THE CODE TOOK EFFECT JANUARY 1, 1948. IT HAS SEVEN MAIN DIVISIONS COVERING BOTH CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURAL REGULATIONS. SOME PROVISIONS APPLY TO BOTH CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CASES; OTHERS, TO ONE OR THE OTHER. THE FIRST DIVISION DEFINES THE COMPOSITION AND ORGANIZATION OF THE SWEDISH JUDICIARY. THE OTHER DIVISIONS DEAL WITH PROCEDURAL MATTERS THAT ARE BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF ORALITY, CONCENTRATION, AND IMMEDIACY. FOR EXAMPLE, THE SECOND DIVISION DEALS WITH GENERAL REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO PROCEEDINGS AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, THE THIRD WITH RULES OF EVIDENCE. THE NEXT THREE DIVISIONS SPECIFY RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR LOWER COURTS, FOR THE COURT OF APPEALS, AND FOR THE SUPREME COURT, RESPECTIVELY. FINALLY, EXTRAORDINARY MEANS OF RELIEF FROM JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS WHEN ORDINARY LEGAL REMEDIES ARE BARRED DUE TO TIME FACTORS ARE PRESENTED. ALL AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE UP TO JANUARY 1, 1977, ARE INCLUDED. A HISTORICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CODE'S DEVELOPMENT, NOTES ON STANDARDS USED IN PREPARING THE TRANSLATION, FOOTNOTES WHICH INCLUDE REFERENCES, AND AN APPENDIX LISTING AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE BETWEEN 1968 AND 1977 ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)