Matters Archive
The Matters Archive contains information about the matters considered by the Norwegian Parliament (Storting). Each record describes one matter, including its title, type, committee, recommendation and references, together with the matter's proceedings, topics, proposers and rapporteurs.
For more recent data (from session 131, 1986–1987) the Storting's own matter numbering is used, with one record per matter. Older matters were numbered per agenda for each meeting day, so a matter considered in several rounds could be given several identifiers. A matter is registered once it has been finally considered, and the data is updated per session.
About the Matters Archive
The Matters Archive documents the matters considered by the Norwegian Parliament (Storting). The register is built around a main table with one record per matter, supplemented by separate tables for proceedings, topics, proposers and rapporteurs.
The archive consists of five tables:
- sto_sak – the main table, with one record per matter (title, matter type, committee, recommendation, reference, etc.).
- sto_sak_behandling – the consideration of each matter; a matter can be considered in several rounds.
- sto_sak_emner – which topics each matter concerns.
- sto_sak_forslagsstillere – the proposers behind each matter.
- sto_sak_saksordforere – the rapporteurs for each matter.
For more recent data the Storting's own numbering is used, with one record per matter. In earlier times matters were numbered per agenda each day, so a matter considered in several rounds could be given several identifiers. A matter is not registered until it has been finally considered, and the data is updated per session.
Identifiers
The tables are linked together by the matter's identifiers:
- sak: the archive's own sequential matter number. It is unique each time the matter is under consideration, also between the Storting, the Odelsting and the Lagting. The numbering starts at 1 for the first matter in session 0 (1814).
- sto_id_sak: the Storting's own identification of the matter. Available from session 131 (1986–1987) onwards, and NULL for older matters.
- saknr_kart: numbering based on the agenda for a meeting day. Used for older matters where sto_id_sak is NULL. It is derived from the Voting Archive and is not necessarily unique.
Background
For more recent matters (from session 131, 1986–1987 onwards) the Storting's own matter numbering (sto_id_sak) is used. The matters from 1814–1940 are taken from the archive of older votes (the Voting Archive 1814–1940). The data is updated per session, and this may change if other update routines are introduced.
Data Quality
The register is not complete. Newly registered older matters are given increasing matter numbers.
For the period 1814–1940 most matters are missing, including all those where there were no votes. Because there is no indicator of whether two votes belong to the same matter, each vote is registered as a separate matter. An example is the meeting on 24 June 1937: of the 17 matters on the agenda, only matter 16 is registered in the Matters Archive – the recommendation from the Church and Education Committee on new orthography – and it is registered as three different matters because there were three votes. A review of the Storting records (Stortingstidende) is required to establish a correct matters archive for this period.
saknr_kart is derived from the Voting Archive and is not necessarily unique. The implicit date in saknr_kart usually corresponds to the actual date of consideration, but not always.
Use
The Matters Archive makes it possible to follow a matter through its consideration in the Storting, and to link the matter to:
- the proceedings it has been through (sto_sak_behandling)
- the topics it concerns (sto_sak_emner, code in i_storting_emner)
- the proposers (sto_sak_forslagsstillere, code in i_politikere)
- the rapporteurs (sto_sak_saksordforere, code in i_politikere)
- the committee that gave the recommendation (code in i_stortingskomite)
Through saknr_kart the matters can also be linked to the Voting Archive.
Sources
- The Storting (stortinget.no) – the publication reference points to the Storting's website
- Stortingstidende (the Parliamentary journal)
- The Voting Archive (for matters 1814–1940)
- Reference tables: i_politikere, i_stortingskomite, i_storting_emner
Variable Description
Main table, which contains information about each matter. For more recent data we use the Storting's numbering, where each matter has one id and one record per matter. In earlier times, matters were numbered per agenda each day, so matters considered in several rounds would receive several identifiers. A matter is not registered until it has been finally considered. Updates are made per session. This may change if other update routines are introduced.
Sequential identification number for matters as they come up. The number is unique each time the matter is under consideration, also between the Storting, the Odelsting and the Lagting. The numbering starts at 1 for the first matter in session 0 in 1814, and then increases for the remaining matters in the matter register. The register is, however, not complete, and newly registered older matters are given increasing numbers.
The Storting's sequential identification of the matter. NULL for older matters, before session 131 (1986–1987).
The original sto_id_sak that was submitted. NULL for older matters, before session 131 (1986–1987).
Numbering of the matters based on the numbering within a meeting day in the Storting, in the format YYYYSNNN (1814–1940) or YYYY-MM-DD-KKK-NN (1979–2010). The implicit date usually corresponds to the actual date of consideration, but not always. Not necessarily unique; saknr_kart is derived from the Voting Archive and may have several matters linked to it.
Is 1 for the Storting in plenary, 2 for the Odelsting.
Numeric code for the committee that has processed the matter and given its recommendation. See the table i_stortingskomite for details.
The Storting's sequential identification of the recommendations within chamber and session, there called id_innstilling. Example: 'inno-200809-132'.
- Starts with 'innb' for a budget recommendation, 'inno' for a recommendation to the Odelsting and 'inns' for everything else.
- Date of the recommendation, in the format YYMMDD.
- Three-digit sequential number within the session, with separate series for recommendations to the Storting and to the Odelsting.
The basis for the matter, such as a proposition, recommendation, etc. Example: 'Dokument 8:273 S (2024–2025), Innst. 444 S (2024–2025)'.
The full title of the matter.
One of the following values:
- alminneligsak – general matter
- budsjett – budget
- lovsak – legislative matter
One of the following values:
- dokumentserien – document series
- grunnlovsforslag – constitutional amendment proposal
- innberetning – official report
- innstillingssaker – recommendation matters
- melding – report to the Storting
- proposisjon – proposition
- representantforslag – representative proposal
Is 'innstilling_l' for laws and 'innstilling_s' for other types of recommendation. Usually corresponds to the matter type, but not always. Not always filled in.
Each record contains information about the consideration of a matter. Each matter can be considered in several rounds.
The matters from 1814–1940 are taken from the archive of older votes. Most matters from these years are missing, including all those where there were no votes. Each matter may also be registered several times, since we have no indicator of whether two votes belong to the same matter; the solution is then to register each vote as a matter. An example of this is from the meeting on 24 June 1937. Of the 17 matters on the agenda, only matter 16 is registered in the Matters Archive: the recommendation from the Church and Education Committee on new orthography. In return, this matter is registered as three different matters, since there were three votes. A review of the Storting records (Stortingstidende) is required to establish a correct matters archive.
Sequential identification number for matters as they come up. The number is kept if the same matter comes up for new consideration on a new agenda. NOT NULL.
The Storting's sequential identification of the matter. NULL for older matters, before session 131 (1986–1987).
Numbering of the matters within a day in the Storting. Used for older matters where sto_id_sak is NULL.
Date of consideration in the Storting. Corresponds to the date in the Storting records (Stortingstidende). Usually corresponds to saknr_kart when this is in use, but the implicit date in saknr_kart may be wrong. The date of the vote may also lie somewhat later. This happens when the meeting extends past midnight or when the vote is retaken in the following meeting.
Matters from 1814–1940 lack a date but have a year. The year is therefore always given here, in addition to being part of the date in the cases where a date is available. NOT NULL.
The relevant Storting session. NOT NULL.
Numbering of the agenda for the relevant session and chamber. Corresponds to the numbering in the Storting records (Stortingstidende). 'Dagsorden' (agenda) is synonymous with 'kart'.
Numbering of the matters within the relevant agenda. 'Kart' is synonymous with 'dagsorden' (agenda).
What the consideration consists of. We use the Storting's classification.
- BEH1LOV – Bill, first reading in the Storting.
- BEH2LOV – Bill, second reading in the Storting.
- BEH3LOV – Bill, third reading in the Storting.
- BEHO – Bill, first reading in the Odelsting.
- BEHO2 – Bill, second reading in the Odelsting.
- BEHS – General matter in the Storting.
Reference to the Storting's website for this consideration.
Which topics each of the matters concerns.
Sequential identification number for matters as they come up. The number is kept if the same matter comes up for new consideration on a new agenda.
The Storting's sequential identification of the matter. NULL for older matters.
Numbering of the matters within a day in the Storting. Used for older matters where sto_id_sak is NULL.
Code for topic, index in i_storting_emner.
The proposers behind each of the matters, one row per matter per person.
Sequential identification number for matters as they come up. The number is kept if the same matter comes up for new consideration on a new agenda.
The Storting's sequential identification of the matter. NULL for older matters.
Numbering of the matters within a day in the Storting. Used for older matters where sto_id_sak is NULL.
Code for proposer, index in the table i_politikere.
The rapporteurs for each of the matters, one row per matter per person.
Sequential identification number for matters as they come up. The number is kept if the same matter comes up for new consideration on a new agenda.
The Storting's sequential identification of the matter. NULL for older matters.
Numbering of the matters within a day in the Storting. Used for older matters where sto_id_sak is NULL.
Code for rapporteur, index in the table i_politikere.