| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Folketinget / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the Danish Parliament |
| Term |
- duration: 1 year at the beginning of every sessional year (October), may be re-elected;
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death |
| Appointment |
- elected by the Members of the Folketing, at the opening of every session and when the Folketing meets for the first time after a general election
- after the approval of the validity of the general election |
| Eligibility |
all Members are eligible, notified by parties |
| Voting system |
- vote may be omitted if there is only one candidate and there are no objections to this candidate
- vote by public ballot, usually (may be secret if the Folketing so decides)
- if one of the Members nominated gets more than half of the votes cast, he/she is elected - if not, another free vote is held - if this does not result in the said majority of votes either, a third vote is held - the third vote is confined to the two candidates who received the largest number of votes during the second vote, and lots will be drawn in the event of a parity of votes. |
| Procedures / results |
- the most senior Member presides over the Assembly during the voting, at the opening of a sessional year
- the tellers count the votes and notify the Speaker of the result
- the most senior Member announces the results without any delay
- 60 Members can request in writing and with at least 3 days' notice a new election for the Speakership |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks third in the hierarchy of State, after the Head of State and the Leader of the Government
- represents the Assembly with the public authorities
- is ex officio chairman of the Folketing committees
- in the absence of the Speaker, one of the Deputy-Speakers (and in their absence, one of the tellers) can assume his/her role and functions |
| Board |
- the Presidium consists of the Speaker and the 4 Deputy Speakers:
- the Standing Orders Committee (SOC) consists 21 Members who are ex officio Members and whose chairman is the Speaker); the other 16 Members are elected on a pro rata basis, every year at Membersthe opening of the session and after a general election
- meets when necessary when convened by the Speaker
- the Speaker has the final say in most matters - in some matters, the SOC must be consulted |
| Material facilities |
- special allowance equivalent to that for a Minister (DKK 380 703 per annum)
- right to a pension as a former Speaker
- official residence in the parliamentary building
- official car with a driver
- secretariat
- general administrative services |
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study - the Folketing can, if it so desires, refers bills to other committees than those recommended by the Speaker (this very rarely occurs) |
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Assembly
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum after the vote
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly, according to precedents |
| Special powers |
- the Presidium discusses proposals for the Folketing's budget and submits a recommendation to the SOC
- employs and dismisses civil servants and other employees in the administration
- employs and dismisses senior civil servants (including the Clerk) after discussion with the 4 Deputy Speakers and following approval by the SOC
- manages the organization of the internal affairs in consultation with the 4 Deputy Speakers
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber |
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- can take the floor in legislative debates
- can cut off a debate which goes too far in relation to the bill which is being debated
- takes part in voting
- normally does not propose bills or amendments except in special cases such as bills which concerns parliamentary conditions
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- signs the laws together with one of the tellers and transmits them to the appropriate Ministry |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
