Styreformen

Styreformen is the term used in Norwegian and Danish to denote the form of government or constitutional order of a state. It describes how political power is distributed and exercised, the rules that govern the conduct of government, and the institutions through which citizens influence public decision-making. The concept covers the structure of government (the executive, the legislature, the judiciary), the source of political legitimacy (constitutions, elections), and the protection of fundamental rights and the rule of law.

Common categories of styreformen include democracy versus non-democracy, autocracy, and hybrid or semi-democratic systems. Within democracy, further distinctions exist between parliamentary systems (where the executive is accountable to the legislature and typically led by a prime minister), presidential systems (where the president is separately elected and has significant executive powers), and mixed or semi-presidential arrangements.

Structural forms such as unitary states and federal states describe how sovereignty is allocated between central and regional authorities, which affects governance and policy implementation. The term is frequently used in comparative politics and constitutional debates to assess legitimacy, accountability, and the balance between efficiency and representation.

In Scandinavia, styreformen is often described as a constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy, with ceremonial monarchies and governments formed through parliamentary support. Changes to the styreformen typically require constitutional procedures and broad political consensus.

See also: form of government; constitutional law; political system.