Council of State (Norway)
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The Council of State (
With the exception of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who retain their ministerial ranking in their own right, all the other members of the Cabinet concurrently hold the position of statsråd, meaning Councillor of State, and that of Chief of the various departments, not formally being considered 'ministers', although commonly addressed as such. The Cabinet normally convenes every week, usually on Fridays at 11:00 a.m. at the Royal Palace, Oslo, and is presided over by the Monarch.
Constitutional basis
Under the 1814
The
The fact that the original wording of the Constitution has not been modified to reflect contemporary practice, is a testimony to the widespread conservative sentiments shared across the political aisle that extensive constitutional revision should be avoided. In practice, this means that the function, authority and mandate of the Council of State is heavily influenced by long-standing conventions.
The Council of State is established by the following article of the Constitution, stating that
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.
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.
— Constitution of Norway, https://www.stortinget.no/globalassets/pdf/english/constitutionenglish.pdf
Functions and mandate
The Council of State convenes to formally make decisions on matters of State, passing so-called Royal Resolutions (
According to the Constitution, certain cases, such as appointments and dismissals of higher office, pardons, provisional measures, church ordinances and ratifications of treaties must be administered by the Council of State. Whilst not prescribed in the Constitution, the signing of bills and other regulations into law is the most important feature of the work being conducted during sessions of the Council of State.
Duty of remonstrance
Article 30 of the Norwegian Constitution states that any member of the Council of State, if he or she is of the opinion that the "King's decision conflicts with the form of government or the laws of the Realm" is bound by a "duty to make strong remonstrances against it, as well as to enter his opinion in the records." The Article continues by stating that a Member who has not voiced such objections is liable of impeachment by the Storting should a decision made in the Council of State later be found unlawful. For the same reason, the aforesaid Article prescribes that all of the decisions made in the Council of State shall be put down in official records.
Requirements of membership
Whilst most members of the Cabinet originate from within the Storting and will have their seats deputised during their time in office, being Member of Parliament is not a requirement. However, since the introduction of parliamentarism in 1884, all members of the Cabinet must have the express support of the legislature. In addition, they must hold Norwegian citizenship and be eligible to vote, meaning that they have attained the age of 18. Until a 2012 amendment, there was a requirement that a majority of the members had to be affiliated with the Church of Norway, the national state church. When church matters are on the table, all members of the Cabinet not registered with the Church would not be in attendance.
Order of precedence and succession
There is no official order of succession to the premiership of Norway, but the Minister of Foreign Affairs has traditionally been regarded as akin to Deputy Prime Minister, although no such title officially exists. The King established on 1 July 1993 an Order of precedence to direct seating and ranking on formal occasions. Here, the Minister of Finance enjoys the foremost rank after the Prime Minister, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs only coming in third, behind the minister of Agriculture and Food.
Current composition
Ministry | Position | Incumbent | Image | In office since |
---|---|---|---|---|
Office of the Prime Minister Statsministerens kontor |
Prime Minister Statsminister |
Jonas Gahr Støre | 14 October 2021 | |
Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion Arbeids- og inkluderingsdepartementet |
Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion Arbeids- og inkluderingsminister |
Tonje Brenna | 16 October 2023 | |
Ministry of Children and Families Barne- og familiedepartementet |
Minister of Children and Families Barne- og familieminister |
Kjersti Toppe | 14 October 2021 | |
Ministry of Digitalisation and Public Governance Digitaliserings- og forvaltningsdepartementet |
Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance Digitaliserings- og forvaltningsminister |
Karianne Oldernes Tung | 16 October 2023 | |
Ministry of Energy Energidepartementet |
Minister of Energy Energiminister |
Terje Aasland | 7 March 2022 | |
Ministry of Finance Finansdepartementet |
Minister of Finance Finansminister |
Trygve Magnus Slagsvold Vedum | 14 October 2021 | |
Ministry of Defence Forsvarsdepartementet |
Minister of Defence Forsvarsminister |
Bjørn Arild Gram | 12 April 2022 | |
Ministry of Health and Care Services Helse- og omsorgsdepartementet |
Minister of Health and Care Services Helse- og omsorgsminister |
Ingvild Kjerkol | 14 October 2021 | |
Ministry of Justice and Public Security Justis- og beredskapsdepartementet |
Minister of Justice and Public Security Justis- og beredskapsminister |
Emilie Enger Mehl |
14 October 2021 | |
Ministry of Climate and Environment Klima- og miljødepartementet |
Minister of Climate and Environment Klima- og miljøminister |
Andreas Bjelland Eriksen | 16 October 2023 | |
Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Kommunal- og distriktsdepartementet |
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Kommunal- og distriktsminister |
Erling Sande | 16 October 2023 | |
Ministry of Culture and Equality Kultur- og likestillingsdepartementet |
Minister of Culture and Equality Kultur- og likestillingsminister |
Lubna Jaffery | 28 June 2023 | |
Ministry of Education and Research Kunnskapsdepartementet |
Minister of Education Kunnskapsminister |
Kari Nessa Nordtun | 16 October 2023 | |
Minister of Research and Higher Education Forsknings- og høyere utdanningsminister Forskings- og høgare utdanningsminister |
Oddmund Løkensgard Hoel | 23 January 2024 | ||
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Landbruks- og matdepartementet |
Minister of Agriculture and Food Landbruks- og matminister |
Geir Pollestad | 4 August 2023 | |
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries Nærings- og fiskeridepartementet |
Minister of Trade and Industry Næringsminister |
Jan Christian Vestre | 14 October 2021 | |
Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy Fiskeri- og havminister |
Cecilie Myrseth | 16 October 2023 | ||
Ministry of Transport Samferdselsdepartementet |
Minister of Transport Samferdselsminister |
Jon-Ivar Nygård | 14 October 2021 | |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Utenriksdepartementet Utanriksdepartementet |
Minister of Foreign Affairs Utenriksminister Utanriksminister |
Espen Barth Eide | 16 October 2023 | |
Minister of International Development Utviklingsminister |
Anne Beathe Kristiansen Tvinnereim | 14 October 2021 |