Politics of DenmarkThe politics of Denmark take place within the framework of a parliamentary representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy and a decentralised unitary state in which the monarch of Denmark, Queen Margrethe II, is the head of state. Denmark is a nation state. Danish politics and governance are characterized by a common striving for broad consensus on important issues, within both the political community and society as a whole.
Danish RealmThe Danish Realm (Danmarks Rige; Danmarkar Ríki; Danmarkip Naalagaaffik), officially the Kingdom of Denmark (Kongeriget Danmark; Kongsríki Danmarkar; Kunngeqarfik Danmarki), is a sovereign state located in Northern Europe and North America. It consists of metropolitan Denmark—the kingdom's territory in continental Europe and sometimes called "Denmark proper" (egentlige Danmark)—and the realm's two autonomous regions: the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
Constitution of DenmarkThe Constitutional Act of the Realm of Denmark (Danmarks Riges Grundlov), also known as the Constitutional Act of the Kingdom of Denmark, or simply the Constitution (Grundloven, Grundlógin, Tunngaviusumik inatsit), is the constitution of the Kingdom of Denmark, applying equally in the Realm of Denmark: Denmark proper, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The first democratic constitution was adopted in 1849, replacing the 1665 absolutist constitution. The current constitution is from 1953.
Prime Minister of DenmarkThe prime minister of Denmark (Danmarks statsminister, Forsætisráðharri, Ministeriuneq) is the head of government in the Kingdom of Denmark comprising the three constituent countries: Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Before the creation of the modern office, the kingdom did not initially have a head of government separate from its head of state, namely the monarch, in whom the executive authority was vested. The Constitution of 1849 established a constitutional monarchy by limiting the powers of the monarch and creating the office of premierminister.
Nordic countriesThe Nordic countries (also known as the Nordics or Norden; lit. 'the North') are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic. It includes the sovereign states of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden; the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland; and the autonomous region of Åland. The Nordic countries have much in common in their way of life, history, religion and social structure. They have a long history of political unions and other close relations but do not form a singular entity today.
Faroe IslandsThe Faroe or Faeroe Islands (ˈfɛəɹoʊ ), or simply the Faroes (Føroyar ˈfœɹjaɹ; Færøerne ˈfeɐ̯ˌøˀɐnə), is a North Atlantic island group and an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. They are located north-northwest of the United Kingdom, and about halfway between Norway ( away) and Iceland ( away). The islands form part of the Kingdom of Denmark, along with mainland Denmark and Greenland. The islands have a total area of about with a population of 54,000 as of June 2022. The capital and largest city is Tórshavn.
NaalakkersuisutNaalakkersuisut (Cabinet of Greenland, Grønlands Regering) is the chief executive body and the government of Greenland since the island became self-governing in 1979. An autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland is a parliamentary representative democratic territory, in which the premier (Naalakkersuisut Siulittaasuat) leads the cabinet, and of a multi-party system. There are around 10 members of the Cabinet, known as "Ministers" (Naalakkersuisut), all of whom are also heads of specific government ministries.
AlthingThe Alþingi (ˈalˌθiɲcɪ; ), anglicised as Althingi or Althing, is the supreme national parliament of Iceland. It is one of the oldest surviving parliaments in the world. The Althing was founded in 930 at Þingvellir ('thing fields' or 'assembly fields'), situated approximately east of what later became the country's capital, Reykjavík. After Iceland's union with Norway in 1262, the Althing lost its legislative power, which was not restored until 1903 when Iceland gained Home Rule from Denmark.
Thing (assembly)A thing, also known as a folkmoot, assembly, tribal council, and by other names, was a governing assembly in early Germanic society, made up of the free people of the community presided over by a lawspeaker. Things took place at regular intervals, usually at prominent places that were accessible by travel. They provided legislative functions, as well as being social events and opportunities for trade. In modern usage, the meaning of this word in English and other languages has shifted to mean not just an assemblage of some sort but simply an object of any sort.
LøgtingThe Løgting (pronounced ˈlœktɪŋɡ; Lagtinget) is the unicameral parliament of the Faroe Islands, an autonomous territory within the Danish Realm. The name literally means "Law Thing"—that is, a law assembly—and derives from Old Norse lǫgþing, which was a name given to ancient assemblies. A ting or þing has existed on the Faroe Islands for over a millennium and the Løgting was the highest authority on the islands in the Viking era.