Denmark today is a democracy and a monarchy at the same time. But it is a constitutional monarchy, which means that the power of the monarch is limited by the Constitutional Act.
The reigning monarch, Queen Margrethe II, has no political power. She does not interfere in political life or express political opinions. Yet, she does perform certain official functions related to political life, such as attending the opening of the Danish Parliament, signing laws that have been passed, and formally appointing the Prime Minister.
The Constitutional Act is the most important piece of legislation in Denmark, and all other laws must comply with it.
The division of power
As in many other democracies, the Danish Constitutional Act divides power into three independent branches in order to prevent the abuse of power. In Denmark, the Danish Parliament is the legislative power, enacting the laws of the country. The Government is the executive power, ensuring that laws are implemented. And the courts of law are the judicial power, pronouncing judgements in disputes between citizens and between the authorities and citizens.
Amendments to the Constitutional Act
The Constitutional Act of Denmark is one of the oldest constitutions in the world. It has only been amended a few times since it was enacted in 1849. This is partly because making an amendment is a rather complex procedure, requiring that both the Danish Parliament and the Danish people agree to it. However, another important reason is that the wording in the Constitutional Act is so general that it can still be applied today, despite major changes in society and political life over the past 160 years.
The Origin of the Constitutional Act
From 1660 to 1848, Denmark was an absolute monarchy, a form of government that was the norm in many European countries at the time. In the 18th century, however, there was growing opposition to absolute monarchy in Europe. People demanded the right to decide how their countries should be governed, and monarchies were overthrown in several countries and replaced by republics.
As international developments began to accelerate, King Christian VIII decided that Denmark should also have a free constitution. Before he died in 1848, he therefore ordered his son, Frederik VII to promise the Danish people a new constitution that guaranteed them freedom and equality and prevented any one person from having unlimited power.
It was signed by King Frederik VII on June 5, 1849. This date is therefore known in Denmark as Constitution Day and is celebrated every year as a national holiday with political meetings held throughout the country. The painting above is from that very day in 1849, and can be seen at The Museum of National History in Copenhagen.
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