Council of State (Norway)

The Council of State (Norway) (Norwegian: Statsrådet) is the collective name for the King of Norway, acting under the advice of his appointed ministers. It is Norway's formal government, holding executive power.

The Council of State is chaired by the King (or the Regent when the King is unable to perform his duties) and consists of the Prime Minister and the other cabinet ministers. The ministers are appointed by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister, and are collectively responsible to the Parliament of Norway (Storting).

The Council of State convenes regularly, typically once a week, in a formal meeting known as the statsråd. During these meetings, the King formally sanctions laws and decrees, and government policies are discussed. While the King presides, in practice the real power lies with the Prime Minister and the cabinet. The King's role is largely ceremonial, although his signature is required on all laws and resolutions.

The Prime Minister is the head of government and the leader of the political party or coalition that commands a majority in the Storting. The Prime Minister proposes ministers to the King, and determines the government's policy agenda.

Ministers are heads of various ministries, each responsible for a specific area of government, such as finance, foreign affairs, defense, and justice.

The Council of State embodies the principle of constitutional monarchy, balancing the monarch's symbolic role with the democratic accountability of the elected government. The modern role of the monarch in the Council is primarily to ensure the government operates according to the law and within the bounds of the Constitution. The Council of State is central to the Norwegian system of government and ensures the effective administration of the country.