The roots of the modern Riksdag can be found in a 1435 meeting in the city of
Arboga; however, only three of the estates were probably present: the
nobility, the
clergy and the
burghers. This informal organization was modified in 1527 by the first modern Swedish king,
Gustav I Vasa, to include representatives from all the
four social estates: the
nobility, the clergy, the
burghers (property-owning commoners in the towns such as merchants etc.), and the
yeomanry (
freehold farmers). This form of
Ständestaat representation lasted until 1866, when representation by estate was abolished and the modern bicameral parliament established. Effectively, however, it did not become a parliament in the modern sense until
parliamentary principles were established in the political system in Sweden, in 1917. On 22 June 1866, the Riksdag decided to reconstitute itself as a
bicameral legislature, consisting of or the First Chamber, with 155 members and
Andra kammaren or the Second Chamber with 233 members. The First Chamber was indirectly elected by county and city councillors, while the Second Chamber was directly elected by universal suffrage. This reform was a result of great discontent with the old Estates, which, following the changes brought by the beginnings of the
Industrial Revolution, was no longer able to provide representation for large segments of the population. By an amendment to the
1809 Instrument of Government, the general election of 1970 was the first to a
unicameral assembly with 350 seats. The following general election to the unicameral Riksdag in 1973 gave the Government the support of only 175 members, while the opposition could mobilize an equal force of 175 members. In a number of cases a tied vote ensued, and the final decision had to be determined by lot. To avoid any recurrence of this unstable situation, the number of seats in the Riksdag was reduced to 349, from 1976 onwards. == Powers and structure ==