The MiniTing

An important part of the Storting’s information policy is to encourage Norwegians to take part in our democratic society. One of the major target groups is students, especially those at upper secondary school level (ages 16-19), not least because Norwegians gain the right to vote at the age of 18. The MiniTing is designed especially for this target group. It provides both experience and education in democracy, politics and the work of Parliament.

A political role play

The MiniTing is a political role play where students act as MPs. The site has been constructed as a 500 square-metre miniature version of the Storting, with a plenary chamber, party rooms, committee rooms and a TV studio. The role play lasts for approximately three hours, and aims to reflect the way in which matters are dealt with in Parliament in concentrated form. The students’ task through the role play is to deal with four proposals. Two guides from the Storting’s administration help the participants through the exercise by supervising, observing and providing advice.

The actors

The students are divided into four parliamentary party groups and four standing committees. Each student is a member of one of each. The party groups and standing committees are all fictitious, but reflect modern Norwegian politics in general.

The four parties are:

• The People’s Party (67 seats)
• The Traditional Party (59 seats)
• The Independent Party (34 seats)
• The Eco Party (9 seats)

The parties have different political orientations; the People’s Party is social democratic, the Traditional Party is conservative, the Independent party is liberal and the Eco Party is environmental.

The four standing committees are:

• The Standing Committee on Health
• The Standing Committee on the Environment
• The Standing Committee on Education
• The Standing Committee on Immigration

Introductory phase

The role play starts with an introduction. First the students enter a hectic setting in their new, simulated “society”. Monitors flash various messages and pictures to illustrate the complexity of modern politics. After this session they enter the plenary chamber, where they are introduced to a short film about Norwegian history and changes in society as a result of people’s involvement. Afterwards the guide has a dialogue with the students about their impressions, what they think about politics and politicians, and whether they are interested in certain political topics.

Four proposals

The students’ task through the role play is to deal with four proposals. Three of the proposals are submitted by the Government; a minority government run by the People’s Party. The fourth proposal is a private member’s bill from the Independent Party.

Proposals from the Government:

1. Compulsory biochip implant for Norwegian citizens (Health Committee)
2. Fencing in of sheep to protect them from wolves and other predators (Environmental Committee)
3. Upper secondary school students to be paid to go to school  (Education Committee)

The private member’s bill:

1. Ethnic housing-zones in the biggest cities (Immigration Committee)

Gathering information

To be able to take a qualified stand on the four proposals the students need more information. Therefore they gather in parliamentary party groups, meet their party leader and examine their party platform. They decide on the party's initial position before they meet in their respective committees and attend hearings. Then each committee rotates between four “working stations”: Oral Question Time; group room services (reading e-mails, answering phone calls etc.); information kiosks where they meet electors, lobbyists and the media; and a TV debate.

Taking a stand

After gathering information each party has to start deciding on its policies. There is a news report and time to negotiate with the other parties on whether or not to compromise in order to get the proposals passed. They then prepare for the plenary debate. The guide is the President during the debate and sees to it that the Rules of Procedure are followed.

After voting over the first three proposals the Prime Minister asks for a vote of confidence on the biochip proposal. The party groups must re-evaluate their views and take a stand on whether they want to support the Government or bring it down. This gives the students an understanding of the Norwegian parliamentary system of government.

Debriefing

After the final vote on the biochip proposal, the guide has a debriefing session with the class. He/she asks them such questions as: 

• Did you make qualified decisions?
• What did you learn?
• Does it seem hard and hectic to be a MP?

A major success

The MiniTing has been a major success since it opened in September 2005. Two groups visit every day throughout the school year. The feedback from both the students and the teachers has been extremely positive. The students experience and learn about democracy, politics and the work of Parliament. In addition to this they seem to enjoy the experience immensely.

More information?

If you would like to know more about the MiniTing, please don’t hesitate to contact the Information Section of the Storting: minitinget@stortinget.no