County council (Norway)

A County Council (Norwegian: Fylkesting) is the highest governing body of the county municipalities in Norway. The county council sets the scope of the county municipal activity. The council is led by a chairman or county mayor (fylkesordfører). It is common for members of a county council to also sit on municipal councils, but very rare that they also hold legislative (Storting) or other government office, without a leave of absence.

History

The county council has its roots in the Amtsformandskabet created in 1837. Starting in 1964, members of the county councils were appointed by the municipal councils. In 1975, the first general elections were held for the county councils.