The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-06-29
Norwegian Government Called
Triumph of Modern Democracy

London Times: The Norwegian peo-
pie boast that they have one of the
most democratic forms Of government
in the world. The storthing is in close
touch with everyday affairs, and there
can be no strong expression of public
sentiment that is not at once reflect
ed there. All men and women over 25
years of age who have been at least
five years in the country, provided they
are not paupers, bankrupts or ex-con-
victs, are allowed to vote and women
as we'll as men are eligible for the
storthing.
When an election takes place the
Norwegian electors must choose, in
addition to the direct member, a vice
| deputy member to take his place
should the representative be at any
time unavoidably absent from the
| storthing. For each seat contested
each party may put forward one can
didate and one vice deputy candidate.
The voting both for member and
deputy member, takes place on the
same day, and, although 1t seldom
happens, it Is possible for a conser-
vative deputy to be returned with a
liberal member and vice versa.
Members of the storthing are paid
at the rate Of 5000 kroner ($S04) per
year for ordinary sittings, but if called
upon to attend for any extra period an
additional payment is made OF II
kroner d day. In addition to the cash
payment there are also special priyi-
leges. such as free doctor and nurse in
case of illness and free travelling on
the state railways. The demands made
upon a storthingsmand are heavy.
Each. member must attend sittings
| regularly and vote upon every ques=
ton. He is not allowed to absent HIM
self unless he can give an adequate
| reason. or unless he has first obtained
! the permission Of the storthing. If he
is unavoidably absent, then his deputy
must be present. The deputy has no
direct payment for his services, but
receives a share of the members SAL
airy at the end of the year, the amount
depending upon the number Of sittings
he has attended.
At the opening Of parliament after
an election has taken place the house
resolves itself into two parties, the
lagthing and the odelsthng, corre-
ponding to an upper and lower cham
Der. There is no actual upper house.
The lagthing consists of one-fourth Of
the members nominated and elected
In full storthing. There is no rule
governing the number each party may
elect, but generally there Is an equal
percentage elected from all parties.
When the lagthing mas been elected,
the remaining ~three-fourths form the
odelsthings. 4..
All bills are first presented to the
odelsthing for discussion. A bare ma
jortty only is needed to pass ordinary
measures. but measures seeking to
deal with the constitution must have a
two thirds majority, and no measure
can pass the odelsthing unless two
thirds of the members are present and
vote upon 1t. After being passed by
the odelsthing measures are sent up
to the lagthing. and, if passed there,
they then become law after having
been sanctioned by the king. If re-
jected by the lagthing they are re-
turned to the odelsthing. again dis
cussed, and either shelved or return
| ed-amended or in their original form
II the lagthing rejects a measure 9
second time It comes before the full
storthing, and is then accepted as law