Forvaltnings

Forvaltnings is a Scandinavian term used to denote administration or governance, particularly in public and organizational contexts. In Danish and Norwegian, forvaltnings functions as an attributive form linked to the noun forvaltning, meaning administration, governance, or the execution of laws and policies. The term is most often encountered as a prefix in compound terms rather than as a standalone concept.

The word originates from the verb forvalte, to manage or govern, with the noun forming the concept of organized, ongoing administration. As a combining form, forvaltnings- appears in a range of terms that describe specific administrative domains, procedures, or bodies. Common examples include forvaltningsrett (administrative law), forvaltningsorgan (administrative body), forvaltningspraksis (administrative practice), and forvaltningskostnader (administrative costs).

In public administration, forvaltnings concerns the implementation of laws, provision of public services, regulatory supervision, and interaction with citizens. It encompasses the routines, rules, and structures through which government authorities operate, as opposed to the policy-making and political processes. The field of forvaltningsrett in particular governs how authorities act, the rights of individuals in dealing with public agencies, transparency, due process, and accountability.

The concept is used across Scandinavian administrations at municipal, regional, and national levels. Related terms include administrative ethics, administrative procedure, and public administration. While closely linked to governance, forvaltnings emphasizes the machinery and practice of running organizations and states rather than political decision-making. See also administrative law, public administration, and bureaucracy.