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IV. FOUR NORDIC COUNTRIES

regulations of the executive (not covered in this study) that spell out the requirements of executive agencies to report to ministries. In summary, pragmatism outweighs rigid adherence to doctrinaire principles.

3. Legal basis for the establishment and powers of the actors in the budget system

This section examines the legal basis of the main actors in budget processes. The focus is on constitutional provisions for the role of the executive and Parliament.

3.1. The constitutions of the four countries

The constitutions of the four countries differ considerably in age, number of constitutional laws and content. First, the age of the constitutions varies from that of Norway, which was adopted in 1814, to that of Finland, adopted in 1999. Second, the constitutions of Denmark, Finland and Norway are a single document, as in many countries. In contrast, Sweden has four fundamental laws that make up its Constitution: the Instrument of Government Act, the Act of Succession, the Freedom of the Press Act, and the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression. In the case of Finland, the 1999 Constitution consolidated four previous laws: the Constitution Act of Finland, 1919, the Parliament Act, 1928, and two acts on ministerial liability. The Constitution was adopted after more than 30 years of consideration.7 Third, the content of the constitutions differs considerably. The four fundamental laws of Sweden are by far the longest in terms of number of articles (Table 1).

Table 1. Nordic countries: Age and size of constitutions

 

Denmark

Finland

Norway

Sweden

 

 

 

 

 

Year of constitution

19531

1999

1814

1974

Year of last amendment

None

None

1995

2002

 

 

 

 

 

Number of amendments

0

0

382

3

Number of articles3

89

131

112

3674

1.The new Constitution of 1953 was essentially based on the 1849 Constitution.

2.Most of these amendments, which include the repeal of ten articles, have been minor. There have been no constitutional innovations directly concerning the budget system since 1814.

3.The table shows the total of numbered articles, even if repealed. Articles of are unequal length.

4.There are 169 articles in the Instrument of Government Act. The other three acts of the Constitution contain a further 198 articles.

Constitutions are even more difficult to change in Nordic countries than elsewhere. In all four countries a proposal must be submitted and approved during the life of a first Parliament, and then be reconsidered and adopted by

350

OECD JOURNAL ON BUDGETING – VOLUME 4 – NO. 3 – ISSN 1608-7143 – © OECD 2004

 

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