thumb|300px|King [[Oscar II of Sweden|Oscar II during the Solemn Opening of the Riksdag in the Throne Room of Stockholm Palace in 1905 for the speech from the throne. This annual ceremony was discontinued in 1975.]]
The Riksdag is the national legislature of Sweden. However, when it was founded in 1866 Sweden did not have a parliamentary system of government.
The national legislatures of Estonia and Finland are also called "Riksdag" in Swedish.
The Old Riksdag
Origin
The precursor to the modern Riksdag was the Riksdag of the Estates (). Of ancient origin in the Viking Things, the 1435 meeting in the city of Arboga is considered the first Riksdag, but only three of the estates were probably present: the nobility, the clergy and the burghers. This informal representation was formalized in 1527 by King Gustav I of Sweden to include representatives of all the four estates, which historically reflected the lines of division in Swedish society: the nobility, the clergy, the burghers and the peasantry. This ingathering is considered the first formal parliament in Sweden. The instrument remained valid until 1974.
Courtyard Crisis
left|thumb|Gustav V's courtyard speech
thumb|261x261px|[[Karl Staaff, the prime minister to the right of the column listens to a speech by Hjalmar Branting, the leader of the social democrats in the opposition. 1914.]]
The last time the king attempted to assert himself in opposition to the Riksdag was the Courtyard Crisis of 1914, where King Gustav V delivered a partisan speech which precipitated the resignation of Prime Minister Karl Staaff and his government. Though the outbreak of World War I kept the King's conservative government, headed by Hjalmar Hammarskjöld in office, in the face of popular unrest (also resulting from food shortages) and a clear majority for the opposition Social Democrats and Liberals at the 1917 general election, the King reluctantly resolved to appoint a cabinet from the reform-minded majority in the Riksdag. In 1919, women as well as all other Swedes who were of age, were given the right to vote in elections for county and municipal councils. This reform affected the First chamber, as its members were chosen by the county councils. This would have 350 seats, all of which would be filled by direct election. However, the second general election to the unicameral Riksdag only gave the government support from 175 members, while the opposition could mobilize an equal force of 175 members, resulting in what became known as the "lottery Riksdag", in which the Speaker had to draw lots to resolve deadlocked votes. On 6 March 1974 it was passed in law that all public power in Sweden arises from the people. It was also decided that the Riskdag is the "foremost representative of the people". In 1974, it was decided that the number of seats from 1977 were to be reduced to 349. The new instrument of government adopted in 1974 left the monarch as a ceremonial head of state without political power.