Dictionary

debate

nearly all matters dealt with in the Storting are debated in the Chamber before a possible vote. As a rule, the committee that has considered the issue and the cabinet minister in question take part in the debate.

Debate on the Speech from the Throne

debate on the annual Speech from the Throne. The Speech from the Throne is read by the King at the State Opening of the Storting, and contains the Government’s policy statement for the coming year.

decision (resolution)

provision. Matters dealt with in the Storting are always concluded by means of a decision (or resolution). Decisions appear in the official report of the debate and the vote in the Chamber. Under the former legislative process, after a Bill was dealt with, resolutions from the Odelsting were written in a decision in the Odelsting (Besl. O). The system of the Odelsting and Lagting was abolished as of 1 October 2009. Bills must now be considered twice by a plenary Storting before they can be passed.

decision in the Lagting (historical term)

the Lagting wrote a decision in cases where it did not agree to the decision made in the Odelsting. This resulted in the matter being returned to the Odelsting for further consideration. It happened very occasionally and usually centred on minor errors in the wording of the Bill that had occurred earlier on in the legislative process. The system of the Odelsting and Lagting was abolished as of 1 October 2009. Today’s proposed amendments to the Bill have replaced the decision in the Lagting. The proposed amendments are the Storting’s comments made during the second reading of the Bill in the Storting.

decision in the Odelsting (historical term)

the Enactment of a Bill from the Odelsting was written in a decision (Besl. O). After this, it was considered in the Lagting. The system of the Odelsting and Lagting was abolished as of 1 October 2009. Today’s enactment of a Bill has replaced the decision in the Odelsting and contains the decision made after the first reading of the Bill in the Storting.

delegate

transfer or assign authority, usually from one public body to another (for example, from the Storting to the Government or one of the ministries.

democracy (representative government)

representative democracy: the people elect representatives to act on their behalf, protect their interests and answer to the electorate at the following election. Direct democracy: the people may take a standpoint by voting on a specific issue, as in a referendum.

direct action

used as a collective term for the various methods people use to influence political decisions, such as demonstrations and other actions.

directorate

central government agency, headed by a director general; part of the central government administration; subordinate to a ministry. There are two main types: 1) Directorates with limited authority to make independent decisions, and 2) directorates with the responsibility to make the majority of decisions independently.

discussions (negotiations)

in the Storting there are often discussions between parties on different political questions; for example, in order to form a majority for a political alternative in one of the standing committees.

document

term used for a series of publications that are dealt with in the Storting. A Member’s own proposals on matters are submitted as documents. The Office of the Auditor General also submits its business to the Storting in the form of documents.

duty of disclosure

the Government is obliged to disclose all relevant information on a matter, and all information disclosed must be correct.

EEA Agreement

regulates trade and other economic conditions between the EU and EFTA. The Agreement entails that the EFTA States that have endorsed the Agreement operate under the same conditions as EU Member States in the internal market, making them liable to EU provisions on competition and the four freedoms – movement of goods, capital, services and persons.

election defeat

the result of an election leads to a change in the political balance of power in the Storting, which in turn gives grounds for a new government. This is the most common cause for a change in government.

election threshold

a set, minimum threshold for the allocation of compensation seats. In Norway, the election threshold is fixed at 4%. This means that a party must have more than 4% of the total vote in an election to be able to have a compensation seat.

electoral list

the political parties’ lists of candidates in the different constituencies (counties) for the general election.

electoral roll

the municipal lists of all those entitled to vote in an election.

electoral system

a legal system that governs how the election of the people who will represent the voters, for example in the Storting, is carried out.

enabling Act

Act whereby the Storting delegates to the Government and public administration the drafting of further rules and regulations within the area covered by the Act.

Enactment of a Bill

decision made after the first reading of a Bill in the Storting.

escheat

escheat is a legal term used in cases where property or land reverts to its original owner – usually the state or the crown – free of charge;

EU

the European Union (EU) is a political and economic organization of 27 European states.

faction

Members from the same party in a standing committee.

Finance Recommendation

the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on the draft Fiscal Budget and the draft resolution on budget ceilings (limits on how much money can be used in particular spheres). Until 1 October 2009 the term for this was Budget Recommendation S. I. After 1 October 2009, the term used is Recommendation to the Storting.

Fiscal Budget

budget on government revenue and expenditure, passed by the Storting at the end of the autumn session. The Government’s draft Fiscal Budget is put forward in a Proposition to the Storting (Resolution).

franchise

the right to vote in an election. In Norway, all citizens over the age of 18, or who will be 18 during the year in question are entitled to vote in municipal and general elections.

FrP

common abbreviation for the Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet). Founded under the name Anders Lange’s Party for a Strong Reduction in Taxes, Duties and Public Intervention (Anders Langes parti til sterk nedsettelse av skatter, avgifter og offentlige inngrep) in 1973. It changed its name in 1977.

future business

a list over business that the Government announces it will send to the Storting.