Study areas

Geography, population, languages and regions — the base the rest of the material builds on.

• Where Sweden is and which countries border it
• How the population is split between cities and countryside
• Sweden's national minority languages
• The largest cities and how the country is divided

What democracy means in practice, the principles of popular rule and the constitutional laws protecting it.

• The difference between direct and representative democracy
• Sweden's four constitutional laws and what each protects
• What universal and equal suffrage means
• How the principle of public access to documents works

Parliament, government, agencies, regions and municipalities — who decides what, and at which level.

• The separate roles of parliament and government
• What municipalities and regions are responsible for
• How a law is made, from proposal to decision
• What agencies do and why they act independently

The electoral system, the three elections held on one day, thresholds and how seats are allocated.

• The three elections held every four years
• Who is entitled to vote in which election
• What the four-percent threshold means
• How a government is formed after an election

The courts, the role of the police, crime and punishment, and the rights of the accused and the victim.

• The difference between criminal and civil cases
• Court levels and the right to appeal
• What applies when someone is suspected of a crime
• Where victims of crime can get help

Freedom of the press and of expression, public service media, source criticism and disinformation.

• What the Freedom of the Press Act protects
• What public service media is and how it is funded
• How to assess a source critically
• Where the limits of free expression lie

Rights, grounds of discrimination, gender equality and the rights of the child.

• The seven grounds of discrimination in Swedish law
• What the Convention on the Rights of the Child means in Sweden
• How gender equality is regulated and monitored
• Where to turn if you are discriminated against

Forms of employment, collective agreements, unions, tax and household finances.

• What a collective agreement regulates
• The difference between permanent and fixed-term employment
• How income tax works and what it funds
• What unemployment insurance is and who can receive it

Healthcare, schooling, social care, social insurance and how welfare is paid for.

• What compulsory schooling covers
• How healthcare is organised and what it costs
• The largest social insurance schemes
• What the social services are responsible for

From industrialisation and popular movements to the welfare state, immigration and the present day.

• What the popular movements meant for democracy
• How the Swedish welfare model took shape
• Sweden's position during the Second World War
• How immigration to Sweden has changed over time

The EU, the Nordics, the UN, NATO — and what membership means day to day.

• What EU membership means for Swedish law
• Which institutions govern the EU
• What Nordic cooperation covers
• The role the UN plays

Freedom of religion, state neutrality, the position of the Church of Sweden and religious diversity.

• What freedom of religion means legally
• Why church and state were separated in 2000
• Which faith communities exist in Sweden today
• How schools relate to religion

The celebrations of the year, how they are marked and where they come from.

• The main celebrations and when they fall
• How Midsummer, Lucia and Christmas are marked
• Which days are public holidays
• How traditions have shifted over time