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The Constitution, as laid down on 17 May 1814 by the Constituent Assembly at
Eidsvoll (with subsequent amendments, the most recent being of 23 July 1995).
A. Form of government and religion
Article 1
The Kingdom of Norway is a free, independent, indivisible and inalienable Realm.
Its form of government is a limited and hereditary monarchy.
Article 2
All inhabitants of the Realm shall have the right to free exercise of their
religion.
The Evangelical-Lutheran religion shall remain the official religion of the
State. The inhabitants professing it are bound to bring up their children in the
same.
B. The Executive Power, the King and the Royal Family
Article 3
The Executive Power is vested in the King, or in the Queen if she has succeeded
to the Crown pursuant to the provisions of Article 6 or Article 7 or Article 48
of this Constitution. When the Executive Power is thus vested in the Queen, she
has all the rights and obligations which pursuant to this Constitution and the
Law of the Land are possessed by the King.
Article 4
The King shall at all times profess the Evangelical-Lutheran religion, and
uphold and protect the same.
Article 5
The King's person is sacred; he cannot be censured or accused. The
responsibility rests with his Council.
Article 6
The order of succession is lineal, so that only a child born in lawful wedlock
of the Queen or King, or of one who is herself or himself entitled to the
succession may succeed, and so that the nearest line shall take precedence over
the more remote and the elder in the line over the younger.
An unborn child shall also be included among those entitled to the succession
and shall immediately take her or his proper place in the line of succession as
soon as she or he is born into the world.
The right of succession shall not, however, belong to any person who is not
born in the direct line of descent from the last reigning Queen or King or a
sister or brother thereof, or is herself or himself a sister or brother thereof.
When a Princess or Prince entitled to succeed to the Crown of Norway is born,
her or his name and time of birth shall be notified to the first Storting in
session and be entered in the record of its proceedings.
For those born before the year 1971, Article 6 of the Constitution as it was
passed on 18 November 1905 shall, however, apply. For those born before the year
1990 it shall nevertheless be the case that a male shall take precedence over a
female.
Article 7
If there is no Princess or Prince entitled to the succession, the King may
propose his successor to the Storting, which has the right to make the choice if
the King's proposal is not accepted.
Article 8
The age of majority of the King shall be laid down by law.
As soon as the King has attained the age prescribed by law, he shall make a
public declaration that he is of age.
Article 9
As soon as the King, being of age, accedes to the government, he shall take the
following oath before the Storting: "I promise and swear that I will govern
the Kingdom of Norway in accordance with its Constitution and Laws; so help me
God, the Almighty and Omniscient."
If the Storting is not in session at the time, the oath shall be made in
writing in the Council of State and be repeated solemnly by the King at the
first subsequent Storting.
Article 10
(Repealed)
Article 11
The King shall reside in the Realm and may not, without the consent of the
Storting, remain outside the Realm for more than six months at a time, otherwise
he shall have forfeited, for his person, the right to the Crown.
The King may not accept any other crown or government without the consent of
the Storting, for which two thirds of the votes are required.
Article 12
The King himself chooses a Council from among Norwegian citizens who are
entitled to vote. This Council shall consist of a Prime Minister and at least
seven other Members.
More than half the number of the Members of the Council of State shall profess
the official religion of the State.
The King apportions the business among the Members of the Council of State, as
he deems appropriate. Under extraordinary circumstances,besides the ordinary
Members of the Council of State, the King may summon other Norwegian citizens,
although no Members of the Storting, to take a seat in the Council of State.
Husband and wife, parent and child or two siblings may never sit at the same
time in the Council of State.
Article 13
During his travels within the Realm, the King may delegate the administration of
the Realm to the Council of State. The Council of State shall conduct the
government in the King's name and on his behalf. It shall scrupulously observe
the provisions of this Constitution, as well as such particular directives in
conformity therewith as the King may instruct.
The matters of business shall be decided by voting, where in the event of the
votes being equal, the Prime Minister, or in his absence the highest-ranking
Member of the Council of State who is present, shall have two votes.
The Council of State shall make a report to the King on matters of business
which it thus decides.
Article 14
The King may appoint State Secretaries to assist Members of the Council of State
with their duties outside the Council of State. Each State Secretary shall act
on behalf of the Member of the Council of State to whom he is attached to the
extent determined by that Member.
Article 15
(Repealed)
Article 16
The King ordains all public church services and public worship, all meetings and
assemblies dealing with religious matters, and ensures that public teachers of
religion follow the norms prescribed for them.
Article 17
The King may issue and repeal ordinances relating to commerce, customs tariffs,
all economic sectors and the police; although these must not conflict with the
Constitution or with the laws passed by the Storting (as hereinafter prescribed
in Articles 77, 78 and 79). They shall remain in force provisionally until the
next Storting.
Article 18
As a general rule the King shall provide for the collection of the taxes and
duties imposed by the Storting.
Article 19
The King shall ensure that the properties and prerogatives of the State are
utilized and administered in the manner determined by the Storting and in the
best interests of the general public.
Article 20
The King shall have the right in the Council of State to pardon criminals after
sentence has been passed. The criminal shall have the choice of accepting the
King's pardon or submitting to the penalty imposed.
In proceedings which the Odelsting causes to be brought before the Court of
Impeachment, no pardon other than deliverance from the death penalty may be
granted.
Article 21
The King shall choose and appoint, after consultation with his Council of State,
all senior civil, ecclesiastical and military officials. Before the appointment
is made, such officials shall swear or, if by law exempted from taking the oath,
solemnly declare obedience and allegiance to the Constitution and the King,
although senior officials who are not Norwegian nationals may by law be exempted
from this duty. The Royal Princes must not hold senior civil offices.
Article 22
The Prime Minister and the other Members of the Council of State, together with
the State Secretaries, may be dismissed by the King without any prior court
judgment, after he has heard the opinion of the Council of State on the subject.
The same applies to senior officials employed in government offices or in the
diplomatic or consular service, to the highest-ranking civil and ecclesiastical
officials, commanders of regiments and other military formations, commandants of
forts and officers commanding warships. Whether pensions should be granted to
senior officials thus dismissed shall be determined by the next Storting. In the
interval they shall receive two thirds of their previous pay.
Other senior officials may only be suspended by the King, and must then without
delay be charged before the Courts, but they may not, except by court judgment,
be dismissed nor, against their will, transferred.
All senior officials may, without a prior court judgment, be discharged from
office upon attaining the statutory age limit.
Article 23
The King may bestow orders upon whomever he pleases, as a reward for
distinguished services, and such orders must be publicly announced, but no rank
or title other than that attached to any office. The order exempts no one from
the common duties and burdens of citizens, nor does it carry with it any
preferential admission to senior official posts in the State. Senior officials
honourably discharged from office retain the title and rank of their office.
This does not apply, however, to Members of the Council of State or the State
Secretaries.
No personal, or mixed, hereditary privileges may henceforth be granted to
anyone.
Article 24
The King chooses and dismisses, at his own discretion, his Royal Household and
Court Officials.
Article 25
The King is Commander-in-Chief of the land and naval forces of the Realm. These
forces may not be increased or reduced without the consent of the Storting. They
may not be transferred to the service of foreign powers, nor may the military
forces of any foreign power, except auxiliary forces assisting against hostile
attack, be brought into the Realm without the consent of the Storting.
The territorial army and the other troops which cannot be classed as troops of
the line must never, without the consent of the Storting, be employed outside
the borders of the Realm.
Article 26
The King has the right to call up troops, to engage in hostilities in defence of
the Realm and to make peace, to conclude and denounce conventions, to send and
to receive diplomatic envoys.
Treaties on matters of special importance, and, in all cases, treaties whose
implementation, according to the Constitution, necessitates a new law or a
decision by the Storting, are not binding until the Storting has given its
consent thereto.
Article 27
All Members of the Council of State shall, unless lawfully absent, attend the
Council of State and no decision may be adopted there unless more than half the
number of members are present.
A Member of the Council of State who does not profess the official religion of
the State shall not take part in proceedings on matters which concern the State
Church.
Article 28
Proposals regarding appointments to senior official posts and other matters of
importance shall be presented in the Council of State by the Member under whose
department they come, and such matters shall be dealt with by him in accordance
with the decision adopted in the Council of State. However, matters strictly
relating to military command may, to the extent determined by the King, be
excepted from proceedings in the Council of State.
Article 29
If a Member of the Council of State is lawfully prevented from attending the
meeting and from presenting the matters coming under his department, these may
be presented by another member temporarily appointed by the King for the
purpose.
If so many Members are lawfully prevented from attending that not more than
half of the stipulated number are present, the requisite number of other men or
women shall be temporarily appointed to take a seat in the Council of State.
Article 30
All the proceedings of the Council of State shall be entered in its records.
Diplomatic matters which the Council of State decides to keep secret shall be
entered in a special record. The same applies to military command matters which
the Council of State decides to keep secret.
Everyone who has a seat in the Council of State has the duty frankly to express
his opinion, to which the King is bound to listen. But it rests with the King to
make a decision according to his own judgment.
If any Member of the Council of State is of the opinion that the King's
decision conflicts with the form of government or the laws of the Realm, or is
clearly prejudicial to the Realm, it is his duty to make strong remonstrances
against it, as well as to have his opinion entered in the records. A member who
has not thus protested is deemed to have been in agreement with the King, and
shall be answerable in such manner as may be subsequently decided, and may be
impeached by the Odelsting before the Court of Impeachment.
Article 31
All decisions drawn up by the King shall, in order to become valid, be
countersigned. The decisions relating to military command are countersigned by
the person who has presented the matter, while other decisions are countersigned
by the Prime Minister or, if he has not been present, by the highest-ranking
Member of the Council of State present.
Article 32
The decisions adopted by the Government during the King's absence shall be drawn
up in the King's name and be signed by the Council of State.
Article 33
(Repealed)
Article 34
The King shall make provisions concerning titles for those who are entitled to
succeed to the Crown.
Article 35
As soon as the heir to the Throne has completed her or his eighteenth year, she
or he is entitled to take a seat in the Council of State, although without a
vote or responsibility.
Article 36
A Princess or Prince entitled to succeed to the Crown of Norway may not marry
without the consent of the King. Nor may she or he accept any other crown or
government without the consent of the King and the Storting; for the consent of
the Storting two thirds of the votes are required.
If she or he acts contrary to this rule, they and their descendants forfeit
their right to the Throne of Norway.
Article 37
The Royal Princes and Princesses shall not personally be answerable to anyone
other than the King, or whomever he decrees to sit in judgment on them.
Article 38
(Repealed)
Article 39
If the King dies and the heir to the Throne is still under age, the Council of
State shall immediately summon the Storting.
Article 40
Until the Storting has assembled and made provisions for the government during
the minority of the King, the Council of State shall be responsible for the
administration of the Realm in accordance with the Constitution.
Article 41
If the King is absent from the Realm unless commanding in the field, or if he is
so ill that he cannot attend to the government, the person next entitled to
succeed to the Throne shall, provided that he has attained the age stipulated
for the King's majority, conduct the government as the temporary executor of the
Royal Powers. If this is not the case, the Council of State will conduct the
administration of the Realm.
Article 42
(Repealed)
Article 43
The choice of trustees to conduct the government on behalf of the King during
his minority shall be undertaken by the Storting.
Article 44
The Princess or Prince who, in the cases mentioned in Article 41, conducts the
government shall make the following oath in writing before the Storting: "I
promise and swear that I will conduct the government in accordance with the
Constitution and the Laws, so help me God, the Almighty and Omniscient".
If the Storting is not in session at the time, the oath shall be made in the
Council of State and later be presented to the next Storting.
The Princess or Prince who has once made the oath shall not repeat it later.
Article 45
As soon as their conduct of the government ceases, the trustees shall submit to
the King and the Storting an account of the same.
Article 46
If the persons concerned fail to summon the Storting immediately in accordance
with Article 39, it becomes the unconditional duty of the Supreme Court, as soon
as four weeks have elapsed, to arrange for the Storting to be summoned.
Article 47
The supervision of the education of the King during his minority should, if both
his parents are dead and neither of them has left any written directions
thereon, be determined by the Storting.
Article 48
If the Royal Line has died out, and no successor to the Throne has been
designated, then a new Queen or King shall be chosen by the Storting. Meanwhile,
the Executive Power shall be exercised in accordance with Article 40.
C. Rights of citizens and the Legislative Power
Article 49
The people exercises the Legislative Power through the Storting, which consists
of two departments, the Lagting and the Odelsting.
Article 50
Those entitled to vote are Norwegian citizens, men and women, who, at the latest
in the year when the election is held, have completed their 18th year.
The extent, however, to which Norwegian citizens, who on Election Day are
resident outside the Realm but who satisfy the aforementioned conditions, are
entitled to vote shall be determined by law.
Rules may be laid down by law concerning the right to vote of persons,
otherwise entitled to vote, who on Election Day are manifestly suffering from a
seriously weakened mental state or a reduced level of consciousness.
Article 51
The rules on the keeping of the poll list and on the registration in the poll
list of persons entitled to vote shall be determined by law.
Article 52
(Repealed)
Article 53
The right to vote is lost by persons:
a) sentenced for criminal offences, in accordance with the relevant provisions
laid down by law;
b) entering the service of a foreign power without the consent of the
Government;
c) (repealed)
d) demonstrably guilty of having bought votes, of having sold their own vote,
or of having voted at more than one polling station.
e) (repealed)
Article 54
The polls shall be held every fourth year. They shall be concluded by the end of
September.
Article 55
The polls shall be conducted in the manner prescribed by law. Disputes regarding
the right to vote shall be settled by the poll officials, whose decision may be
appealed to the Storting.
Article 56
(Repealed)
Article 57
The number of representatives to be elected to the Storting shall be one hundred
and sixty-five.
Article 58
Each county constitutes a constituency.
One hundred and fifty-seven of the Representatives of the Storting are elected
as representatives of constituencies and the remaining 8 representatives are
elected so as to achieve a greater degree of proportionality.
Representatives of constituencies are distributed among the constituencies of
the Realm as follows: 8 are elected from the county of Østfold, 15 from
Oslo, 12 from the county of Akershus, 8 from the county of Hedmark, 7 from the
county of Oppland, 7 from the county of Buskerud, 7 from the county of Vestfold,
6 from the county of Telemark, 4 from the county of Aust-Agder, 5 from the
county of Vest-Agder, 10 from the county of Rogaland, 15 from the county of
Hordaland, 5 from the county of Sogn og Fjordane, 10 from the county of Møre
og Romsdal, 10 from the county of Sør-Trøndelag, 6 from the county
of Nord-Trøndelag, 12 from the county of Nordland, 6 from the county of
Troms, and 4 from the county of Finnmark.
Article 59
Each municipality constitutes a separate polling district.
The polls shall be held separately for each polling district. At the polls
votes shall be cast directly for representatives to the Storting, together with
their proxies, to represent the entire constituency.
The election of representatives of constituencies is based on proportional
representation and the seats are distributed among the political parties in
accordance with the following rules.
The total number of votes cast for each party within each separate constituency
is divided by 1.4, 3, 5, 7 and so on until the number of votes cast is divided
as many times as the number of seats that the party in question may expect to
obtain. The party which in accordance with the foregoing obtains the largest
quotient is allotted the first seat, while the second seat is allotted to the
party with the second largest quotient, and so on until all the seats are
distributed. If several parties have the same quotient, lots are drawn to decide
to which party the seat shall be allotted. List alliances are not permitted.
The seats at large are distributed among the parties taking part in such
distribution on the basis of the relation between the total number of votes cast
for the individual parties in the entire Realm in order to achieve the highest
possible degree of proportionality among the parties. The total number of seats
in the Storting to be held by each party is determined by applying the rules
concerning the distribution of constituency seats correspondingly to the entire
Realm and to the parties taking part in the distribution of the seats at large.
The parties are then allotted so many seats at large that these, together with
the constituency seats already allotted, correspond to the number of seats in
the Storting to which the party in question is entitled in accordance with the
foregoing. If according to these rules two or more parties are equally entitled
to a seat, preference shall be given to the party receiving the greatest number
of votes or, in the event of a tie, the one which is chosen by drawing lots. If
a party has already through the distribution of constituency seats obtained a
greater number of seats than that to which it is entitled in accordance with the
foregoing, a new distribution of the seats at large shall be carried out
exclusively among the other parties, in such a way that no account is taken of
the number of votes cast for and constituency seats obtained by the said party.
No party may be allotted a seat at large unless it has received at least 4 per
cent of the total number of votes cast in the entire Realm.
The seats at large obtained by a party are distributed among that party's lists
of candidates for constituency elections so that the first seat is allotted to
the list left with the largest quotient after the constituency's seats are
distributed, the second seat to the list with the second largest quotient, and
so on until all the party's seats at large have been distributed.
Article 60
Whether and in what manner those entitled to vote may deliver their ballot
papers, without personal attendance at the polls, shall be determined by law.
Article 61
No one is eligible as a representative to the Storting unless he has resided for
10 years in the Realm, as well as being entitled to vote.
Article 62
Officials who are employed in government departments, except however the State
Secretaries, or officials and pensioners of the Court, may not be elected as
representatives to the Storting. The same applies to officials employed in the
diplomatic or consular services.
Members of the Council of State may not attend meetings of the Storting as
representatives while holding a seat in the Council of State. Nor may the State
Secretaries attend as representatives while holding their appointments.
Article 63
It is the duty of anyone who is elected as a representative to accept such
election, unless:
a) He is elected outside the constituency in which he is entitled to vote.
b) He has as a representative attended all the sessions of the Storting
following the previous election.
c) He has completed his sixtieth year at the latest in the year when the
General Election is held.
d) He is a member of a political party and he is elected on a list of
candidates which has not been issued by that party.
If anyone is elected as a representative without being bound to accept such
election, he must, within the time and in the manner prescribed by law, make a
declaration stating whether or not he accepts election.
It shall similarly be prescribed by law by what date and in which manner anyone
who is elected as representative for two or more constituencies shall state
which election he will accept.
Article 64
The representatives elected shall be furnished with credentials, the validity of
which shall be adjudged by the Storting.
Article 65
Every representative and proxy called to the Storting shall be entitled to
receive from the Treasury such reimbursement as is prescribed by law for
travelling expenses to and from the Storting, and from the Storting to his home
and back again during vacations lasting at least fourteen days.
He shall further be entitled to remuneration, likewise prescribed by law, for
attending the Storting.
Article 66
Representatives on their way to and from the Storting, as well as during their
attendance there, shall be exempt from personal arrest, unless they are
apprehended in public crimes, nor may they be called to account outside the
meetings of the Storting for opinions expressed there. Every representative
shall be bound to conform to the rules of procedure therein adopted.
Article 67
The representatives elected in the aforesaid manner shall constitute the
Storting of the Kingdom of Norway.
Article 68
The Storting shall as a rule assemble on the first weekday in October every year
in the capital of the Realm, unless the King, by reason of extraordinary
circumstances, such as hostile invasion or infectious disease, designates
another town in the Realm for the purpose. Such a decision must be publicly
announced in good time.
Article 69
When the Storting is not assembled, it may be summoned by the King if he finds
it necessary.
Article 70
(Repealed)
Article 71
The members of the Storting function as such for four successive years.
Article 72
(Repealed)
Article 73
The Storting nominates from among its members one fourth to constitute the
Lagting, the remaining three fourths to constitute the Odelsting. This
nomination shall take place at the first session of the Storting that assembles
after a new General Election, whereafter the Lagting shall remain unchanged at
all sessions of the Storting assembled after the same election, except insofar
as any vacancy which may occur among its members has to be filled by special
nomination.
Each Ting holds its meetings separately and nominates its own President and
Secretary. Neither Ting may hold a meeting unless at least half of its Members
are present. However, Bills concerning amendments to the Constitution may not be
dealt with unless at least two thirds of the Members of the Storting are
present.
Article 74
As soon as the Storting is constituted, the King, or whoever he appoints for the
purpose, shall open its proceedings with a Speech, in which he shall inform it
of the state of the Realm and of the issues to which he particularly desires to
call the attention of the Storting. No deliberations may take place in the
presence of the King.
When the proceedings of the Storting have been opened, the Prime Minister and
the Members of the Council of State have the right to attend the Storting, as
well as both departments of the Storting, and, like its Members, although
without voting, to take part in any proceedings conducted in open session, while
in matters discussed in closed session only insofar as permitted by the Ting
concerned.
Article 75
It devolves upon the Storting:
a) to enact and repeal laws; to impose taxes, dues, customs and other public
charges, which shall not, however, remain operative beyond 31 December of the
succeeding year, unless they are expressly renewed by a new Storting;
b) to raise loans in the name of the Realm;
c) to supervise the monetary affairs of the Realm;
d) to appropriate the moneys necessary to meet government expenditure;
e) to decide how much shall be paid annually to the King for the Royal
Household, and to determine the Royal Family's appanage which may not, however,
consist of real property;
f) to have submitted to it the records of the Council of State, and all public
reports and documents;
g) to have communicated to it the conventions and treaties which the King, on
behalf of the State, has concluded with foreign powers;
h) to have the right to require anyone, the King and the Royal Family excepted,
to appear before it on matters of State; the exception does not, however, apply
to the Royal Princes if they hold any public office;
i) to review the provisional lists of salaries and pensions and to make therein
such alterations as it deems necessary;
j) (repealed)
k) to appoint five auditors, who shall annually examine the State Accounts and
publish extracts of the same in print, for which purpose the Accounts shall be
submitted to the auditors within six months of the end of the year for which the
appropriations of the Storting have been made, and to adopt provisions
concerning the procedure for authorizing the accounts of government accounting
officials;
l) to appoint a person, not a member of the Storting, in a manner prescribed by
law, to supervise the public administration and all who work in its service, to
assure that no injustice is done against the individual citizen;
m) to naturalize aliens.
Article 76
Every Bill shall first be proposed in the Odelsting, either by one of its own
Members, or by the government through a Member of the Council of State.
If the Bill is passed, it is sent to the Lagting, which either approves or
rejects it, and in the latter case returns it with appended comments. These are
taken into consideration by the Odelsting, which either shelves the bill or
again sends it to the Lagting,with or without alteration.
When a Bill from the Odelsting has twice been presented to the Lagting and has
been returned a second time as rejected, the Storting shall meet in plenary
session, and the bill is then decided by a majority of two thirds of its votes.
Between each such deliberation there shall be an interval of at least three
days.
Article 77
When a Bill passed by the Odelsting has been approved by the Lagting or by the
Storting in plenary session, it is sent to the King, with a request that it may
receive the Royal Assent.
Article 78
If the King assents to the Bill, he appends his signature, whereby it becomes
law.
If he does not assent to it, he returns it to the Odelsting with a statement
that he does not for the time being find it expedient to sanction it. In that
case the Bill must not again be submitted to the King by the Storting then
assembled.
Article 79
If a Bill has been passed unaltered by two sessions of the Storting, constituted
after two separate successive elections and separated from each other by at
least two intervening sessions of the Storting, without a divergent Bill having
been passed by any Storting in the period between the first and last adoption,
and it is then submitted to the King with a petition that His Majesty shall not
refuse his assent to a Bill which, after the most mature deliberation, the
Storting considers to be beneficial, it shall become law even if the Royal
Assent is
not accorded before the Storting goes into recess.
Article 80
The Storting shall remain in session as long as it deems it necessary and shall
terminate its proceedings when it has concluded its business.
In accordance with the rules of procedure adopted by the Storting, the
proceedings may be resumed, but they shall terminate not later than the last
Sunday in the month of September.
Within this time the King shall communicate his decision with regard to the
Bills that have not already been decided (cf. Articles 77 to 79), by either
confirming or rejecting them. All those which he does not expressly accept are
deemed to have been rejected by him.
Article 81
All Acts (with the exception of those mentioned in Article 79) are drawn up in
the name of the King, under the seal of the Realm of Norway, and in the
following terms; «We, X, make it publicly known: that the decision of the
Storting of the date stated has been laid before Us: (here follows the
decision). In consequence whereof We have assented to and confirmed, as We
hereby do assent to and confirm the same as Law under Our Hand and the Seal of
the Realm.»
Article 82
(Repealed)
Article 83
The Storting may obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court on points of law.
Article 84
The Storting shall meet in open session, and its proceedings shall be published
in print, except in those cases where a majority decides to the contrary.
Article 85
Any person who obeys an order, the purpose of which is to disturb the liberty
and security of the Storting, is thereby guilty of treason against the Country.
D. The Judicial Power
Article 86
The Court of Impeachment pronounces judgment in the first and last instance in
such proceedings as are brought by the Odelsting against Members of the Council
of State, or of the Supreme Court or of the Storting, for criminal offences
which they may have committed in their official capacity.
The specific rules concerning indictment by the Odelsting in accordance with
this Article shall be determined by law. However, the limitation period for the
institution of indictment proceedings before the Court of Impeachment may not be
set at less than 15 years.
The permanent Members of the Lagting and the permanently appointed Members of
the Supreme Court are judges of the Court of Impeachment. The provisions
contained in Article 87 shall apply to the composition of the Court of
Impeachment in the particular case. In the Court of Impeachment the President of
the Lagting shall preside.
Any person sitting in the Court of Impeachment as a Member of the Lagting shall
not resign from the Court if the period for which he is elected as a
representative to the Storting expires before the Court of Impeachment has
concluded the trial of the case. If he ceases, for any other reason, to be a
Member of the Storting, he shall resign as a judge of the Court of Impeachment.
The same applies if a Justice of the Supreme Court, who is a Member of the Court
of Impeachment, retires as a Member of the Supreme Court.
Article 87
The accused and the person acting on behalf of the Odelsting in the proceedings
have the right to challenge as many Members of the Lagting and of the Supreme
Court as will leave remaining fourteen Members of the Lagting and seven Members
of the Supreme Court as judges in the Court of Impeachment. Each party in the
proceedings may challenge an equal number of the Members of the Lagting,
although the accused has the preferential right to challenge one more, if the
number to be challenged is not divisible by two. The same shall apply to the
challenging of the Members of the Supreme Court. If there are several
accused in such proceedings, they exercise the right of challenge collectively
in accordance with rules prescribed by law. If the right of challenge is not
exercised to the extent permitted, as many Members of the Lagting and of the
Supreme Court as are in excess of fourteen and seven respectively retire
following the drawing of lots.
When the case comes up for judgment, as many judges of the Court of Impeachment
shall retire following the drawing of lots that the Court due to render judgment
is left with fifteen Members, of whom at most ten are Members of the Lagting and
five Justices of the Supreme Court.
The President of the Court of Impeachment and the President of the Supreme
Court shall in no case retire following the drawing of lots.
If the Court of Impeachment cannot be composed of as many Members of the
Lagting or of the Supreme Court as prescribed above, the case may nevertheless
be tried and judgment rendered, provided that the Court numbers at least ten
judges.
Specific provisions as to the procedure to be followed in the composition of
the Court of Impeachment shall be laid down by law.
Article 88
The Supreme Court pronounces judgment in the final instance. Nevertheless,
limitations on the right to bring a case before the Supreme Court may be
prescribed by law.
The Supreme Court shall consist of a President and at least four other Members.
Article 89
(Repealed)
Article 90
The judgments of the Supreme Court may in no case be appealed.
Article 91
No one may be appointed a member of the Supreme Court before reaching 30 years
of age.
E. General provisions
Article 92
To senior official posts in the State may be appointed only Norwegian citizens,
men or women, who speak the language of the Country, and who at the same time
a) either were born in the Realm of parents who were then subjects of the
State;
b) or were born in a foreign country of Norwegian parents who were not at that
time subjects of another State;
c) or hereafter have resided for ten years in the Realm;
d) or have been naturalized by the Storting.
Others may, however, be appointed as teachers at the university and
institutions of higher learning, as medical practitioners and as consuls in
places abroad.
Article 93
In order to safeguard international peace and security or to promote the
international rule of law and cooperation between nations, the Storting may, by
a three-fourths majority, consent that an international organization to which
Norway adheres or will adhere shall have the right, within objectively defined
fields, to exercise powers which in accordance with this Constitution are
normally vested in the Norwegian authorities, although not the power to alter
this Constitution. For the Storting to grant such consent, at least two thirds
of the Members of the Storting shall be present, as required for proceedings for
amending the Constitution.
The provisions of this Article do not apply in cases of membership in an
international organization, whose decisions only have application for Norway
purely under international law.
Article 94
The first, or if this is not possible, the second ordinary Storting, shall make
provision for the publication of a new general civil and criminal code. However
the currently applicable laws of the State shall remain in force, provided they
do not conflict with this Constitution or with such provisional ordinances as
may be issued in the meantime.
The existing permanent taxes shall likewise remain operative until the next
Storting.
Article 95
No dispensations, protection from civil arrest, moratoriums or redresses may be
granted after the new general code has entered into force.
Article 96
No one may be convicted except according to law, or be punished except after a
court judgment. Interrogation by torture must not take place.
Article 97
No law must be given retroactive effect.
Article 98
When special fees are paid to officials of the Courts of Justice, no further
payment shall be made to the Treasury in respect of the same matter.
Article 99
No one may be taken into custody except in the cases determined by law and in
the manner prescribed by law. For unwarranted arrest, or illegal detention, the
officer concerned is accountable to the person imprisoned.
The Government is not entitled to employ military force against citizens of the
State, except in accordance with the forms prescribed by law, unless any
assembly disturbs the public peace and does not immediately disperse after the
Articles of the Statute Book relating to riots have been read out clearly three
times by the civil authority.
Article 100
There shall be liberty of the Press. No person may be punished for any writing,
whatever its contents, which he has caused to be printed or published, unless he
wilfully and manifestly has either himself shown or incited others to
disobedience to the laws, contempt of religion, morality or the constitutional
powers, or resistance to their orders, or has made false and defamatory
accusations against anyone. Everyone shall be free to speak his mind frankly on
the administration of the State and on any other subject whatsoever.
Article 101
New and permanent privileges implying restrictions on the freedom of trade and
industry must not in future be granted to anyone.
Article 102
Search of private homes shall not be made except in criminal cases.
Article 103
Asylum for the protection of debtors shall not be granted to such persons as
hereafter become bankrupt.
Article 104
Land and goods may in no case be made subject to forfeiture.
Article 105
If the welfare of the State requires that any person shall surrender his movable
or immovable property for the public use, he shall receive full compensation
from the Treasury.
Article 106
The purchase money, as well as the revenues of the landed property constituting
ecclesiastical benefices, shall be applied solely to the benefit of the clergy
and to the promotion of education. The property of charitable institutions shall
be applied solely to the benefit of the institutions themselves.
Article 107
Allodial right and the right of primogeniture shall not be abolished. The
specific conditions under which these rights shall continue for the greatest
benefit of the State and to the best advantage of the rural population shall be
determined by the first or second subsequent Storting.
Article 108
No earldoms, baronies, entailed estates or fideicommissa may be created in the
future.
Article 109
As a general rule every citizen of the State is equally bound to serve in the
defence of the Country for a specific period, irrespective of birth or fortune.
The application of this principle, and the restrictions to which it shall be
subject, shall be determined by law.
Article 110
It is the responsibility of the authorities of the State to create conditions
enabling every person capable of work to earn a living by his work.
Specific provisions concerning the right of employees to co-determination at
their work place shall be laid down by law.
Article 110 a
It is the responsibility of the authorities of the State to create conditions
enabling the Sami people to preserve and develop its language, culture and way
of life.
Article 110 b
Every person has a right to an environment that is conducive to health and to
natural surroundings whose productivity and diversity are preserved. Natural
resources should be made use of on the basis of comprehensive long-term
considerations whereby this right will be safeguarded for future generations as
well.
In order to safeguard their right in accordance with the foregoing paragraph,
citizens are entitled to be informed of the state of the natural environment and
of the effects of any encroachments on nature that are planned or commenced.
The State authorities shall issue further provisions for the implementation of
these principles.
Article 110 c
It is the responsibility of the authorities of the State to respect and ensure
human rights. Specific provisions for the implementation of treaties hereof
shall be determined by law.
Article 111
The form and colours of the Norwegian Flag shall be determined by law.
Article 112
If experience shows that any part of this Constitution of the Kingdom of Norway
ought to be amended, the proposal to this effect shall be submitted to the
first, second or third Storting after a new General Election and be publicly
announced in print. But it shall be left to the first, second or third Storting
after the following General Election to decide whether or not the proposed
amendment shall be adopted. Such amendment must never, however, contradict the
principles embodied in this Constitution, but solely relate to modifications of
particular provisions which do not alter the spirit of the Constitution, and
such amendment requires that two thirds of the Storting agree thereto.
An amendment to the Constitution adopted in the manner aforesaid shall be
signed by the President and the Secretary of the Storting, and shall be sent to
the King for public announcement in print, as an applicable provision of the
Constitution of the Kingdom of Norway.
Produced for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Nytt fra Norge, who is also responsible for the contents of the article. Printed in February 1995.
Reproduced with permission from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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