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 |