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In Norway, impeachment, also known as the Court of Impeachment (Norwegian: Riksrett), is a judicial process with the power to convict Members of Parliament, Members of the Council of State, and Supreme Court Justices for criminal acts performed in line of duty. Impeachment is based on the Constitution of Norway §§ 86 and 87. Parliament authorizes the impeachment process, which establishes a tribunal consisting of five members of the Supreme Court and six lay members appointed by the Parliament of Norway. Impeachment has been used eight times, the last case being held in 1927.

History

Impeachment has been performed eight times in the history of the kingdom, and each time it has been aimed at members of the government. Six of the cases were in the period 1814–45. During the constitutional struggle in the last half of the 19th century, impeachment became vital following the case against Selmer's Cabinet in 1883 and 1884, concerning the veto rights of the King in matters of the constitution. Prior to this case, impeachment was the only way for parliament to dismiss a member of the cabinet; after 1884 Norway got a system of parliamentarism, and parliament could dismiss a member of cabinet through a majority vote.

After the constitutional battle of 1884 was over, there was only one case, where Prime Minister Abraham Berge and six members of his cabinet were found not guilty in 1927. Since then, impeachment has not been used, and is no longer considered part of the political game. Public commissions have since looked at reforming or removing impeachment, and transferring the institution to the ordinary courts. On 20 February 2007 the parliament voted to change the constitution such that the organization of impeachment becomes more potent, and changing the requirements, so the lay members of the court are not current members of parliament.

Cases

There have been eight cases of impeachment:

Structure

Prior to the 2007 constitution change, the Odelsting chamber was to act as prosecutor and the Lagting chamber along with the supreme court was to act as the court. Ten members of the Lagting and five from the supreme court were to rule in the matter.

The constitutional change merged the two chambers, causing the process of impeachment also to be changed. The court would consist of eleven members, five from the supreme court and six lay members chosen by parliament for a period of six years. Current members of parliament are not eligible to serve, as they are presumed to have a conflict of interest in the matter. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is to lead the impeachment. The responsibility to act as prosecutor is held by the parliament, and is to be administrated by a parliamentary committee, Stortingets ansvarskommisjon. The changes made impeachment a more viable threat to office holders should they breach their limitations.

References

1. "The Constitution of the Kingdom of Norway - Lovdata". lovdata.no. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
2. "The control of the legislative and the executive power by Norwegian courts". www.domstol.no. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
3. ^ Andenæs, Johs.; Fliflet, Arne (2006). Statsforfatningen i Norge (in Norwegian) (10th ed.). Oslo: Universitetsforlaget. ISBN 82-15-00989-1. Archived from the original on 2007-10-06.
4. Storting (2004-06-18). "Dokument nr. 12:1 (2003–2004)" (PDF) (in Norwegian). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-10-12.

v t e Courts of justice of Norway
Supreme Court of Norway Appeals Selection Committee Courts of Appeal District Courts
	Borgarting Court of Appeal	Oslo District Court Buskerud District Court Ringerike, Asker og Bærum District Court Follo og Nordre Østfold District Court Søndre Østfold District Court
	Eidsivating Court of Appeal	Romerike og Glåmdal District Court Vestre Innlandet District Court Østre Innlandet District Court
	Agder Court of Appeal	Agder District Court Telemark District Court Vestfold District Court
	Gulating Court of Appeal	Hordaland District Court Haugaland og Sunnhordland District Court Sogn og Fjordane District Court Sør-Rogaland District Court
	Frostating Court of Appeal	Møre og Romsdal District Court Trøndelag District Court
	Hålogaland Court of Appeal	Helgeland District Court Indre og Østre Finnmark District Court Midtre Hålogaland District Court Nord-Troms og Senja District Court Salten og Lofoten District Court Vestre Finnmark District Court
	Special courts	Appeals Selection Committee Constitutional Court of the Realm (Impeachment) Industrial Disputes Tribunal Land consolidation Court Conciliation Board
	Former district courts in Norway (List) Agder Aust-Agder Aust-Telemark Flekkefjord Holmestrand Holt Horten Kragerø Kristiansand Larvik Lister Lyngdal Mandal Nedenes Nedre Telemark Nordre Vestfold Sand Sandefjord Skien and Porsgrunn Tinn and Heddal Tønsberg Vest-Telemark Vestfold Borgarting Asker and Bærum Drammen Eiker, Modum and Sigdal Follo Fredrikstad Halden Hallingdal Heggen and Frøland Indre Follo Kongsberg Moss Oslo Ringerike Sarpsborg Ytre Follo Eidsivating Eidsvoll Gjøvik Glåmdal Hadeland and Land Hedmarken Nedre Romerike Nord-Gudbrandsdal Nord-Østerdal Solør Sør-Gudbrandsdal Sør-Østerdal Toten Valdres Vinger and Odal Øvre Romerike Frostating Fosen Gauldal Inderøy Inntrøndelag Midt-Trøndelag Namdal Nordmøre Orkdal Romsdal Stjør- and Verdal Sunnmøre Søre Sunnmøre Sør-Trøndelag Trondheim Gulating Bergen Dalane Fjordane Hardanger Haugaland Haugesund Indre Sogn Jæren Karmsund Midthordland Nordfjord Nordhordland Ryfylke Sandnes Sogn Stavanger Sunnfjord Sunnhordland Voss Ytre Sogn Hålogaland Alstahaug Alta Brønnøy Hammerfest Indre Finnmark Lofoten Nord-Troms Ofoten Rana Salten Senja Tana and Varanger Trondenes Vardø Vesterålen Øst-Finnmark
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• Judiciary of Norway
• Impeachment in Europe
• Government of Norway