Who decides what in Norway?

In Norway there are a lot of people who make decisions. However, who really decides on what? The referee in a football game makes decisions, and the judge in a courtroom makes decisions. The king makes decisions on some things. The Storting makes decisions on many things. At school, the headmaster makes decisions and you can make many decisions about your own life.

Accessibility icon Who decides what in Norway?

Who decides on what in Norway?

In Norway we have something called popular sovereignty. This means that the people  elect those who will make the decisions. We also call it democracy.

Everyone over 18 years old can vote every fourth year in Norway. The people decide which parties will have the most seats in the Storting. The Storting is the name of the Norwegian Parliament. These politicians decide what living in Norway will be like. 

Why do you think the voting age is set at 18? Should children also be able to vote?

Norge med små mennesker
Lys varm bakgrunn
Lys varm bakgrunn

The king at the top, me at the bottom

Look at Norway as a ladder. The king is at the top, but he can’t decide on very much. Under the king there is the Parliamentary President. The Storting is on the next level and, below them, the government. 

Further down the ladder, there are lots of different people who make decisions on various things.

We are at the bottom. We can decide a lot about our own lives, but to make bigger decisions, we need to climb higher on the ladder.

Karrierestige
Karrierestige

What decisions does the king actually make?

The king doesn’t make many decisions. But there is one exception. Every Friday at 11 am, the king meets with the government at the castle. This is called the cabinet. Here, the government presents the laws made, and the king has the possibility to disagree. 

Illulstrert tradisjonell konge
Lys varm bakgrunn
Lys varm bakgrunn

Take a moment to think about this…

  • Doesn’t the king actually have quite a lot of power if he is able to refuse to pass a law? What will happen if he does this?
Lys varm bakgrunn
Lys varm bakgrunn

What about the Storting and the government?

The Storting and the government is the state. The representatives and the government make up the Storting. When you think of how many decisions they make, the Storting should be at the top of the ladder. But the king is already there. 

It is the government or representatives in the Storting that make suggestions about new laws. The Storting votes, and the majority decides if it goes through or not. 

The Storting decides on many things. Some examples are the police, the defence, and the hospitals. They are also in charge of the roads. Why do traffic accidents happen? Why don’t the police solve even more criminal cases? Why are there patient queues at hospitals? Is there anything that you can do about this?

The Storting decides how much money to give to the counties and the councils. A lot of people think that every county and council should get what they want. Wouldn’t that be best for everyone?

The president of the parliament leads the Storting and makes sure that all the rules are followed. Why doesn’t the Prime Minister do this, do you think?

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Stortinget på lys bakgrunn
Stortinget på lys bakgrunn

What does the county council decide?

What is a county council? Norway has 11 counties, and each county has a county council. The county council is responsible for secondary schools, the dental health service, and county roads, among other things.

You send the application for secondary school to the County Council. In Norway, you get free dental care until you are 18 from the County Council.

Who do you complain to if your school bus has to drive on bumpy roads? Or if the cultural centre where you live is going to be closed down?

Atlanterhavsveien
Lys varm bakgrunn
Lys varm bakgrunn

What does the municipality decide?

We have 356 communes in Norway. They decide a lot that is important for you and your family. The board is responsible for kindergartens, primary schools, free-time clubs, waste removal, and local roads and other things. 

What can you do if the free-time club you normally go to closes down or the roads have not been snow-ploughed in winter? What if your household waste is not collected, or the school doesn’t have enough sub teachers? Can we really influence those who make these decisions?

Bakgrunn med nordnorsk idyll
Bakgrunn med nordnorsk idyll

What does the Mayor decide?

Perhaps you think that the Mayor makes a lot of decisions in a commune. The Mayor leads the meetings and signs a lot of papers. But it is the majority that makes the decisions. 

What is actually the point of having a Major?

Ordfører på lys bakgrunn
Ordfører på lys bakgrunn
Read more about student councils in the UK

What does the student council decide?

What does the student council actually decide? All students have the right to be a part of the decisions in school. But are they able to make any big decisions?

Tegnet klasserom
Tegnet klasserom

What does the family decide?

There are a lot of wishes and needs in a family. Many kids go through divorce and have two families to deal with. Everyone in the family should be heard, and we need to see everyone’s needs. It is not that easy, for example, if you are going to plan a summer holiday. Or what about a birthday or Christmas? Do we always get exactly what we want?

Grown-ups make a lot of decisions within a family, but children and young people should have the right to make decisions too. What decisions do you make?

Illustrert familie
Lys varm bakgrunn
Lys varm bakgrunn

What do you decide on?

You can decide a lot in your life. What to wear, which activities you want to go to, or which friends you want to meet. Grown-ups make a lot of decisions and will do that until you are a grown-up.

If you want to take part in making decisions in society, you should join an organisation like the Red Cross or the scouts. You decide!

Gutt med solbriller
Gutt med solbriller

Sources:

  • Thorsnæs, Geir; Berg, Ole T.: kommune i Store norske leksikon på snl.no.
    Hentet 2021 M08 13 fra https://snl.no/kommune

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