Instrument of Government (1772)

The 1772 Instrument of Government (Swedish: regeringsform) was the constitution of the Kingdom of Sweden from 1772 to 1809. It is also known as "Swedish-Finnish Constitution". It was promulgated well in advance of the Revolution of 1772 for greater division of powers, a self-coup mounted by King Gustav III, and replaced the 1720 Instrument of Government, which had been in force for most of the Age of Liberty (1719-72). Although in theory the 1772 Instrument merely readjusted the balance of power between the Crown and the Riksdag of the Estates (Swedish Parliament), without changing Sweden's status as a constitutional monarchy, in practice it is generally seen as instituting an absolute monarchy, especially after its modification in 1789 by the Union and Security Act, which further strengthened royal power at the expense of the Riksdag. It remained in force throughout the Gustavian era, until replaced by the 1809 Instrument of Government as a result of the Coup of 1809.

In Finland, which was ceded to Russia in 1809 before Sweden adopted a new constitution, the 1772 Instrument took on a special role. Finnish officials and legal scholars maintained that it still applied under the Grand Duchy, and it became an important reference point in constitutional debates during the Russification period. In 1918 it was used as the legal basis for an attempt to establish a Finnish monarchy, before finally being replaced by the republican constitution of 1919.