The Speaker

1
The Speaker

• The Most Important Person Of The Swedish
  Parliament

2
The Speaker

• Allows for the process of the Swedish government
  to run according to order.
• Duties both inside and outside the government.
• Position has changed through historical processes

3
Outline

• Background information on the establishment of
  the speaker.
• Election procedure
• The current Speaker
• Duties of the Speaker, and the use of his power,
  both formal and informal.
• Models of democracy which correlate to the duties
  of the Speaker

4
Background

• The office of Speaker is the highest ranking
  position
• The Riksdag, or the Parliament, is the governing
  body that the speaker is elected to
• The Riksdag underwent changes in 1867
• As of 1917 the Riksdag has properly functioned as
  the parliament of Sweden
• 1970- unicameral legislative body

5
Election Procedure

• The Speaker is appointed by the members of the
  Riksdag
• Elected for four years and cannot be removed.
• Election of the Deputy Speakers and the clerk of
  the Chamber.
• Since the 1982, the Speaker has been chosen from
  the largest party in the Riksdag majority.

6
Current Speaker

• Parliamentary elections in 2006 - Per Westerberg
• He has been a member of the Riksdag for the
  Moderate Party since 1979
• He has many political accomplishments
• Three deputy speakers- Jan Björkman, Brigitta
  Sellén, and Liselott Hegberg

7
Inside of Parliament

• The Speaker is the Riksdags principal
  representative
• Prepare an order paper and determine the order of
  speaking members
• Speaker informs the chamber of the results of
  voting and confirms the decision
• Speaker has no right to vote or express his/her
  view on a debate in the Riksdag
• Member of the Riksdag Board
• Chair of the Chairmens Conference

8
Further Duties

• Suggest a candidate for Prime Minister
• Speaker can also suggest which parties have to be
  part of the new government
• International activities of the Speaker

9
Formal Power

• Formed through his hierarchical status
• Prescribed to him through his official
  roles/duties in office
• Vast networking within the social and political
  frameworks of Sweden and international bodies

10
The Informal Power

• Casual Networking
• Role model for politicians and citizens
• Unique position of the Speaker

11
Linking the Speaker to a Democratic Model

• Purely consensus, or majoritarian democracy?
• both models can be recognized through the various
  procedures dealing with the speaker
• Consensus model Division of power, and
  cooperation and consensus
• Majoritarian model Actions support unicameral
  system

12
Conclusion

• The speaker is one the most important, and
  definitely one of the highest ranking officials
  in the Swedish government.

13
Discussion Questions

• In the presence and growth of globalization, and
  membership with the European Union, how do you
  think the role of the Speaker will change?