Act of Union and Security
Encyclopedia
The Union and Security Act , alternately Act of Union and Security was proposed by king Gustav III of Sweden
to the assembled Estates of the Realm
during the Riksdag
of 1789. It was a document, adding to the Swedish Constitution of 1772
new provisions and divisions of power
. The King strengthened his grip on power, while at the same time riding on a popular wave that also meant the decrease in aristocratic power.
, in February 1789 Gustav summoned the Riksdag of the Estates
and placed an Act of Union and Security before them. Three of the four estates accepted it but the Noble
s rejected it. However Gustav proclaimed that it was the law anyway.
, however they would keep the ability to vote on new taxes.
Most noble privileges were abolished with the Act, with most offices now available to all regardless of rank. It also made most land purchasable by anyone instead of just nobles.
Gustav III of Sweden
Gustav III was King of Sweden from 1771 until his death. He was the eldest son of King Adolph Frederick and Queen Louise Ulrica of Sweden, she a sister of Frederick the Great of Prussia....
to the assembled Estates of the Realm
Estates of the realm
The Estates of the realm were the broad social orders of the hierarchically conceived society, recognized in the Middle Ages and Early Modern period in Christian Europe; they are sometimes distinguished as the three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and commoners, and are often referred to by...
during the Riksdag
Riksdag of the Estates
The Riksdag of the Estates , was the name used for the Estates of the Swedish realm when they were assembled. Until its dissolution in 1866, the institution was the highest authority in Sweden next to the King...
of 1789. It was a document, adding to the Swedish Constitution of 1772
Swedish Constitution of 1772
Sweden's Constitution of 1772 took effect through a bloodless coup d'état carried out by King Gustav III, who had become king in 1771, establishing a brief absolute monarchy in Sweden. This was a response to perceived harm wrought upon Sweden by a half-century of parliamentarism during the...
new provisions and divisions of power
Separation of powers
The separation of powers, often imprecisely used interchangeably with the trias politica principle, is a model for the governance of a state. The model was first developed in ancient Greece and came into widespread use by the Roman Republic as part of the unmodified Constitution of the Roman Republic...
. The King strengthened his grip on power, while at the same time riding on a popular wave that also meant the decrease in aristocratic power.
Passage
After the ending of the Theater WarTheater War
The Theater War , alias Cowberry War , was a brief war between Denmark–Norway and Sweden, starting on 24 September 1788, formally lasting until 9 July 1789...
, in February 1789 Gustav summoned the Riksdag of the Estates
Riksdag of the Estates
The Riksdag of the Estates , was the name used for the Estates of the Swedish realm when they were assembled. Until its dissolution in 1866, the institution was the highest authority in Sweden next to the King...
and placed an Act of Union and Security before them. Three of the four estates accepted it but the Noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
s rejected it. However Gustav proclaimed that it was the law anyway.
The act
The Act of Union of Security gave the king the sole power to declare war and make peace instead of sharing this power with the estates. The estates would lose the ability to initiate legislationLegislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
, however they would keep the ability to vote on new taxes.
Most noble privileges were abolished with the Act, with most offices now available to all regardless of rank. It also made most land purchasable by anyone instead of just nobles.
See also
- Gustav IIIGustav III of SwedenGustav III was King of Sweden from 1771 until his death. He was the eldest son of King Adolph Frederick and Queen Louise Ulrica of Sweden, she a sister of Frederick the Great of Prussia....
- Constitution of SwedenConstitution of SwedenThe Swedish Constitution consists of four fundamental laws :* The 1810 Act of Succession * The 1949 Freedom of the Press Act * The 1974 Instrument of Government * The 1991 Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression...
- Constitution of FinlandConstitution of FinlandThe Constitution of Finland is the supreme source of national law of Finland. It defines the basis, structures and organisation of government, the relationship between the different constitutional organs, and lays out the fundamental rights of Finnish citizens...