Editing Constitution of Norway (section)

==Rituals relating to the Constitution==

===Constitution Day===
{{Main|Norwegian Constitution Day}}
17 May, the date of the signing of the constitution, is celebrated as [[Norwegian Constitution Day]] with the school children's [[Flag of Norway|flag]] parades. In the capital Oslo, the parade passes the [[Royal Palace, Oslo|Royal Palace]] where thousands of schoolchildren wave to the [[Harald V of Norway|King]] and [[Queen Sonja of Norway|Queen]]. A notable feature of the Norwegian Constitution Day celebration is the virtual absence of any military parades, the day being almost wholly a civilian celebration.

===The State Opening of the Parliament===
Each autumn the Storting is formally opened by the King. In an election year, the session starts with representatives for each county being formally recognised as the lawful representatives. This happens every fourth year (the Norwegian Constitution does not allow for intra-period [[snap election]]s).

After the session is opened and a secretary and president are elected for the period, the King addresses the representatives with the {{Lang|no|Trontale}} ('Speech from the Throne') in his capacity as formal head of state. The {{Lang|no|Trontale}} summarizes the government's program for the coming year, and while delivered by the King, is written by the sitting government.<ref>{{cite web|last=L.H.|first=Barstad|title=The State Opening of the Storting|date=2 October 2013 |url=http://www.stortinget.no/en/In-English/About-the-Storting/News-archive/Front-page-news/2013-2014/THE-STATE-OPENING-OF-THE-STORTING/|publisher=Stortinget (official Parliament website)|access-date=29 November 2013}}</ref> The {{Lang|no|Trontale}} is followed by a general debate, where the opposition states their main points for the year to come. Following the debate, the youngest member of the cabinet reads The Report on the State of the Realm.<ref>{{cite web|last=Måseide|first=T.|title=The Report on the State of the Realm|url=http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/smk/documents/The-Report-on-the-State-of-the-Realm.html?id=87168|work=Office of the Prime Minister|date=4 October 2006 |publisher=Government.no|access-date=29 November 2013}}</ref>