Behörighetslagen (literary:'Competence Law') was an historical law in Sweden, which formally guaranteed men and women equal right to all public professions and positions in society, with certain specified exceptions. The law was passed in 1923, and enforced in 1925. It was dropped in 1945, because it contained exceptions which started to be seen as a problem by that point. The exceptions consisted of the right to become priests of the state church (which was allowed in 1958) and to hold military office (which was allowed in a series of reforms in 1980–1989).