Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/465

 CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT. 429

II. NO E WAY.

Constitution and Government.

The present constitution of Norway was framed by a Constituent Parliament of the nation, which met at Eidsvold in the year of the union with Sweden, and having received the sanction of the king, was proclaimed Nov. 4, 1814. According to its terms, the whole legislative power of the realm is in the Storthing, or Great Court, the representative of the sovereign people. The king has the command of the land and sea forces, but cannot declare war, or make peace, or bring foreign troops into the country, or send the native troops away, without the consent of the Storthing. Pie makes all appoint- ments, but, with the exception of the governor-general, is not allowed to nominate any but Norwegians to public offices under the crown. He can only remit punishment of death, and not grant a complete pardon to criminals condemned by Norwegian courts of law. The king possesses the right of veto over laws passed by the Storthimj, yet only for a limited period. The royal veto may be exercised twice ; but if the same bill pass three successive times, it becomes the law of the land without the assent of the sovereign.

The Storthing formerly assembled every three years; but by a modification of the electoral law, adopted in March 18G9, it was resolved to hold annual sittings. The meetings take place, suojure, ami not by any writ from the king or the executive. Every native Norwegian of twenty-five years of age, who is a burgess of any town, or possesses property in land to the value of 30/. sterling, or has been tenant of such property for five years, is entitled to elect; and, under the same conditions, if thirty years of age, to be elected. The whole country is divided into electoral districts, according to population, and again parcelled out into subdivisions, according to area. The mode of election is indirect, the people first nominat- ing a number of deputies, to whom devolves the task of appointing the representatives in the Storthing. Towards the end of every third year the people meet in the parish church, without summons or special call, and choose their deputies, at the rate of one to fifty voters in towns, and one to a hundred in rural sub-districts. The deputies afterwards meet at some public place, and there elect among themselves, or from among the other qualified voters of the district, the Storthing representatives. No new election takes place for vacancies, which are filled by the person who received the second largest number of votes.

The Storthing, when elected, divides itself into two houses, the 'Lagthing' and the ' Odelsthing.' The former is composed of one- fourth of the members of the ' Storthing,' and the other of the