This article focuses on the changing level of participation of civil society organisations in the policy process between 1964 and 2009 and its implication for the role civil society organisation in the Swedish welfare state. Drawing on data from the remiss-procedure, one of the most understudied aspects of the Swedish policy making process, the article demonstrates that the role of civil society organisations has been reduced. In addition, the article draws attention to an ongoing shift from conflict and member benefit oriented organisations to consensus and public benefit oriented organisations. The findings implies that civil society organisations functioning as arenas for deliberation and mediators of individual interests have gradually been losing ground in relation to the state, while organisations taking direct welfare responsibility have increased. These findings are put in the context of the changes in the coordination and implementation of the welfare state; and indicate that the welfare state is now less dependent on the interest groups and old social movements that expanded the welfare state, and more dependent on service organisations that can contribute towards upholding it.