Althing

The Althing (written Alþing according to the C-W communication Icelandic E - Icelandic name Alþingi ) is the Parlement Unicaméral of the Iceland.

The current Icelandic Parliament, Althing, was founded in 1845, at the origin as a consultative body near the king of Denmark. This new institution was regarded as a reincarnation of old Althing, founded in 930 - and thus considered as oldest Parlement Western and dismantled in 1800 by Danish monarchy absolutist. Althing nowadays includes/understands 63 members, elected by the Icelandic citizens every four years.

Origins

According to the tradition, towards 920, the Icelandic chiefs brought together with the Thing of Kjalarnes send Ulfjótr in Norway to study the code of law written by the Thing of Guli (law of Gulating). It adapts this legal text to Iceland. A general meeting gathering the free men of all the regions of Iceland (in fact only landowners), Althing, must meet from now on once per annum in the valley of the Thversá, in the south of the lake Öllufsvatn. Its very first president elected for three years, the lögsögumadhr (" that which says the loi"), was Hrafn Hoengsson. Althing has the Legislative power and legal for the whole of Iceland. No Executive power is envisaged at the national level, but each local grouping is subjected to the authority of a Gódhi, chief civil and religious, who plays an active role in the operation of the local assemblies (Thing).

Althing, which meets each year in June, lasts fifteen days and is the occasion of a true popular holiday: plays, dances, combat of horses (Hestavíg), recitations of poems, reading of the Saga S.

History

  • 930 - 1262: the first occupants Viking S organized an annual National Assembly, Althing, also with legal functions.

  • 1262 - 1845: with the tender with the Norway granted by the Gamli sáttmáli in 1262, the function of Althing is deeply modified and in 1800 its role is entirely transferred at a High Court of justice.

  • 1845 - 1874: it is restored and functions like a Consultative Assembly for the Kingdom of Denmark until 1874.

  • 1874 -: with the concession of the Constitution of 1874, Althing réacquiert its legislative power.

Last elections

The candidates of five left had been elected in Althing in 2003 (between brackets, number of Député S):

  • Left progress (is Framsóknarflokkur) (12);
  • Liberal party (is Frjálslyndi flokkur) (4);
  • the Alliance (is Samfylking) (20):
  • Left independence (is Sjálfstæðisflokkur) (22);
  • Green Movement of left (is Vinstri hreyfingin - grænt framboð) (5).

In 2007, the result is very shared at the time of the elections of the May 13rd, with a majority of only one seat (32 out of 63) for the old government (Sja and Fram):

See too

  • Official site of the Parliament, in Icelandic, Danish and English
  • the result of the elections in Althing since 1946

Simple: Althing

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