43°
NORWAY.
remaining three-fourths. Each ' Thing' nominates its own president, vice-president, and secretaries. All new bills, whether presented by the government, or a member of the Storthing, must originate in the ' Odelsthing,' from which they pass into the ' Lagthing,' to be either accepted, in which case they become law, or rejected. In the latter case, should the ' Odelsthing' demand it, after having twice passed the bill, the two Houses assemble in common sitting to deliberate on the measure, and the final decision is given by a majority of two-thirds of the voters. The ordinary business of the Storthing is to settle the taxes for each financial period of three years, to supervise the administration of the revenue, and to enact, repeal, or alter any laws of the country. But the Storthing can also form itself into a high court of justice, for the impeachment and trial of ministers, judges, and other servants of the State. The bill of accusation must always come from the ' Odelsthing ' and be brought from thence before the ' Lagthing,' sitting for the occasion, together with the Chief Court of Justice, as ' ftiksretten,' or supreme tribunal of the realm. Before pronouncing its own dissolution, every Stor- thing elects five state-officers, Avhose duty it is to revise the public accounts, and to watch over the welfare of the realm. While in session, every member of the Storthing has an allowance of three specie-daler, or thirteen shillings and fourpence a day.
The executive is represented by the king, who exercises his authority through a Council of State, composed of a governor- general, nominated by the Crown, and of eight ministers, heads of the following departments : —
1. The Ministry of State. — Georg Christian Sibber n, appointed Dec. 10, 1858.
2. The Department of Audit, — Fredrik Stang, appointed Jan. 1845.
3. The Department of Education and Ecclesiastical Affairs. — Hans Ridderwold, appointed April 19, 1848.
4. The Department of the Interior. — Christen Zetlitz Bretteville, appointed June 1850.
5. The Department of Finance and Customs. — August Christian Manthey, appointed Dec. 1856.
6. The Army Department. — Major-General Niels Christian Irgens, appointed April 3, 1868.
7. The Department of the Navy and of Postal Communication. — Dr. Ole Jacob Broch, appointed Nov. 1869.
8. The Department of Justice. — John Collett Falsen, appointed Dec. 1869.
Besides the above, there are two ministers without portfolio, namely : — Hans Gerhard Colbjbrnen Mcldahl, appointed Dec. 17, I «61; Henrik Laurentius Helliesen, appointed June 22, 1869. The two last-named form, together with the Minister of State, a dele- gation of the Council of State, resident at Stockholm, near the king.
