Constitution of Norway: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|ConstitutionSupreme law of the Kingdom of Norway}}

{{Expand Norwegian|topic=gov|Norges Grunnlov|date=January 2021}}

It is considered one of the world's most liberal and democratic constitutions.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}. It is the fourth oldest written single-document national constitution in [[Europe]] after the [[Constitution of 3 May 1791|Constitution of Poland]], the [[French constitution of 1791]], and the [[Spanish Constitution of 1812]]. The document is also the [[List of national constitutions|second oldest]] working national constitution in the world, after the [[Constitution of the United States]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2021-01-19|title=The Constitution|url=https://www.stortinget.no/en/In-English/About-the-Storting/The-Constitution/|access-date=2021-02-21|website=Stortinget|language=en}}</ref> In May 2014, the [[Storting]] passed the most substantial changes since 1814, particularly by including paragraphs on human rights.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/Gar-utenom-7599077.html|title=Går utenom|website=aftenposten.no|access-date=21 March 2018}} [https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&nv=1&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=https://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/i/Eoexj/Gar-utenom&xid=17259,15700019,15700124,15700126,15700149,15700186,15700191,15700201&usg=ALkJrhiwnjlYeWE755OtfdnwS4V1GtEk8w Translation.]</ref>

Until 1814, Norway was part of the Kingdom of [[Denmark–Norway]]. Following the defeat of [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon's]] troops at the [[Battle of Leipzig]] in October 1813, the [[Treaty of Kiel]] of January 1814 ceded Norway to Sweden. In response, the Crown Prince of Denmark–Norway and resident viceroy in Norway, [[Christian Frederik]], started a [[Norway in 1814|Norwegian independence movement]]. The most likely goal of the young Crown Prince was reunification with Denmark. His initiative was successful, and a [[Norwegian Constituent Assembly|national assembly]] at [[Eidsvoll]] was called. The assembled representatives were elected by the congregations of the [[Church of Norway|state church]] and by military units throughout Norway.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}} They convened at the Eidsvoll manor on 10 April. The constitution was written during five weeks of the spring of 1814. It was ratified by the assembly on 16 May,<ref name="Constitution">{{cite web|url=https://www.stortinget.no/en/Grunnlovsjubileet/In-English/The-Constitution---Complete-text |title=The Constitution - Complete text |last=The Storting's Information Corner |work=stortinget.no |year=2011 |access-date=30 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829055430/http://www.stortinget.no/en/In-English/About-the-Storting/The-Constitution/The-Constitution/ |archive-date=29 August 2011 }}</ref> and signed the following day. The latter date is now celebrated as the [[Norwegian Constitution Day]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

The Norwegian constitution was inspired by the [[United States Declaration of Independence]] in 1776 and the [[French revolutionRevolution]] in 1789, and the subsequent U.S. and French constitutions. The authors, [[Christian Magnus Falsen]] and [[Johan Gunder Adler]], were also influenced by the [[Spanish Constitution of 1812]]. A deviation from the republican constitutions of France and the United States was the retention of [[monarchy]]. Importing republicanism was seen as an attempt to emulate the French and Americans directly, something the lawmakers at Eidsvoll sought to avoid. The choice of monarchy as state form would also facilitate the reunification of Denmark–Norway, something the Crown Prince was not alone in seeking. The king's power was however severely curtailed. His absolute veto over laws was removed.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}} The council of Eidsvoll chose Crown Prince Christian Frederik as [[Monarchy of Norway|king]]. [[Christian Adolph Diriks]], who was the legal secretary of the [[Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs|Constitutional Committee]], was the assembly's resident expert on foreign constitutions, and played an important part in shaping the language of the constitution. Diriks is credited with formulating §100, concerning [[freedom of speech]], and §102, guarding against unreasonable [[Search and seizure|searches and seizures]].<ref name=nbl>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Christian Adolph Diriks|encyclopedia=[[Norsk biografisk leksikon]]|first=Terje|last=Bratberg|editor=[[Knut Helle|Helle, Knut]]|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget|location=Oslo|url=http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Christian_Adolph_Diriks/utdypning|language=no|access-date=2010-05-28}}</ref>

The constitution shows a curious mix of radical and traditional values. The principle of [[separation of powers]] between the executive, legislative and judicial branches was directly inspired by radical ideas from the US and French systems. The retention of a king, a [[Church of Norway|constitutional church]], defined as Evangelical-Lutheran, and the [[Jesuit clause|banning of Jesuits]], monastic orders, and Jews, which latter were not allowed to travel to Norway, in the face of [[Republicanism]] was a traditionalist move; however, the king's power was severely curtailed, and the church very much under the control of the elected body. Suffrage was extended, but was still restricted to certain groups of men. All men who were either farmers possessing their own land, civil servants, or urban property owners could vote. With this, about half of all Norwegian men were granted the right to vote.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

In 2014, when the language in the constitution was officially revised they went with the first approach, which produced an updated [[Bokmål]] version and a completely new modern [[Nynorsk]] version.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/1814-05-17|title=Kongeriket Norges Grunnlov - Lovdata|website=lovdata.noLovdata |access-date=21 March 2018}}</ref> The Nynorsk version was compiled by a committee headed by professor [[Hans Petter Graver]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nrk.no/kultur/grunnloven-blir-nynorsk-1.11700841|title=Grunnloven blir nynorsk|last=Trulsen|first=Ola Nymo|work=NRK|access-date=2018-11-18|language=nb-NO}}</ref> These are based on propositions 21, 22 and 25.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stortinget.no/no/Saker-og-publikasjoner/Publikasjoner/Grunnlovsforslag/2011-2012/dok12-201112-025/|title=Grunnlovsforslag fra Marit Nybakk, Martin Kolberg, Jette F. Christensen, Hallgeir H. Langeland og Per Olaf Lundteigen om vedtak av Grunnloven på tidsmessig bokmål og nynorsk|date=28 September 2012|website=Stortinget|access-date=21 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stortinget.no/no/Saker-og-publikasjoner/Publikasjoner/Grunnlovsforslag/2011-2012/dok12-201112-021/|title=Grunnlovsforslag fra Anders Anundsen, Per-Kristian Foss, Carl I. Hagen, Michael Tetzschner og Finn-Erik Vinje, vedtatt til fremsettelse av Anders Anundsen, Per-Kristian Foss og Michael Tetzschner om språklig fornyelse av Grunnloven|date=27 September 2012|website=Stortinget|access-date=21 March 2018}}</ref> Before this, the official name of the Kingdom of Norway ({{Lang-nb|Kongeriket Norge}}, {{Lang-nn|Kongeriket Noreg}}) would have been "Kongeriget Norge", as in the modern Danish form if taken literally from the old constitution.