Norway is a country in Europe that borders Finland, Sweden and Russia. The population of this country is approx 54,88,000 with 3,85,207 square kilometers area. The official language is mainly Norwegian. Besides, some other languages are in use. Ethnically 81% Norwegian. 75% are Christians, and almost all of them are members of the 'Church of Norway'. 21% do not believe in any religion, and Muslims constitute a minority of 3%.
No more than one member of the same family may hold office in the Norwegian cabinet. If the immovable or immovable assets of a citizen are nationalized for the needs of the state, the said citizen will get full compensation. The Authority of the State shall create such conditions so that every able-bodied person will be able to earn a living by work or trade. A person who is disabled has a right to get support from the Authority. Natural resources will be used on a long-term basis, so that they are protected for future generations.
These are positive aspects. Now let's discuss the negative aspects.
Norway is a hereditary monarchy. Although constitutionally the King has extensive powers, in practice the prime minister's rule is effective. Unbelievably, Norway is a religious state. Their state church is called, “Lutheran Church of Norway”. According to Article 4 the King must be a follower of the Evangelical-Lutheran religion. In 2009, Norway legalized so-called homosexual marriage. All their activities are strange. Politicians are spineless creatures with no standards or future plans of their own. The main objective is to capture the vote bank.
Admirable Articles of Norway's Constitution
Article 12 (Part of it)
Husband and wife, parent and child or two siblings may never sit at the same time in the Council of State.
Article 31
All decisions drawn up by the King shall, in order to become valid, be countersigned. The decisions relating to military command are countersigned by the person who has presented the matter, while other decisions are countersigned by the Prime Minister or, if he has not been present, by the highest-ranking Member of the Council of State present.
Article 95
Everyone has the right to have their case decided by an independent and impartial court within a reasonable time. The trial shall be fair and public. The court may still close the courtroom if the interests of the parties’ privacy or other substantial public interests make it necessary.
The authorities of the State shall secure the independence and impartiality of the courts and the judges.
Article 96
No one may be convicted except according to law, or be punished except after a court judgment.
Everyone has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law.
No one can be sentenced to forfeit immovable property or all of their assets, unless these values have been used for or are the result of an unlawful act.
Article 97
No law must be given retroactive effect.
Article 98
All are equals before the law.
No person must be subject to unfair or unreasonable discrimination.
Article 104
Children have the right to be respected for their human value. They have the right to be heard in questions regarding themselves, and their opinion shall be given due weight in accordance with their age and maturity.
In actions and decisions regarding a child, the best interests of the child shall be a fundamental concern.
Children have the right to protection of their personal integrity. The authorities of the State shall create conditions enabling the child’s development, hereunder secure the necessary economic and social safety, as well as the necessary standard of health, for the child; preferably within its own family.
Article 105
If the welfare of the State requires that any person shall surrender his movable or immovable property for the public use, he shall receive full compensation from the Treasury.
Article 109
Everyone has the right to education. Children have the right to receive basic education. The education shall preserve the individual's abilities and needs, and further their respect for democracy, rule of law and human rights.
The authorities of the State shall secure the access to secondary education, and equal opportunities to higher education on the basis of qualifications.
Article 110
The authorities of the State shall create conditions enabling every person capable of work to earn a living by working or doing business. Whoever is unable to provide for themselves has the right to support from the state.
Specific provisions concerning the right of employees to co-determination at their work place shall be laid down by law.
Article 112
Every person has a right to an environment that is conducive to health and to natural surroundings whose productivity and diversity are preserved. Natural resources should be made use of on the basis of comprehensive long-term considerations whereby this right will be safeguarded for future generations as well.
In order to safeguard their right in accordance with the foregoing paragraph, citizens are entitled to be informed of the state of the natural environment and of the effects of any encroachments on nature that are planned or commenced.
The State authorities shall issue further provisions for the implementation of these principles.
Facts of Norway's Constitution
A Form of government and religion
Article 1
The Kingdom of Norway is a free, independent, indivisible and inalienable Realm. Its form of government is a limited and hereditary monarchy.
Article 2
Our values will remain our Christian and humanistic heritage. This Constitution shall ensure democracy, a state based on the rule of law and human rights.
B. THE EXECUTIVE POWER, THE KING, THE ROYAL FAMILY AND RELIGION
Article 3
The Executive Power is vested in the King, or in the Queen if she has succeeded to the Crown pursuant to the provisions of Article 6 or Article 7 or Article 48 of this Constitution. When the Executive Power is thus vested in the Queen, she has all the rights and obligations which pursuant to this Constitution and the Law of the Land are possessed by the King.
Article 4
The King shall at all times profess the Evangelical-Lutheran religion.
Article 6
The order of succession is lineal, so that only a child born in lawful wedlock of the Queen or King, or of one who is herself or himself entitled to the succession may succeed, and so that the nearest line shall take precedence over the more remote and the elder in the line over the younger.
An unborn child shall also be included among those entitled to the succession and shall immediately take her or his proper place in the line of succession as soon as she or he is born into the world.
The right of succession shall not, however, belong to any person who is not born in the direct line of descent from the last reigning Queen or King or a sister or brother thereof, or is herself or himself a sister or brother thereof.
When a Princess or Prince entitled to succeed to the Crown of Norway is born, her or his name and time of birth shall be notified to the first Storting in session and be entered in the record of its proceedings.
For those born before the year 1971, Article 6 of the Constitution as it was passed on 18 November 1905 shall, however, apply. For those born before the year 1990 it shall nevertheless be the case that a male shall take precedence over a female.
Article 9
As soon as the King, being of age, accedes to the government, he shall take the following oath before the Storting:
"I promise and swear that I will govern the Kingdom of Norway in accordance with its Constitution and Laws; so help me God, the Almighty and Omniscient."
If the Storting is not in session at the time, the oath shall be made in writing in the Council of State and be repeated solemnly by the King at the first subsequent Storting.
Article 12 (Part of it)
The King himself chooses a Council from among Norwegian citizens who are entitled to vote. This Council shall consist of a Prime Minister and at least seven other Members.
The King apportions the business among the Members of the Council of State, as he deems appropriate. Under extraordinary circumstances, besides the ordinary Members of the Council of State, the King may summon other Norwegian citizens, although no Members of the Storting, to take a seat in the Council of State.
Article 16
All inhabitants of the Realm shall have the right to free exercise of their religion.
The Norwegian church, an Evangelical-Lutheran church, shall remain the Norwegian National Church and will as such be supported by the State. Detailed provisions as to its system shall be laid down by law. All religious and philosophical communities were to be supported on an equal footing.
Article 22
The Prime Minister and the other Members of the Council of State, together with the State Secretaries, may be dismissed by the King without any prior court judgment, after he has heard the opinion of the Council of State on the subject. The same applies to senior officials employed in the Council of State offices or in the diplomatic or consular service, the highest-ranking civil officials, commanders of regiments and other military formations, commandants of forts and commanders-in-chief warships. Whether pensions should be granted to senior officials thus dismissed shall be determined by the next Storting. In the interval they shall receive two thirds of their previous pay.
Other senior officials may only be suspended by the King, and must then without delay be charged before the Courts, but they may not, except by court judgment, be dismissed nor, against their will, transferred.
All senior officials may, without a prior court judgment, be discharged from office upon attaining the statutory age limit.
E. Human Rights
Article 108
It is the responsibility of the authorities of the
State to create conditions enabling the Sami people to preserve and
develop its language, culture and way of life.
