Riksdag of the Estates Riksdag of the Estates Riksdag of the Estates (formally ; informally ) was the name used for the Estates of Sweden when they were assembled. Until its dissolution in 1866, the institution was the highest authority in Sweden next to the King. It was a Diet made up of the Four Estates, which historically were the lines of division in Swedish society: The meeting at Arboga in 1435 is usually considered to be the first Riksdag, but there is no indication that the fourth estate, the peasants, had been represented there. The constitution of 1809 divided the powers of government
Polish parliament (expression) Polish parliament (expression) "Polish parliament" (Swedish and Norwegian: "Polsk riksdag"; ; ; ; ; ) is an expression referring to the historical Polish parliaments ("Sejm walny"). It implies chaos and general disorder, and that no real decision can be reached during sessions. Every single member of the Polish parliament during the 17th and 18th century had an absolute veto (); as a result, legislation could only be passed unanimously. Originally, the procedure was used for technical issues such as points of order, but as diverging interests discovered they could disrupt their opponents' agendas singlehandedly, the process came to be abused.