Constitution of Norway: Difference between revisions

The '''Constitution of Norway''' (complete name: '''The Constitution of the Kingdom of Norway'''; [[Danish language|Danish]]: {{lang|da|Kongeriget Norges Grundlov}};<ref>Lovdata.no: [http://www.lovdata.no/all/hl-18140517-000.html LOV 1814-05-17 nr 00: Kongeriget Norges Grundlov]</ref> [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] [[Bokmål]]: {{lang|nb|Kongeriket Norges Grunnlov}}; Norwegian [[Nynorsk|Norwegian Nynorsk]]: {{lang|nn|Kongeriket Noregs Grunnlov}}) was adopted on 16 May and signed on 17 May 1814 by the [[Norwegian Constituent Assembly]] at [[Eidsvoll]].

It was considered one of the world's most liberal and democratic constitutions, and. itIt is the second oldest written single-document national constitution in [[Europe]] after the [[Constitution of 3 May 1791|Constitution of Poland]] (1791), and 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> DuringIn 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>

The 17 May is the [[Norwegian Constitution Day|National Day of Norway]] marking the establishment of the constitution.

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]], the resident viceroy in Norway, 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]] throughout Norway, and by military units throughout Norway.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}} They convened at the Eidsvoll manor on 10 April. DuringThe constitution was written during five weeks of the spring of 1814, the constitution was written. The constitutionIt 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,. theThe latter date is now celebrated as the [[Norwegian Constitution Day]].

The Norwegian constitution was inspired by the [[United States Declaration of Independence]] in 1776 and the [[French revolution]] 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 USA 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, not surprisingly, Crown Prince Christian Frederik as [[Monarchy of Norway|king]]. He was thus ''chosen'', and as such a king by the will of the people rather than by the grace of God. In a Europe where almost all countries were ruled by [[absolute monarchy]], this was seen as extremely radical. [[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>