APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110016-6
FIGURE 2. Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen. The royal residence, the seat of the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Chamber of the Folketing. (above) (U/OU) (pictures)
since the inauguration of the unicameral system. The constitution stipulates that there shall be a Foreign Affairs Committee and requires that the executive branch consult it "prior to the making of any decision of major importance to foreign policy." The Folketing decides from term to term what other regularly established committees it shall have. Additionally, ad hoc committees may be formed to study particular bills. The regularly established committees, of which were some 20-odd in the 1972-1973 session, average around 17 members each.
Most of the important bills submitted for Folketing consideration are presented by the government, but private member bills are also allowed. After the first reading of a draft bill, a thorough study of the measure is normally undertaken by the appropriate regularly constituted Folketing committee, a specially appointed ad hoc commission, or in some instances, both. To be enacted a bill must survive critical examination in committee, tough debate on the floor, and three parliamentary readings. Exceptions to this rule are resolutions and treaty ratifications, which normally require only two readings. Final decisions on bills are made by the vote of a simple majority of the parliamentary quorum - constitutionally defined as "more than one half the members." Once passed by the Folketing, the bill is automatically signed by the Monarch and the responsible minister, after which it becomes law.
Control over taxation, the raising of public loans, naturalization of aliens, and the extent to which aliens may own real property are the exclusive concern of the Folketing. In order to preclude hasty consideration, the Constitution prescribes that a finance bill for the coming fiscal year be laid before the Folketing by the government not later than 4 months before the beginning of the new fiscal year. In the event that it appears that the finance bill will not be passed before the commencement of the new fiscal year, a provisional appropriations bill must be introduced by the government for interim authorization by the Folketing. The Constitution prohibits the passage of new tax laws before the Folketing has passed a finance or provisional appropriation bill for the fiscal year affected by the finance measure.
The Danish political system is weighted in favor of parliament. The Folketing has in hand the destiny of any Cabinet or member thereof by its power to bring a vote of no confidence. Parliamentary members, with majority approval, may direct a formal interpellation to a minister. A reply is normally required within 10 days. A member may also seek information from a minister with the possible intent of harassment or embarrassment, by directing a question to him during the weekly parliamentary question hour. The Folketing may appoint special committees to investigate ministerial activities and also may impeach a minister and cause him to be tried by the Court of the Realm. These two procedures, investigation and impeachment, are rarely used.
Another basic source of control over the executive is the Folketing's power of the purse. Through its prerogative to pass on finance bills and then to vote appropriations and taxation measures, parliament
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110016-6
