Independence:
7 June 1905 Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved; 26
October 1905 Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 17 May (1814); note - on 14 January 1814 Denmark
ceded Norway to Sweden; resisting Swedish domination, Norwegians
adopted a new constitution four months later; on 14 August 1814
Norway was proclaimed independent but in union with Sweden; on 7
June 1905 Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved
Constitution:
17 May 1814, modified in 1884
Legal system:
mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law
traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature
when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir
Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born 20
July 1973)
head of government: Prime Minister Kjell Magne BONDEVIK (since 19
October 2001)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of
Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following parliamentary
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the
monarch with the approval of the Parliament
Legislative branch:
modified unicameral Parliament or Storting (165 seats; members are
elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 10 September 2001 (next to be held NA September
2005)
note: for certain purposes, the Parliament divides itself into two
chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership to an upper house
or Lagting
election results: percent of vote by party - Labor Party 24.3%,
Conservative Party 21.2%, Progress Party 14.6%, Socialist Left Party
12.5%, Christian People's Party 12.4%, Center Party 5.6%, Liberal
Party 3.9%, Coastal Party 1.7%, other 3.8%; seats by party - Labor
Party 43, Conservative Party 38, Progress Party 26, Socialist Left
Party 23, Christian People's Party 22, Center Party 10, Liberal
Party 2, Coastal Party 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (justices appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Center Party [Aslaug Marie HAGA]; Christian People's Party [Valgerd
Svarstad HAUGLAND]; Coastal Party [Steinar BASTESEN]; Conservative
Party [Jan PETERSEN]; Labor Party [Jens STOLTENBERG]; Liberal Party
[Lars SPONHEIM]; Progress Party [Carl I. HAGEN]; Socialist Left
Party [Kristin HALVORSEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA