Humanities Nordic Model test

Question 1

What is a party program?

Answer 1

Party Programs are basically detailed brochures including the viewpoint/standpoint of the party regarding certain themes and issues.

The party program is the party’s ‘law’ and is adopted by the party’s national assembly before a parliamentary election.

Question 2

What is a constitution?

Answer 2

It is the highest form of law in the country. The Constitution creates the branches of government and gives them the power to govern.

In terms of the Norwegian constitution the three main principles are:

Soverignity of the people

Separation of powers (judicial (court system)

Legislative (strotinget) and executive branches (government)) and human rights.

Question 3

What is the parliament?

Answer 3

The Parliament is a national assembly of elected representatives.

Question 4

What is parliamentarism:

Answer 4

The core of parliamentarism is that the government is based on the Storting, and that the Storting has confidence in the work that the government does.

Some of the key components of parliamentarism include:

The King ceremonial head of state

The people elect the parliament and indirectly the government

Majority, minority and coalition governments

Question 5

Who can vote in elections for Stortinget?

Answer 5

There are 169 representatives in the Stortinget. These 169 representatives are from the different parties of the government. When they come to the parliament they sit in the sections reserved for their party groups.

These representatives are the people that elect the President of the Storting.

The Storting elections are not for the public.

Question 6

Who can vote in local elections?

Answer 6

Everyone above the age of 18 and have been living in Norway for 3 years can vote in the local elections.

Have to be a Norwegian resident for at least 3+ years

You have to be above 16-17 to vote.

Question 7

What is a referendum?

Answer 7

A referendum is a direct and universal vote in which an entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal and can have nationwide or local forms. When Norway was asked to be a part of the EU. Everyone in a country regarding a big decision.

Question 8

What are the different branches of the Norwegian democracy?

Answer 8

Norway is an indirect democracy (this means the people of the country and local municipalities vote for a representative that represents them in the parliament elections). Where people don’t actually vote.

The different branches of the Norwegian government are: Executive = King, Legislative = Parliament/Storting and the Judicial = supreme court.

Question 9

What does separation of powers mean?

Answer 9

Legal principle which means that state power is to be distributed among three Independent institutions: one legislative , one executive and one judicial .

If one of them abuses their power we still have the 2 others to lead the country. This leads to less corruption in politics.

Question 10

How are the Norwegian governments formed?

Answer 10

After a parliamentary election, it is formally the king who chooses who will form the government

The Prime Minister points out who will sit in the government. Each minister is responsible for a subject area, a department.

Question 11

What is a majority government?

Answer 11

The party or parties that form the government have more than half of the representatives in the Storting.

Question 12

What is a minority government?

Answer 12

The party or parties that form the government have less than half of the representatives in the Storting.

Question 13

What is a minority coalition government?

Answer 13

Several parties come together to form a government. It has been like this since 2001.

Question 14

What are the responsibilities of the Storting?

Answer 14

The Storting passes, amends and repeals (to declare invalid) the Norwegian laws.

Storting approves the state budget every quarter of a year, ie the calculated revenues and expenditures of the state. The state budget thus shows the financial framework for the tasks that the state has in the coming year.

Question 15

How many representatives sit in the Storting?

Answer 15

The Storing has 169 representatives. These electives are elected every four years.

Question 16

What are the responsibilities of the government?

Answer 16

Proposes a budget, manages the public sector, enforce the law, and represents Norway

Question 17

What are the responsibilities of local governments (county)?

Answer 17

The county Municipalities (Viken, Oslo) responsibilities are:

High school 
County roads 
District policy instruments 
Regional planning 
Operation of some cultural offerings

Question 18

What are the responsibilities of local governments?

Answer 18

The municipalities (Kongsberg kommune ) responsibilities are:

Kindergartens 
Child welfare 
Primary schools 
Municipal roads 
Water, sewer, garbage collection 
Public health service 
Social assistance

Question 19

How many municipalities are there in Norway?

Answer 19

356 municipalities in Norway

Question 20

Socialist Parties:

Answer 20

Sosialistisk Venstrepartiet – The Socialist Left party and Arbeiderpartiet - The Labour Party

Question 21

Non-Socialist parties:

Answer 21

Miljøpartiet de Grønne – The Green Party
Senterpartiet – The Centre Party
KrF - The Christian Democratic Party
Venstre - The Liberals
Høyre - The Conservative Party
Fremskrittspartiet - The Progress Party

Question 22

Rightist Parties:

Answer 22

The parties on the right want lower taxes, and believe that private companies can provide many of the welfare services in a more efficient way than the state. They talk less about social equality, and are more willing to accept economic differences between groups in society. Of the nine parties in the Storting, we like to place the Conservatives (H) and the Progress Party (FrP) on the right.

Question 23

Leftist Parties:

Answer 23

The parties on the left often want a relatively high level of taxes and fees. In return, the state must provide welfare benefits such as hospitals, education and cultural services. They want to even out economic differences between groups in society, and are willing to tax those with the highest incomes more to achieve this. Of the nine parties in the Storting, we like to place Rødt (R), Sosialistisk Venstreparti (SV) and Arbeiderpartiet (A) on the left.

Question 24

Sosialistisk Venstrepartiet – The Socialist Left party

Answer 24

SV will build a society based onsocialismin Norway.This means, among other things, that everyone, regardless of income, must have the same access to public services such as education, health services and care.The party wants to replace thecapitalistsystem, where market forces prevail, with a more democratic economic system.SV advocates full equality between the sexes and calls itself “afeministparty

Question 25

Arbeiderpartiet - The Labour Party

Answer 25

Wants to change society through gradual reforms; level out social disparities; in favor of the State sector having greater responsibility for education, elderly, and health care. Work for all is number one priority

Question 26

Miljøpartiet de Grønne – The Green Party

Answer 26

The party’s goal is a humane society in ecological balance. The economy must be subordinated to sound ecological principles, and promote peace and justice both locally and globally

Question 27

Senterpartiet – The Centre Party

Answer 27

Emphasizes people, rural Norway and environment. The party is an enthusiastic supporter of the welfare state and wants to preserve welfare benefits.

Peasant Movement

Question 28

KrF - The Christian Democratic Party

Answer 28

Stands for basic Christian values. Important issues for KrF are education and family policy, a restrictive alcohol policy, and a positive attitude towards the church. Strong supporter of foreign aid.

Question 29

Venstre - The Liberals

Answer 29

A socially liberal party. Interested in both individual rights and society’s responsibilities. They are in Favor of a State welfare system and private business and industry.

Question 30

Høyre - The Conservative Party

Answer 30

Believes that a market economy and private ownership are necessary to produce welfare and liberty. Nonetheless, the party is a supporter of State welfare schemes.

Question 31

Fremskrittspartiet - The Progress Party

Answer 31

Calls itself a libertarian party. Interested in lower taxes and duties, and less State administration. Wants to spend more of oil fund on nursing homes, etc. Campaigns for stricter immigration policy

Question 32

Rødt

Answer 32

Aim: socialist revolution to become a communist, class-less society. Means: democracy. Fighting oppression, war and racism is central to the party’s program. Rødt wants asylum seekers to have the right to work while they wait to have their asylum application processed.

Question 33

What is the basic idea behind the welfare state

Answer 33

The basic idea behind the welfare state is that the state takes responsibility for ensuring the welfare of everyone in society. Those who are unable to support themselves will have the safest livelihood.

Everyone in the country has access to the welfare benefits, you don’t have to be “poor” to access it.

Question 34

What are the three pillars the Nordic Model?

Answer 34

Economic Governance:

Organized work:
Coordinated wage, collective agreements, local cooperation.

Public Welfare:
Welfare state, income guarantees, free services and education, active labour market policies.

Question 35

Why is it with the Nordic Model that makes other countries want to copy this model?

Answer 35

Because everyone gets paid well and are living happy in Norway compared to other countries where the wage gaps are very high. Norway has the NHO and NAV and other organizations that ensure that everyone gets more than a basic level of income.

In Norway they decrease the salary for the highly paid and increase the salary for the less paid in order to decrease the wage gap so that everyone feels that they are the same.

Question 36

The benefits of the National Security scheme (Folketrygden) and how it is funded

Answer 36

The National Insurance Scheme is a compulsorysocial security schemefor everyone who lives in Norway.

National Insurance provides financialbenefitsfor illness,pregnancy and birth,unemployment, age,disability, death, and loss ofthe breadwinner.

The National Insurance Scheme also covers expenses for medical treatment andrehabilitationas well as work-oriented measures.

The National Insurance Scheme is financed by membership fees,employer contributions,and subsidies from the state.The National Insurance Scheme is administered byNAV

Question 37

How the Norwegian government support public education:

Answer 37

Free primary and secondary education

University and college (høyskole) with small tuition fee

Living costs covered by loan and stipend from Lånekassen (under Kunnskapsdepartementet the ministry of knowledge)