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2 Justice 3 From the CIA factbook |
Government
Denmark is a constitutional monarchy with an unbroken link of monarchs for more than 1000 years (except for an interregnum of eight years 1332-1340). The current monarch, Queen Margaret II, has largely ceremonial functions; probably her most significant formal power lies in her right to appoint the statsminister (prime minister) and cabinet ministers, who are responsible for administration of the government. However, she must consult with parliamentary leaders to determine the public's will, since the cabinet may be dismissed by a vote of no confidence in the Folketing (Parliament). Cabinet members are occasionally recruited from outside the Folketing.
Between 1849 and 1953, the Folketing was the lower house of the bicameral Rigsdag, the upper house being the Lagting, which was indirectly elected. However, the 1953 Constitution established a unicameral Folketing of not more than 179 members, of whom two are elected from the Faroe Islands and two from Greenland. Elections are held at least every four years, but the prime minister can dissolve the Folketing at any time and call for new elections. Folketing members are elected by a complicated system of proportional representation; any party receiving at least 2% of the total national vote receives representation. The result is a multiplicity of parties (8 currently in parliament), none of which holds a majority of its own. Electorate participation lies normally above 85%.
Denmark is divided into 14 counties (amter) and 275 municipalities (kommuner). The chief official of the amt, the county mayor (amtsborgmester), is elected by the county council from among its members, according to the municipal reform of 1970. The cities of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg function as both counties and municipalities.
The Faroe Islands and Greenland enjoy home rule, with the Danish Government represented locally by high commissioners. These home-rule governments are responsible for most domestic affairs, with foreign relations, monetary affairs, and defense falling to the Danish Government.
The Social Democratic Party, historically identified with a well-organized labor movement but today appealing more broadly to the middle class, has held power either alone in minority cabinets or as dominant party in coalition cabinets for most of the postwar period. 1982 to 1993, and since 2001 Denmark has been governed by liberal-conservative coalitions – currently led by Anders Fogh Rasmussen as Prime Minister.
The vulnerability implicit in a minority coalition has been evidenced in recent coalition failure to achieve consensus on issues such as extensive reforms on matters of labor market, taxation, and the welfare system. Consensus decision-making is the most prominent feature of Danish politics. It often allows the small centrist parties to play a larger role than their size suggests. Although the centrist Radikale party sometimes shows traces of its pacifist past, particularly on defense spending, most major legislation is passed by sizeable majorities.
Since the 1988 elections, which led to a domestic truce on North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and security questions, Denmark's role in the European Union (EU) has come to be a key political issue. Denmark emerged from two referendums (June 2, 1992, and May 18, 1993) with four important exemptions (or "opt-outs") to the Maastricht Treaty on the European Union: common defense, common currency, EU citizenship, and certain aspects of legal cooperation, including law enforcement. However, the Amsterdam Treaty was approved in a referendum May 28, 1998, by a 55% majority.
The court system consists of: 82 County Courts (Byretten); 2 High Courts (Landsretten); 1 Maritime and Commercial Court (Sø- og Handelsretten) as well as the Supreme Court (Højesteret). Furthermore, the Special Court of Indictment and Revision (Den særlige Klageret) deals with cases concerning disciplinary sanctions against judges.
All judges are appointed by the Queen, following recommendations from the Minister of Justice on the advice of the Judicial Appointments Council.
Political conditions
Political life in Denmark is orderly and democratic. Political changes occur gradually through a process of consensus, and political methods and attitudes are generally moderate.
Justice
Main article: Courts_of_Denmark
From the CIA factbook
Country name:
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Denmark
conventional short form:
Denmark
local long form:
Kongeriget Danmark
local short form:
Danmark
Data code: DA
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Copenhagen
Administrative divisions:
metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 2 kommunes*; Aarhus, Bornholm, Frederiksberg*, Frederiksborg, Fyn, København, Københavns*, Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkøbing, Roskilde, Sønderjylland, Storstrøm, Vejle, West Zealand (Vestsjælland), Viborg
note:
in addition there are 275 local municipalities not considered first-order administrative units; see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are part of the Kingdom of Denmark and are self-governing administrative divisions
Independence:
first organized as a unified state in 10th century; since 1849 a constitutional monarchy
National holiday:
Constitution Day (Danish: Grundlovsdag), June 5
Constitution:
1849 was the original constitution; there was a major overhaul June 5, 1953, allowing for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state
Legal system:
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Queen Margaret II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince Frederik, elder son of the monarch (born May 26, 1968). See also: List of Danish monarchs
head of government:
Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen (since 20 November 2001), see also: List of Prime Ministers of Denmark
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the monarch for life
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Folketing (179 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections:
last held 20 november 2001 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - progovernment parties: Liberal Party 56, Conservative Party 16, Danish People's Party 22; opposition: Social Democratic Party 52, Socialist People's Party 12, Social Liberal Party 9, Unity List - Red-Green Alliance 4, Christian People's Party 4, Center Democratic Party 0, Progress Party 0
Political parties and leaders:
Center Democratic Party Mimi Jakobsen; Christian People's Party Jann Sjursen (Jann Sjursen is leaving politics);Conservative People's Party Bendt Bendtsen; Danish People's Party Pia Kjaersgaard (Strong rightwing); Liberal Party Anders Fogh Rasmussen; Social Liberal Party Marianne Jelved; Social Democratic Party Mogens Lykketoft; Socialist People's Party Holger K. Nielsen; Unity List - Red-Green Alliance [no leader]
International organization participation:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, International Maritime Organization, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, Zangger Committee
Flag description:
red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side, and that design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
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