Draft resolutions, bills and white papers

Draft resolutions, bills and white papers are documents that the Government presents to the Storting. They are drawn up by the ministries, and are discussed by the King in Council, before being sent to the Storting.

Draft resolutions and bills (Prop.) form the basis for the Storting’s consideration of proposed resolutions, new legislation or amendments to legislation, the budget, or other such matters that require a decision by the Storting.

White papers (Meld.St.) are drawn up when the Government wishes to present matters to the Storting that do not require a decision. White papers tend to be in the form of a report to the Storting on the work carried out in a particular field and future policy. These documents, and the subsequent discussion of them in the Storting, often form the basis of a draft resolution or bill at a later stage.