distinguishing signs which have obviously been purposely affixed to the ballot paper or if it is devoid of the names of valid candidates. If a member submits more than one ballot paper at an election, the ballot papers shall be invalid. If the ballot papers are identical, however, one ballot paper shall be considered valid in the count. (3) A name on a ballot paper shall be regarded as void if the candidate is not eligible for election, if the name has been crossed out, or if there is any doubt as to whom it refers. Article 4.2 (1) Ballot papers shall be used in proportional elections on which the designation of the party (name of the party or other appellation in words referring to a certain group of members or a specific body of opinion) is printed before the names of candidates. The names shall be listed consecutively, one below the other. (2) A ballot paper shall be invalid if it lacks a party designation or if it contains more than one party designation. (3) A name on a ballot paper shall be treated as void if the order of priority between that name and another name is not clearly apparent. (4) The seats which have been allocated to a party shall be taken up in such a way that the first seat gained by the party is given to the person whose name is first on the party list, the second seat to the person whose name is second on the list and so on, according to the same principle. When the order of priority among the names on the ballot papers of a party is to be determined, Chapter 14, Article 6, of the Parliamentary Elections Act (Swedish Code of Statutes 1972:620) shall apply mutatis mutandis. Article 4.3 (1) When a person is being elected by secret ballot, the ballot paper shall not contain the party designation. A ballot paper containing the names of two or more candidates shall be invalid. (2) In the event of a tied vote the election shall be determined by the drawing of a lot. Article 4.4 (1) At an election by secret ballot the Speaker shall call upon five members to join him at the Speaker's table. Three of these shall assist at the opening and examination of the ballot papers and the other two record the result of the election. (2) A roll-call shall be carried out in the manner prescribed in Chapter 5, Article 5.2. When the name of a member is called he shall proceed to the Speaker's table and deliver his ballot paper to the Speaker. (3) When all the ballot papers which have been approved have been read out by the Speaker and recorded by the Clerk of the Chamber and the two members, the records of the election shall be compared. (4) When the result of the election has been established it shall be announced by the Speaker forthwith. Article 4.5 If two or more elections are to be held by secret ballot, the Speaker may decide that the ballot papers for all the electionsshall be delivered before a count is made in any of the elections, unless a member requests otherwise. Article 5 Appeals against elections by secret ballot may be lodged with the Election Review Committee of the Parliament. The election shall be effective regardless of the fact that an appeal has been lodged against it. Article 5.1 Appeals against elections under Article 5 are to be lodged with the Election Review Committee. The appeal documents shall be delivered to the Secretariat of the Chamber within five days of the day on which the result of the election was announced in the Chamber. As soon as the appeal period has expired, the Speaker shall report to the Chamber at a meeting all the appeals which have been lodged. The Speaker shall then specify a brief period during which statements setting out the reasons for the appeals shall be submitted to the Election Review Committee. When the period during which explanatory statements may be submitted has expired, the Speaker shall send the appeal documents to the Election Review Committee forthwith. The Speaker should also submit his opinion on the appeals to the Election Review Committee without delay. Article 5.2 If the provisions of Article 4 or of Articles 4.1 to 4.5 have been disregarded in an election and it is not improbable that the error has affected the result of the election, the Election Review Committee shall declare the election void and order a new election to be held. If the error can be remedied by a recount, however, or by any other less radical means, the Election Review Committee shall instead instruct the Speaker to effect the necessary correction. Article 5.3 Ballot papers and other material relating to an election shall be kept in safe custody until the election has become final. Article 6 An election. which it has been specifically provided shall refer to a period corresponding to the electoral period of the Parliament, shall be held as soon as possible after the start of the electoral period and shall apply until the Parliament holds a new election during the next electoral period. Article 7 If a new member has taken his seat in the Parliament in consequence of a change on appeal of the result of an election to the Parliament, elections held by the Parliament previously during the electoral period shall be held again if so requested by at least ten members of the Parliament. Article 8 (1) If two or more are to be elected, at least as many alternates shall be appointed as there are ordinary members. The provisions relating to ordinary members shall apply mutatis mutandis to alternates. (2) An alternate member who has been summoned to enter upon his duties may be appointed an alternate member of the committees to which the member of the Parliament on leave belongs, regardless of what has been decided about the number of alternate members in the committee. Article 8.1 After the Parliament has held elections to a body and has then appointed alternates pursuant to Article 8, it can decide to increase the number of alternates in the body. The election of alternates necessitated hereby shall be held as soon as possible. Article 8.2 Unless otherwise prescribed or specially decided, as many alternates as ordinary members shall be appointed. Article 9 In the unavoidable absence of a member of a body which has been elected by the Parliament, his place shall be taken, if possible, by an alternate belonging to the same party group. In other respects, alternates shall take precedence in the order in which they are elected, or, if a common list was used in the election, in the order in which their names were listed. Article 9.1 A member or alternate member who has been elected by two or more groups shall be deemed to be elected by the group from which he first obtained a seat. Article 10 If an appointment can be filled only by a member of the Parliament and the person appointed leaves the Parliament, or is appointed Speaker of the Parliament, or made a Minister, he shall resign his appointment. Article 11 A person elected by the Parliament to carry out a special appointment may not decline the appointment without the permission of the Parliament. Article 12 (1) If anyone who has been elected to a body resigns his appointment prematurely, and if the election by which the appointment was made at the beginning of the term of office concerned two or more persons, the party group or party groups he represented shall notify the Speaker of the name of a successor. The Speaker shall declare the person notified elected. If such notification is not made, or if such notification includes the name of more than one person, a successor shall be appointed by the Speaker. (2) If a post becomes prematurely vacant for a reason other than that specified in Paragraph (1), a supplementary election shall be held to cover the remaining period according to the general provisions governing such procedures. (3) An alternate member who has been summoned to enter upon his duties may be appointed an alternate member of the committees to which the member who is on leave belongs, in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Paragraph (1). Article 13 A body whose members are wholly or partly appointed by the Chamber shall elect from among its members a chairman and one or more deputy chairmen, unless otherwise prescribed. Article 14 Elections under Article 13 shall be held by acclamation or, if a member so requests, by secret ballot. Article 14.1 The ballot papers shall all be of the same size, material and color. A ballot paper shall be a single sheet, sealed and unmarked. In the event of a tied vote, the election shall be decided by the drawing of a lot. Chapter 8 Certain Officials and BodiesArticle 1 (1) Elections of a Speaker and a First, Second and Third Deputy Speaker shall be held at the first meeting of the Chamber during the electoral period of the Parliament and shall be valid until the end of the electoral period. The Speakers shall be elected separately in the order listed above. (2) If the election is carried out by secret ballot the candidate who receives more than half the votes is elected. In default of such a majority a new election shall be held. If no candidate then receives more than half the number of votes cast, a third election shall be held between the two candidates who obtained the highest number of votes in the second election. The person who receives the most votes at the third election is elected. Article 2 The Parliament shall hold a special election to appoint a deputy for the chairman of the Election Review Committee of the Parliament. The provisions of the Instrument of Government, Chapter 3, Article 11 concerning the chairman shall apply mutatis mutandis to the deputy. When a chairman or his deputy is elected by secret ballot the procedure laid down in Article 1 (2) shall be followed. Article 3 At an election by secret ballot of a Regent, Deputy Regent, or a person who shall hold the office of Temporary Regent, the procedure prescribed in Article 1 (2) shall be followed. The election shall be valid until the Parliament decides otherwise. Article 4 {...} Article 5 {...} Article 6 (1) Elections by the Parliament of Trustees of the Bank of Sweden are valid for the electoral period of the Parliament. (2) The Trustees shall elect, from outside their number, not more than two Deputy Governors of the Bank of Sweden to serve for a term of five years. These shall serve, in such mutual order as the Trustees may determine, as alternates for the Governor of the Bank of Sweden on the Board of Trust Article 7 (1) Elections of members of the Foreign Affairs Advisory Council are valid for the electoral period of the Parliament. (2) A Deputy Speaker acts as alternate for the Speaker on the Foreign Affairs Advisory Council. The number of alternates elected shall be nine. Article 8 The Foreign Affairs Advisory Council meets behind closed doors. The Prime Minister may permit a person other than a member, alternate, Minister or official to be present. Article 8.1 (1) Chapter 4, Article 11.4 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the Foreign Affairs Advisory Council. The Secretary of the Council shall be appointed by the Government. (2) Alternate members of the Council shall always be notified of meetings of the Council. Article 8.2 A member, alternate or official present for the first time at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Advisory Council shall affirm that he will observe the obligation to maintain secrecy. Article 9 For purposes referred to in the Instrument of Government, Chapter 13, Article 2 meetings of the Foreign Affairs Advisory Council shall be convened by the Speaker or, in his unavoidable absence, by a Deputy Speaker, or by two other members of the Council. Proceedings shall be conducted by the Speaker, by a Deputy Speaker or, if none is present, by the member presentwho has been a member of the Parliament for the longest time. If two or more members have been members of the Parliament for an equal length of time, the one who is the senior in age shall take precedence. If the vote is tied when voting on a decision, the opinion which is supported by the Chairman shall be deemed to be the decision of the Council. Article 10 (1) The Parliament shall have four Parliamentary Ombudsmen, one Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman, and three Parliamentary Ombudsmen. The Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman shall be Administrative Director of the Office of the Ombudsmen, and shall decide the main thrust of its activities. (2) The election of the Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman shall be conducted separately, and the other Parliamentary Ombudsmen shall be elected individually. When an Ombudsman is elected by secret ballot, the procedure described in Article 1 (2) shall be applied. (3) An Ombudsman is elected for a term lasting from the time of his election, or such subsequent date as the Parliament may determine, until a new election has been held in the fourth year thereafter. At the request of the Committee on the Constitution, however, the Parliament may relieve of his mandate prior to that time an Ombudsman who has forfeited the confidence of the Parliament. (4) If an Ombudsman retires before his term of office has expired, the Parliament shall elect a successor for a new four-year term of office as soon as possible. If an Ombudsman is prevented for a long time by illness or other cause from exercising his office, the Parliament shall elect some other person to serve in his place for as long as such obstacle persists. Article 10.1 Within twenty days from the date on which it is appointed, the Committee on the Constitution shall appoint a delegation consisting of six members of the Committee, to be known as the Delegation for the Parliamentary Ombudsmen, to consult with an Ombudsman, on the initiative of the Delegation itself or at the request of one of the Parliamentary Ombudsmen, regarding rules of procedure or other matters of an organizational nature. Article 10.2 The election of an Ombudsman shall be prepared by the Delegation for the Parliamentary Ombudsmen, which shall confer for this purpose with the members of the Speaker's Conference who have been selected by the party groups. Article 11 (1) There shall be twelve Parliament auditors. They shall be elected for the electoral period of the Parliament. (2) The Parliament shall elect a chairman and one or more deputy chairmen from among the auditors. The chairman and each deputy chairman shall be elected separately. Article 12 (1) The War Delegation of the Parliament shall comprise the Speaker as chairman and fifty other members, elected by the Parliament for the Parliament's electoral period. (2) A member of the Parliament shall be eligible to be a member of the War Delegation notwithstanding the fact that he is also a member of the Government. (3) Alternate members shall not be appointed for the War Delegation. (4) If a member is permanently prevented from attending when the War Delegation has replaced the Parliament, another member of the Parliament shall be appointed to replace him in accordance with the procedure laid down in Chapter 7, Article 12 (1). Article 12.1 It shall be incumbent on the chairman and deputy chairmen of the War Delegation to prepare the activities of the Delegation in the event that the Delegation has replaced the Parliament. Article 12.2 The provisions of Chapter 4, Article 12 (1.1-1.2) and of Chapter 4, Articles 11.1 (2), 11.2 and 11.4 shall also be applicable to the War Delegation at times when the Delegation is not acting in place of the Parliament. Article 13 The Parliament may issue further provisions concerning Parliament bodies. Article 13.1 The Parliament establishes statutes for the Bank of Sweden Jubilee Fund Foundation. Chapter 9 Provisions Concerning Personnel and AdministrationArticle 1 (1) The Chamber shall appoint a Clerk of the Chamber. The election of a Clerk of the Chamber shall be held at the beginning of the session immediately after a general election to the Parliament and shall be valid for the period until a new election of a Clerk of the Chamber is held. (2) The Clerk of the Chamber shall keep the record at meetings of the Chamber. He shall publish the decisions of the Parliament and in other ways assist the Speaker with the business of the Parliament. Article 1.1 The procedure which is prescribed in Chapter 8, Article 1 (2) shall be applied at an election of a Clerk of the Chamber. Article 1.2 The Clerk of the Chamber shall be in charge of the Secretariat of the Chamber, and acts as secretary to the War Delegation. He shall keep the record at meetings of the Speaker's Conference. Article 2 The committees are assisted by committee clerks. The Principal Clerk of a committee shall be a Swedish subject. Article 3 The Office of Administration and Services of the Parliament shall be managed by the Parliament Board of Administration. The Board shall consist of the Speaker as Chairman and eight other members elected by the Parliament from among its members for the electoral period of the Parliament. In accordance with further provisions issued by the Parliament, the Board may also include a maximum of three staff representatives. Article 4 With regard to the Parliament and its agencies, and to such extent as the Parliament may decide, the Parliament Office of Administration and Services shall 1) deal with matters concerning negotiations on terms of employment and working conditions of employees, and other staff matters; 2) draft proposals on appropriations under the national budget; 3) deal otherwise with matters relating to the administration of the Parliament, and the financial administration of the Parliament agencies, except for the Bank of Sweden; and 4) publish rules and recommendations in matters under 1-3. Article 5 (1) Appeals against decisions of Parliament bodies in administrative matters, which may be lodged in accordance with what is prescribed, shall be considered by the Supreme Administrative Court in cases specially determined by the Parliament, and in other cases by the Parliament Complaints Board. The Complaints Board shall consist of a chairman, who holds or has held in the past a judicial office and is not a member of the Parliament, and four other members elected from among the members of the Parliament. The chairman shall be elected separately. The election of the Complaints Board shall be valid for the electoral period of the Parliament. (2) The chairman shall have an alternate. The provisions concerning the election of a chairman shall apply in corresponding manner to the election of an alternate. Article 5.1 When a chairman of the Complaints Board is elected by secret ballot, the procedure given in Chapter 8, Article 1 (2) shall be followed. Article 6 A member of the Parliament shall be entitled to remuneration for his appointment out of public funds. Provisions governing such matters, other financial benefits arising out of the appointment and remuneration paid to an alternate for a member of the Parliament shall be prescribed by law. Article 7 Special provisions govern the access of members and Parliament bodies to the Library, other assistance to them in obtaining factual material for their work in the Parliament, and study visits by members and committees of the Parliament. Article 7.l (1) A committee may decide that representatives of the committee shall undertake study visits in order to procure information on a subject within the committee's purview. (2) A committee shall consult the Speaker's Conference before deciding to undertake a study visit abroad. The Speaker's Conference shall express its opinion on whether it is appropriate to undertake the visit. In this connection account shall be taken of the Parliament's international relations, of the cost and of other circumstances. (3) The Speaker's Conference may issue further instructions concerning study visits by committees. A member of the Parliament may receive a grant for an individual study visit. The Speaker's Conference may issue further instructions concerning such visits. Article 8 (1) A decision may be taken to institute proceedings against an official named below for an offence committed in the execution of his appointment or duties: 1) in the case of legal proceedings against a Trustee of the Bank of Sweden or any of the Auditors of the Parliament, only by the Finance Committee; 2) in the case of legal proceedings against a member of the Parliament Board of Administration, the Election Review Committee, or the Parliament Complaints Board, or against a Parliamentary Ombudsman or the Clerk of the Chamber, only by the Committee on the Constitution. (2) The Parliament may direct that the provisions of Paragraph (1) on a decision to institute legal proceedings against a Trustee of the Bank of Sweden shall not be applied in respect of an offence committed in dealing with a question concerning the import or export of foreign currency. Article 8.1 The provisions of Article 8 (1) concerning decisions toprosecute a Trustee of the Bank of Sweden, shall not be applied in respect of an offence committed in the execution of the decision-making rights of the Bank of Sweden under the Exchange Control Act (Swedish Code of Statutes 1939:350) . Article 8.2 Special provisions govern the right to take legal proceedings against officials other than those listed in Article 8. |
