Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/865

 CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT 813

An advisory Danish- Icelandic committee of six members is to be appointed to review Bills of importance to both. States, and also to prepare Bills aiming at co-operation between the two States, After December 31, 1940, the Danish Parliament and the Icelandic Legislature may demand negotiations to be opened concerning the revision of the Union Act.

Denmark has informed the Powers that, in conformity with the Union Act, she recognises Iceland as a sovereign State.

The present constitution of Iceland is embodied in the Charter of May 18, 1920. By the terms of this Charter the executive power belongs to the King, and u exercised by him through responsible ministers, while the legislative \wjwer rests conjointly with the King and the Parliament, which is called Althing. The Althing is composed of 42 members, of whom 36 are elected for the term of 4 years by universal suffrage in constituencies, each electing one or two representatives by simple majority, except the capital, where 4 members are elected by Proportional Representation. The remaining 6 members are elected for the term of 8 years by Proportional Representation for the whole country. The franchise is enjoyed by all Icelandic citizens (men and women) of good reputation (unless they are indebted for poor-relief) who are over 25 years of age and have resided in the country during the previous 5 years. All voters are eligible aa candidates, save only the superior judges.

The Althing is divided into two Houses, the Upper House and the Lower House. The former is composed of 14 members, viz. the 6 members elected by Proportional Representation together with 8 members elected by the whole Althing in common sitting out of the members elected by universal suffrage. The remaining 28 members form the Lower House. The members of the Althing receive payment for their services besides travelling expenses ; members residing in the capital are allowed 8 kronur (8s. lid.) per day, and members residing outside the capital 10 kronur (11*. Id.) per day. This payment has temporarily been raised by 137 per cent.

The Althing must meet on February 15 in every year, unless it is convoked by the King at an earlier date. The Budget Bills must fhst be laid by " the Government before the Lower House, but all other Bills can be introduced in either of the Houses. If the Houses do not agree they assemble in a common sicting, and the final decision is given by a majority of two-thirds of the voters, with the exception of Budget Bills, where a simple majority is sufficient. The ministers have free access to both Houses, but can only vote in the House of which they are members.

The executive power is exercised under the King by a ministry divided into 3 departments. The ministry, appointed February 25, 1920, is as follows : —

President of the Council and Minister of Justice and of Ecclesiastical Affairs — Jon Magnusson.

Minister of Trade and Communications — Pjetur Jdnsson. Minister of Finance — Magnus Gud mundsson.

The ministers are responsible for their acts. They can be impeached by the Althingi, and in that case their cause will be decided by the Landsddmur, a special tribunal, which can only try parliamentary impeachments.

For administrative purposes Iceland is divided into 16 provinces (syslur), each governed by a chief executive functionary (syslumadur). Each province forms one or two municipal districts with a council superintending the rural municipalities (about 200). There are also 7 urban municipalities with a town council, independent of the provinces, and forming by them-