| Statsrådet av Kalmarunionen | |
|---|---|
 Coat of Arms of Kalmar Union | |
| Overview | |
| Established | April 17, 1951 |
| State | Kalmar Union |
| Sovereign | Monark |
| Leader | Statsminister av Kalmarunionen |
| Main organ | Statsrådet av Kalmarunionen |
| Responsible to | Storting |
| Headquarters | Royal Palace, Oslo |
The Statsrådet av Kalmarunionen (Council of State of Kalmar Union) is a formal body composed of the most senior government ministers chosen by the Statsminister, 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 11:00 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 Act of Union, 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 Act of Union, 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 Act of Union, 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 Act of Union 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 Council of State 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. However, all members of the Statsrådet must 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 15, 2015 February 17, 2015 |
 Utenriksdepartementet Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
Utenriksminister Minister of Foreign Affairs |
Cristina Björling | February 17, 2015 |
 Finansdepartementet Ministry of Finance |
Finansminister Minister of Finance |
Tobias Ohlsson | February 17, 2015 |
 Forsvarsdepartementet Ministry of Defence |
Forsvarsminister Minister of Defence |
Göran Bildt | February 17, 2015 |
 Nærings- og Handelsdepartementet Ministry of Trade and Industry |
Nærings- og Handelsminister Minister of Trade and Industry |
Fredrik Trolgfors | February 17, 2015 |
 Energidepartementet Ministry of Energy |
Energiminister Minister of Energy |
Silvie Larsson | February 17, 2015 |
 Samferdselsdepartementet Ministry of Transport and Communications |
Samferdelsminister Minister of Transport and Communications |
Dagnija Repše | February 17, 2015 |
 Miljøverndepartementet Ministry of the Environment |
Miljøvernminister Minister of the Environment |
Lisbeth Brekk | February 17, 2015 |
 Landbruks- og Matdepartementet Ministry of Agriculture and Food |
Landbruks- og Matminister Minister of Agriculture and Food |
Kjell Jönsson | February 17, 2015 |
 Fiskeri- og Kystdepartementet Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs |
Fiskeri- og Kystminister Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs |
Eirk Riis | February 17, 2015 |
 Justis- og Sikkerhetdepartementet Ministry of Justice and Security |
Justis- og Sikkerhetminister Minister of Justice and Security |
Trond Støre | February 17, 2015 |
 Kommunal- og Regionaldepartementet Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development |
Kommunal- og Regionalminister Minister of Local Government and Regional Development |
Kâre Thorbjørn | February 17, 2015 |
 Kultur- og Kirkedepartementet Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs |
Kultur- og Kirkeminister Minister of Culture and Church Affairs |
Albert Björg | February 17, 2015 |
 Utdannings- og Forskningsdepartementet Ministry of Education and Research |
Utdannings- og Forskningsminister Minister of Education and Research |
Paula Schjøtt-Pedersen | February 17, 2015 |
 Fornyings- og Administrasjonsdepartementet Ministry of Government Administration and Reform |
Fornyings- og Administrasjonsminister Minister of Government Administration and Reform |
Peder Lauridsen | February 17, 2015 |
 Helse- og Omsorgsdepartementet Ministry of Health and Care Services |
Helse- og omsorgsminister Minister of Health and Care Services |
Grete Strøm-Erichsen | February 17, 2015 |
 Arbeidsdepartementet Ministry of Labour |
Arbeidsminister Ministry of Labour |
Anniken Olsen | February 17, 2015 |