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    "label": "Report, Central Intelligence Group, Norway, Situation Report 5",
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    "title": "Report, Central Intelligence Group, Norway, Situation Report 5",
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    "seq": 8,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
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    "ocrText": "RECRET\n2. Present Governmental Structure.\nAll Norwegian citizens over 23 years of age who have resided in Norway for\nfive years may vote for members of the Parliament (Storting). Elections to\nthe Storting are free and unencumbered by tax or property qualifications. Rep-\nresentation is proportional, the voters actually cast their ballots, not for\nindividuals but for parties or groups. The parties then send to the Storting\nthe number of representatives to which their proportion of the total vote en-\ntitles them. It should be borne in mind, however, in analyzing the strength of\nparties by their representation in the parliament, that this system, as pres-\nently constituted, favors the larger parties, SO that they usually have a mem-\nbership in the Storting out of proportion to the actual number of popular votes\ncast for them.\nThe actual votes received in a district by each Party are divided by 2, 3,\nor if necessary 4, the resulting quotients and the actual votes then being\narranged in a single list in descending numerical sequence. Vacancies are then\nfilled from this list, the first seat going to the Party with the largest num-\nber of votes, the second to the Party with the next smaller on the list and SO\non until alotted seats for the district are filled.\nThe Storting is elected as a unicameral legislature. After it convenes, it\ndivides itself into two chambers by electing one-fourth of its membership to\nact as an upper house (the Lagting) while the remaining members form a lower\nhouse (the Odelsting). The constitution provides that the Odelsting shall ini-\ntiate legislation and that the Lagting shall criticize and revise it. Both\ngroups must approve all bills before they become law. In practice, the Storting\nhas found it efficient to act unicamerally whenever it is constitutional to do\nso, as in the case of financial, political, and organizational resolutions and\nbudget plans.\nExecutive power normally belongs to the king, but is exercised by the prime\nminister who is chosen by the majority party in the Storting and approved by\nthe king. The king has no power to dissolve the Storting.\nNorwegian law stems from the constitution adopted in 1814 which was influ-\nenced in part by the French and American constitutions, but was largely indige-\nnous. The Judicial system is similar to that in the United States, there being\na Supreme Court and inferior courts of appeal. Cases are originally brought to\na Conciliation Council and may then be appealed in successive steps to the Town\nor District Court, Lagmansrett (Norway's only jury court) and finally the\nSupreme Court. Judges are appointed by the king after nomination by the Cabi-\nnet. They serve for a life term but may be retired for age (usually at 70) or\ndismissed for cause.\n3. Political Parties and Current Issues.\nThe history of organized political parties in Norway covers a relatively\nshort period and only a small number of parties. Formal parties were first\nDECLASSIFIED\nE. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or\nC.I.\n2.15.77\nletter,\nI-2\nNLT-HC\nNARS Date\n6.7.77\nSECRET\nBy\n$"
}