The union saved Norway’s independence and rescued the work done to form a new constitution in 1814. The foundation stones for the development of Norwegian democracy in the 19th Century were laid.

Marking at the sitting of the Storting at 10.00

At the opening of the sitting of the Storting, the President of the Storting Olemic Thommessen will make a speech to mark the constitutional resolution of 4th November 1814.

Seminar in the Lagting Chamber from 10.30–12.00

There will be a seminar in the Lagting Chamber in conjunction with the launch of the book Stortingets historie 1964-2014 (“History of the Storting 1964-2014”). The subject of this seminar will be the position of the Storting in Norwegian politics and trends in the parliamentary system.

• Professor Tore Grønlie will give a lecture called Between two jubilees: the position of the Storting has been strengthened.

• There will be contributions from, among others, Martin Kolberg, Chair of the Standing Committee on Scrutiny and Constitutional Affairs, former prime minister Kåre Willoch, professor Fredrik Sejersted and Marit Arnstad, parliamentary leader of the Centre Party.

Defence of the Constitution

In the autumn of 1814, the Storting played a decisive role in saving the nation’s future and the 17th May Constitution. The first extraordinary Storting was elected in September 1814 as a result of the Convention of Moss. Here it was resolved that the Storting should be convened to negotiate a union between Norway and Sweden with representatives of the Swedish King. The point of departure for these negotiations was to be the Eidsvoll Constitution.

The extraordinary session of the Storting opened on 7th October and lasted until 26th November 1814. Yet the most important event took place on 4th November. It was on this date that the Storting adopted a revised constitution and elected Carl VIII as the new King of Norway.

The November Constitution closely resembled the Constitution of 17th May. There was one vital difference, however. Included was the provision that Norway was to be an independent state united with Sweden under one king. With that, the Constitution was saved.