The governing bodies of the Folketing and the Storting and their constutional role

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyse the legal regulations concerning the governing bodies of the parliaments in Norway and Denmark, as well as selected elements of the system practice related to their functioning in the last several years. A comparative study of the aforementioned institutions in both parliaments makes it possible to identify similar elements, as well as to point out existing differences, especially in the system practice. One common feature is the axiology underpinning the activities of the governing bodies and the resulting high political culture characterising the deputies in charge in the Storting and the Folketing. The analyses made are based on the assumptions and categories of neo-institutional methodology in political science. The main thesis of the article is that the high efficiency and professionalism of both parliaments, as determined by objective indicators, is the result of a consensual and pragmatic attitude of those elected to leadership positions and proposed by the party groups. This attitude is fostered by the widespread occurrence of minority parliamentarism in political practice in both states.