Overensstemme

Overensstemme is a Norwegian term used primarily in political and organizational contexts to describe a vote that is cast in agreement with a prevailing position, a coalition line, or a majority recommendation. The word is formed from overens, meaning in agreement, and stemme, meaning vote or voice. In practice, overensstemme refers to the alignment between an individual vote and the position endorsed by a group, such as a party, parliamentary coalition, or board majority, during a decision-making process.

In parliamentary reporting and political analysis, overensstemme is used to assess cohesion and discipline. A high level of overensstemme indicates that members largely vote in concert with the group’s stance, while deviations from the line can signal dissent, shifts in strategy, or internal disagreement. The concept can apply to votes on laws, budgets, motions, or policy statements and is often discussed alongside other indicators of consensus or cross-party support. It is distinct from abstentions, where a member does not vote, and from votes in opposition, where a member votes against the proposal.

Usage notes: the term is most common in formal discourse and media coverage of legislative or organizational decision-making. It is less likely to appear in everyday conversation and may be unfamiliar to audiences outside Norwegian political or administrative contexts.

See also: party discipline, consensus, majority voting, parliamentary procedure.