The
{Link without Title} , or ''Folketinget'', is the national
Parliament of
Denmark . The name literally means the People's
Ting - that is, the people's governing assembly.
From
1849 to
1953 the ''Folketing'' was one of the two houses in the
Bicameral parliament known as the ''
Rigsdag ''; the other house was known as the ''
Landsting ''. Since both houses, in principle, had equal power, the terms "upper house" and "lower house" were not used. The difference between the houses was voter representation.
The Folketing was elected by common vote and consisted mainly of independent farmers, traders and merchants as well as the educated classes (i.e. the
Liberal forces of society). From
1866 to
1915 the right of vote for the Landsting was restricted to the wealthiest, and some of its members were even appointed by the king, thus it predominantly represented the old aristocracy and other conservatives. From
1915 the Landsting was also elected by common vote, although indirectly and with a higher age limit than for the Folketing. During the next decades, law making mainly took place in the Folketing and the Landsting came to be regarded as a superfluous rubber stamp.
In
1953 the people by popular vote adopted a revised constitution. Among the changes was the elimination of the Landsting and the introduction of a
Unicameral parliament, known only as the Folketing.
Christiansborg Castle has been the domicile of parliament since 1849. The palace is located in the heart of
Copenhagen .
- The Folketing consists of 179 members all elected for a four-year term or until the Prime Minister (via the Queen-in-council) calls for elections, whichever comes first. Greenland and the Faroe Islands each elect 2 members separately.
- Members are elected in accordance with the principle of proportional majority.
- The Constitution requires for "equal representation of the various opinions of the electorate", and for regional representaion to be secured. The electoral act stipulates the details for this: 135 seats are elected by proportional representation in 17 districts, and 40 supplementary seats are allotted to make out for the difference between district and nation-wide vote.
- The result is proportional representation; however, in rare cases, the biggest parties may gain one or two seats extra from smaller parties.
- The voter may vote for a party list, one of the candidates on a party list, or an independent candidate.
- Parties (usually district party assemblies) decide on the nomination of candidates before the election. When co-nomination is assigned, candidates are elected according to personal votes. When priority order is assigned, only an extreme number of personal votes can change the rank.
- Parties must pass the Threshold , 2 % of the national vote, to gain any seats. A party below the threshold will, however, be able to be represented by way of district seats if it is very strong in one region. This has happened for the German minority party and in very rare cases for other parties.
- To contest an election, parties which are not currently represented in Parliament must collect certificates of support from ca. 20,000 voters (number of votes equivalent to one seat) and have these individually stamped by the registration offices in these voters' municipalities of residence.
- Denmark has universal suffrage for all citizens over 18 years who live in the realm and who have not been declared incapable of managing their own affairs. The constitution makes it possible to restrict suffrage for convicted criminals and people receiving social benefits, but this option has not been used for several decades.
- All voters who have not been convicted of criminal acts, making them unworthy for a seat in the parliament, are eligible. The Folketing decides if a member is eligible or not (after his election).
- The constitution does not mention political parties at all, although the electoral act does, and MPs are virtually always elected for a party. The only independent who has been elected in modern times is the comedian Jacob Haugaard , but independents, usually unknown ones, are seen at every election. Requirements for standing as an independent candidate are much smaller than for a new party, but independents are only allowed to contest in a single district, making it very difficult to gain the needed number of votes for a seat.
- Members enjoy , provided that the Folketing doesn't lift the immunity. The purpose of this is to prevent political persecution. In practice, the Folketing has always lifted the immunity when a member has been accused of a crime, usually with the consent of the accused member himself.
- Debates can be conducted behind closed doors, although this hasn't happened since 9 April 1940 , day of the German invasion in WW II.
- Ministers may hold a seat in parliament, but they don't need to. Supreme Court judges - according to convention - may not hold a seat whilst also acting as judges.
- Ministers may - even if they are not MPs - demand talking time whenever they want.
- Bills may be brought before parliament by members ( Private Bill s) and ministers. Bills are predominantly brought before parliament by ministers, since they have the Law Office of the Ministry of Justice at their disposal. Instead of putting forward a private bill, the opposition usually put forward a proposal for parliamentary decision, i.e. a short resolution which addresses the subject and directs the relevant minister to propose a bill concerning it.
