Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/853

 CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT 801

House of SehUavoig-HoUUinSonderburg-Olucksimrg. Christian IX., 1863. Fredcrik VIII., 1906. Christian X., 1912.

Constitution and Government.

The present Constitution of Denmark is founded upon the ' Grundlov (charter) of June 5, 1915, as amended on September 10, 1920. This may in many Tespects be said to be a further development along the lines laid down in the 'Grundlov' of June 5, 1849, the charter which introduced the Constitution in Denmark. The amendments of September 10, 1920, are mostly of a formal character, necessitated by the incorporation of parts of Slesvig in 1920.

According to the present • Grundlov, ' the legislative power lies with the King and the 'Rigsdag' (Diet) join fly. The executive power is vested in the King, who exercises his authority through the ministers. The judicial power is with the courts. The King must be a member of the Evangelical - Lutheran Church, the official Church of the State. The King has not the right of declaring war or signing peace without the consent ot the ' Rigsdag.' The 'Rigsdag' is composed of two bodies: the 'Folketing' (House of Commons) and the 'Landsting' (Senate). All men and women 25 years of age and with a fixed place of abode possess the franchise and are eligible for election. The 'Folketing' is at present composed of 149 members; 117 members are elected by the method of proportional representation in 23 districts. In order to attain an equal representation of the different parties, 31 ' Tillsegsmandater ' (additional seats) are divided among such parties not having obtained sufficient returns at the district elections. One raemUjr is elected for the Faroe Islands by simple majority. The term of the Legislature is four years, but the King has power to dissolve the ' Folketing ' before the end of the four years. The members of the ' Land- sting ' are elected indirectly by the ' Folketing's ' voters of 35 years of age -in the following way. In every ' Folketing's ' district electors in a number corresponding to the population are elected by the method of Proportional Representation. The whole country is divided into six ' Landsting's ' dis- tricts. In each of these the electors elect a number of members of the 'Landsting,' between 10-12. In this way 56 members are elected; one is elected in the Faroe Islands. Moreover, there are 19 members elected by the former ' Landsting,' according to the system of Proportional Representa- tion. The members of the ' Landsting ' sit for a term of eight years. There are elections every fourth year for the half of those elected by the electors, while those elected by the ' Landsting ' go out all at once after an eight year.' term.

The members of the 'Rigsdag' receive 6,000 kr. or 8,000 kr. a year, according to whether their homes are in or outside the capital.

The Rigsdag must meet every year on the first Tuesday in October. To the Folketing all money bills must in the first instance be submitted by the Government. The Landsting, besides its legislative functions, has the duty of appointing from its midst every four years judges who, together with the ordinary members of the Hbiesteret, form the Rigsret, a tribunal who can alone try parliamentary impeachments. The ministers have free access to both of the legislative assemblies, but can only vote in the chamber of which they are members.

The executive (appointed May 4, 1920), acting under the king as president, and called the State Council— Statsraadet— consists of the follow- ing ten departments : —

1 and 2. The Presidency of the Council and Ministry of Finance. — M. Neergaard.