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major changes in the structure and function of Danish national politics. The upper chamber of parliament, the Landsting, was abolished, as was the overall parliament name, Rigsdag. The new unicameral parliament is called the Folketing. The voting age was reduced from 25 to 23 years, and subsequently in 1961, by amendment, to 21. The popular referendum was introduced, thereby enabling minorities of one-third or more of the parliamentary membership to transfer the final decision on most categories of national legislation to the electorate. Requirements for amending the Constitution were eased, and in a highly controversial move provision was made for the ultimate delegation of powers, normally the prerogative of national authorities, to supranational authorities established in the furtherance of international law and cooperation.
Parliamentary rule, as opposed to executive fiat, was guaranteed by a provision that no minister may remain in office after a vote of no confidence. It a vote of censure is passed against the Prime Minister, the government must resign. Parliament was given the authority to appoint one or two public affairs commissioners (ombudsman), whose functions is to investigate complaints by citizens against the manner in which state and local officials observe and apply the nation's laws. By a separate Act of Succession of 1953, the line of succession to the throne was broadened to include females, though with male heirs still receiving precedence. Constitution Day, celebrated annually on 5 June, commemorates constitutional evolution in Denmark.
3. Executive
The Danes, while explicitly spelling out several innovations in the 1953 Constitution, left intact such portions of their basic law as seemingly provide for the dominance of the King (now Queen) in the entire scheme of government. Thus, the Constitution in theory gives the Crown wide powers and broad discretion in their use. It states that the Monarch holds legislative power jointly with the Folketing, and that he possesses the supreme executive authority in all national affairs and expresses it through his ministers.[1] Figure 1 broadly outlines government organization in Denmark.
The Constitution merely perpetuates the polite fiction that the Crown rules, as well as reigns. In fact, the Queen, although not quite powerless, is very nearly so. It is the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, acting in the Queen's name, which exercise the bulk of the executive power. Probably the Queen's most significant independent power lies in her right to appoint the Prime Minister and the Cabinet ministers. But here, the Queen must consult with parliamentary leaders to determine the public will, since the Cabinet may be dismissed by a vote of no confidence in the
FIGURE 1. Structure of government (U/OU) (chart)
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- ↑ For a current listing of key government officials please consult Chiefs of State and Cabinet Structure of Foreign Governments, published monthly by the Directorate of Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency.
