Constitution of Norway

The Constitution of Norway, known officially as The Constitution of the Kingdom of Norway, was created on 16 May and signed on 17 May 1814.^[1] It was made by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll.^[2][3] The date 17 May is Constitution Day in Norway and celebrates the constitution.^[4][5]

This constitution is known as one of the most free and democratic in the world. It is the fourth oldest written national constitution in Europe, after those of Poland, France (1791), and Spain (1812). It is also the second oldest working national constitution in the world, after the United States Constitution.^[1][6] In May 2014, the Norwegian parliament made the biggest changes since 1814, adding sections about human rights.^[7]

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "The Constitution". Stortinget. 19 January 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
2. ↑ "Grunnlov og union 1814" [Constitution and Union 1814]. The Royal House of Norway (in Norwegian). Retrieved 29 May 2024.
3. ↑ "Eidsvoll og Grunnloven 1814" [Eidsvoll and the 1814 Constitution]. Stortinget (in Norwegian). 25 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
4. ↑ Capar, Roban-Ivan (16 May 2023). "Why does Norway celebrate May 17th?". The Local. Retrieved 29 May 2024. On May 17th, huge parades take over the streets, headed by marching bands that lead celebratory processions through Norway's towns and communities.
5. ↑ "Celebrating May 17th". The Royal House of Norway. 17 May 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
6. ↑ Storsveen, Odd Arvid (2 September 2022). "Writing the Norwegian constitution, 1814". nordics.info. Aarhus University. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
7. ↑ Madsen, Per Anders (10 June 2014). "Går utenom". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2024. Just before 17 May, the Storting adopted the biggest constitutional amendments since 1814.