Guide to Foreign and International Legal Citations - New York ...

I. COUNTRY PROFILE (Civil Law)
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NORWAY
Kongeriket Norge (The Kingdom of Norway)
Norway is a constitutional monarchy with a modified unicameral parliament. It is
divided into 19 counties (fylker), each of which is composed of smaller municipalities (with their
own political organs and administrative powers). Norway’s two official languages are Bokmål
and Nynorsk. Its legal system is a mixture of customary law and the civil and common law
traditions.
Executive power is vested in the Government. The King is the head of state, although
this role is primarily ceremonial. Executive power is almost always exercised by the Council of
Ministers in the name of the King (the King’s Council). The King’s Council consists of the
Prime Minister and other Ministers (collectively, the Government). The Prime Minister, who
heads the Government, is selected by the party or parties that hold a majority of seats in the
Parliament (Storting). Parliament may remove the Government by a vote of no-confidence.
Legislative power is vested in Parliament. The 165 Members of Parliament are elected
from the counties to four-year terms according to a complex system of proportional
representation. After elections, the Storting divides into two chambers, the Odelsting and the
Lagting, which meet separately or jointly depending on the legislative issue under consideration.
Judicial power is vested in the courts. The courts are administered by the Ministry of
Justice, which is responsible for budget, personnel, organizational development, and other purely
administrative matters. Courts include the regular courts and the High Court of the Realm,
which hears impeachment cases. The regular courts include the Supreme Court, which is
composed of seventeen Judges and a President; Courts of Appeal; City and County Courts; the
Labor Court; and conciliation councils, which are composed of laypersons and function both as a
mediation body and a court. In addition to the regular courts, there are several specialized
tribunals, including the Severance Tribunal, which hears cases involving, inter alia, agricultural
land area and boundary disputes; the Industrial Tribunal, which hears labor disputes relating to
wage agreements; and the Social Security Tribunal, which is a quasi-judicial administrative body
that hears appeals from decisions rendered pursuant to the National Insurance Act. Judges of the
regular courts are appointed by the King’s Council after nomination by the Ministry of Justice.
All regular courts have jurisdiction over both civil and criminal cases. The courts may
set aside laws enacted by Parliament if they conflict with the Constitution, and may also rule on
the validity of decisions made by State and municipal authorities.
Internet Resources:
Norwegian government
http://www.odin.dep.no
Norwegian law
http://www.lovdata.no