It is important to reconcile municipal self-governance and local democracy with the national principles of equality and rule of law that are applicable to all Norwegian residents.
The County Governor is authorised to monitor municipal activities. Three or more members of a municipal council may together send a decision to the County Governor to check that it is lawful. The County Governor can also, of its own initiative, examine cases to ensure their legality. The County Governor checks that the decision has been reached in a lawful way, that it has been made by the correct body and that the contents of the decision are in accordance with the applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.