Statsrådet av Skandinavia

Statsrådet av Skandinavia
Coat of Arms of Skandinavia
Overview
Established	April 17, 1951
State	Skandinavia
Sovereign	Monark
Leader	Statsminister av Skandinavia
Main organ	Statsrådet av Skandinavia
Responsible to	Storting
Headquarters	Det Kongelige Slott, Christiania

The Statsrådet av Skandinavia (Council of State of Skandinavia) is a formal body composed of the most senior government ministers chosen by the Monark or by the Statsminister on behalf of the Monark, and functions as the collective decision-making organ constituting the executive branch of the Kingdom. It is referred to as the Statsrådet and simultaneously play the role of privy council as well as government cabinet. With the exception of the Statsminister, the Finansminister (Minister of Finance) and the Utenriksminister (Minister of Foreign Affairs), who retain their ministerial ranking in their own right, all the other members of the Statsrådet concurrently hold the position of Statsrådgiver (Councillor of State), and that of chief of the various departments, not formally being considered 'ministers', although commonly addressed as such. The Statsrådet normally convenes every week, usually on Fridays at 10:00 a.m. at Det Kongelige Slott (Royal Palace) in Christiania and is presided over by the Monark.

Functions and mandate

The Statsrådet convenes to formally make decisions on matters of State, passing so-called Royal Resolutions or Orders in Council. Theoretically, the Royal Resolutions themselves are the King´s decisions, but by convention use to be those of the government. However, they require the contra-signature of the Statsminister, or, in cases relating to military command, of the Minister of Defence in order to be valid. Later, entire records from the proceedings of the Statsrådet is signed by all its members. This is done in order to remove all personal responsibility on part of the King, in keeping with Unionenslov, which states that, "The King's person is sacred; he cannot be censured or accused. The responsibility rests with his Council". Another feature of this system is that the King, when having sanctioned a decision, is referred to as King-in-Council, meaning the King as well as his council.

According to the Unionenslov, certain cases, such as appointments and dismissals of higher office, pardons, provisional measures and ratifications of treaties must be administered by the Statsrådet. Whilst not prescribed in the Unionenslov, the signing of bills and other regulations into law is the most important feature of the work being conducted during sessions of the Statsrådet.

Duty of remonstrance

The Unionenslov states that any member of the Statsrådet, if he or she is of the opinion that the "King's decision conflicts with the form of government or the laws of the Realm" is bound by a "duty to make strong remonstrances against it, as well as to enter his opinion in the records." The Article continues by stating that a Member who has not voiced such objections is liable of impeachment by the Unionsparlamentet should a decision made in the Statsrådet later be found unlawful. For the same reason, the aforesaid Article prescribes that all of the decisions made in the Statsrådet shall be put down in official records.

Requirements of membership

Whilst most members of the Statsrådet originate from within the Storting and will have their seats deputised during their time in office, they can also be members of the Landsting or even not belonging to the Unionsparlamentet. However, all members of the Statsrådet use to have the express support of the Storting.

Current organization

Office	Positions	Incumbent	In office since
Statsministerens Kontor Office of the Prime Minister	Statsminister (Prime Minister) Statsministerens Stabschef (Chief of Staff)	Ann Nilsson Jens Soderberg	February 20, 2020 February 20, 2020
Utenriksdepartementet Ministry of Foreign Affairs	Utenriksminister Minister of Foreign Affairs	Cristina Björling	February 23, 2020
Finansdepartementet Ministry of Finance	Finansminister Minister of Finance	Tobias Ohlsson	February 23, 2020
Forsvarsdepartementet Ministry of Defence	Forsvarsminister Minister of Defence	Göran Bildt	February 23, 2020
Nærings- og Handelsdepartementet Ministry of Trade and Industry	Nærings- og Handelsminister Minister of Trade and Industry	Fredrik Trolgfors	February 23, 2020
Energidepartementet Ministry of Energy	Energiminister Minister of Energy	Silvie Larsson	February 23, 2020
Samferdselsdepartementet Ministry of Transport and Communications	Samferdelsminister Minister of Transport and Communications	Dagnija Repše	February 23, 2020
Miljøverndepartementet Ministry of the Environment	Miljøvernminister Minister of the Environment	Lisbeth Brekk	February 23, 2020
Landbruks- og Matdepartementet Ministry of Agriculture and Food	Landbruks- og Matminister Minister of Agriculture and Food	Kjell Jönsson	February 23, 2020
Fiskeri- og Kystdepartementet Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs	Fiskeri- og Kystminister Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs	Eirk Riis	February 23, 2020
Justis- og Sikkerhetdepartementet Ministry of Justice and Security	Justis- og Sikkerhetminister Minister of Justice and Security	Trond Støre	February 23, 2020
Kommunal- og Regionaldepartementet Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development	Kommunal- og Regionalminister Minister of Local Government and Regional Development	Kâre Thorbjørn	February 23, 2020
Kultur- og Kirkedepartementet Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs	Kultur- og Kirkeminister Minister of Culture and Church Affairs	Albert Björg	February 23, 2020
Utdannings- og Forskningsdepartementet Ministry of Education and Research	Utdannings- og Forskningsminister Minister of Education and Research	Paula Schjøtt-Pedersen	February 23, 2020
Fornyings- og Administrasjonsdepartementet Ministry of Government Administration and Reform	Fornyings- og Administrasjonsminister Minister of Government Administration and Reform	Peder Lauridsen	February 23, 2020
Helse- og Omsorgsdepartementet Ministry of Health and Care Services	Helse- og omsorgsminister Minister of Health and Care Services	Grete Strøm-Erichsen	February 23, 2020
Arbeidsdepartementet Ministry of Labour	Arbeidsminister Ministry of Labour	Anniken Olsen	February 23, 2020