Editing Politics of Norway (section)

=== Historical Context of Public Participation ===
Norway’s transition to a constitutional monarchy in 1814 marked the beginning of its participatory governance system. The 1814 Norwegian Constitution established foundational democratic principles such as the separation of powers, free elections, and civil liberties.<ref name=":3" /> Over time, Norway has continuously refined its governance mechanisms to ensure that citizens remain active participants in the democratic process. 

In 1837, the enactment of the ''[[:no:Formannskapslovene|Formannskapslovene]]'' (Municipalities Act) established local self-governance, granting municipalities significant autonomy and encouraging grassroots public participation.<ref>{{Citation |last=Grindheim |first=Jan Erik |title=Norway |date=2021 |work=European Regions, 1870 – 2020: A Geographic and Historical Insight into the Process of European Integration |pages=99–113 |editor-last=Martí-Henneberg |editor-first=Jordi |url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-61537-6_10 |access-date=2025-01-28 |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-61537-6_10 |isbn=978-3-030-61537-6}}</ref> This system allowed municipal councils to address local issues independently, fostering robust local governance. Over time, the role of municipal councils has remained central to public participation, enabling citizens to engage directly with local governance and decision-making processes.