The Legislative Procedure

On this page you will find information about the process of making a law.

In the process of passing legislation, the Storting is divided into two cambers, the Odelsting and the Lagting. When a Storting first convenes following an election, it elects one quarter of the representatives (41) to serve as members of the Lagting. The remaining three quarters (124) become members of the Odelsting.

A bill is introduced by the Government (see Links) in the form of a proposition to the Odelsting. This proposition is the product of an exhaustive preparatory procedure. When a major item of legislation or an extensive revision of existing law is on the agenda, the Government generally appoints an expert committee or commission to study the matter and submit a report to the ministry in charge of the bill. The ministry makes a draft bill and consults the organizations, other government bodies and institutions. This is referred to as hearings. When statements from the official consultations have been collected, the ministry prepares a proposition to the Odelsting. The proposition is first submitted to the King in Council and after approval there the royal proposition is submitted to the Odelsting, which normally refers to the appropriate committee. (See Standing Committees)

The committee considers the bill and returns it to the Odelsting in the form of a recommendation. The recommendation is discussed (debated) in the Odelsting. If the Odelsting accepts or amends the recommendation, it goes to the Lagting in the form of an Odelsting resolution. The Odelsting resolution is deliberated in the Lagting and if approved there, it is sent to the King in Council. When the King has sanctioned or signed the bill, it becomes valid law. The role performed by the King has become symbolic.

This is the normal legislative procedure. However, if the Lagting does not approve an Odelsting recommendation, it returns to the Odelsting with comments. If an Odelsting accepts the comments, the bill is passed. It then goes back to the Lagting where it is merely reported and sent directly to the King for his approval. If the Odelsting rejects or modifies the amendments the measure must go back to the Lagting for consideration.

If the Lagting still does not approve, the measure is sent back to the Odelsting, which submits it to the plenary Storting. To pass the plenary session a two-thirds majority is required. There shall be an interval of at least three days between such deliberations in the Odelsting and the Lagting.

In reality, most matters business are decided when the committee had made its recommendation even though the final vote still remains. Proportional party representation is approximately the same in both the Odelsting and the Lagting so votes in the Lagting seldom go against Odelsting resolutions. The primary function of the Lagting is to act as a check. Sometimes the Lagting votes to reject or drop a bill and bills which finally pass both the Odelsting and the Lagting may differ substantially from the original proposition submitted by the Government.

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Last updated 29.08.2000