The Constitution is the highest source of law in Norway. If other laws conflict with it, they must give way.
Today's Constitution is not identical to the Constitution of 1814. It has been amended and added many times. Amendments were written in the language standard that was used in the existing Constitution. Section 121 of the Constitution states that there should always be an election between the introduction of a draft amendment and the passage of the amendment, so that voters have the opportunity to express their views on the matter.
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On 15 May, the Storting will consider six constitutional amendments. Constitutional amendments must be passed by a 2/3 majority, and 2/3 of the representatives must be present when making decisions.
The proposed constitutional amendments are as follows:
- The draft constitution on amending Art. 93 (protection of life from conception to natural death)
- Constitutional proposal to amend Article 108 (Sami as Indigenous Peoples)
- The draft constitution on amending Art. 93 (on the constitutionalization of the right to asylum)
- Constitutional proposal for a new third paragraph of § 95 (so that the state cannot tax legal services in cases decided by the courts)
- The draft constitution on amending Art. 98 (prohibition of disproportionate interference with the sphere of freedom of citizens)
- Draft constitution on the new article 110a (on the right to decent life and health)
121 sec
When Constitution it was adopted by the National Assembly at Eidsvoll on 17 May 1814, it contained 110 paragraphs. Currently, there are 121 of these paragraphs in the Constitution.
The proposals, which will be considered on 15 May, were put forward in one of the first three years of the previous parliamentary term. They were then considered in the Committee on Control and Constitution.
Changes require a 2/3 majority of votes
Amendments to the constitution must be passed by a 2/3 majority, and 2/3 of the representatives must be present when making decisions. Amendments to the Constitution enter into force immediately, i.e. before their promulgation, unless the Storting decides otherwise.
Constitution in short
The constitution contains the basic legal provisions for the Norwegian government. This is changed on special terms set out in the Constitution itself.
The provisions of the Constitution cover various matters: the monarchy, religion and the basic principles by which Norway as a state should govern.
The Constitution contains provisions on how the head of state (king or queen), the royal house and the royal family are appointed, how members of the government (council of government) are recruited, the tasks of the government, how elected representatives are elected to the Storting, how members of the Supreme Court are appointed, how the highest government officials (public servants) and on the separation of powers between state bodies. The constitution also contains provisions on human rights and the Storting's control over government and administration.
Due to the special rules for amending the provisions of the Constitution, the Constitution takes precedence over ordinary laws. The Constitution is the only law that applies to both Bokmål and Nynorsk.
On Lovdata's own pages of the Constitution (https://grunnloven.lovdata.no/) you can find more information about the Constitution, including historical versions of the laws.
Constitution of 1814
Norway's first constitution was adopted by the National Assembly in Eidsvoll on May 16, 1814, and dated and signed on May 17, 1814. It was modern and forward-looking for its time, inspired, among others, by the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the French Revolution in 1789 r.
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Source: Lovdata, Stortinget, Photo: Peter Mydske/Stortinget
