Sweden is a constitutional monarchy, in which King Carl XVI Gustaf is head of state, though with limited powers to official functions and cerimoniais. The Economist Intelligence Unit, while acknowledging that democracy is complex to be measured, rated Sweden first in the Democracy Index, between 167 countries. The main legislative body of the nation is the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament), with 349 members who choose the prime minister of the country. Parliamentary elections are held every four years, on the third Sunday of September.
Constitutionally, the Riksdag (Parliament) holds supreme authority in modern Sweden. The Riksdag is responsible for choosing the prime minister, who then appoints the government (the ministers). The legislative power is only exercised by the Riksdag. Executive power is exercised by the government, while the judiciary is independent. Sweden does not have control of constitutionality. Acts of the decrees of the parliament and the government may be inapplicable at every level if they are manifestly against constitutional law. However, due to the restrictions in this form of judicial review and a weak judiciary, had few practical consequences.