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Profil Denmark 1. Nama Resmi : Kingdom of Denmark 2. Konstitusi : 5 Juni 1849, 5 Juni 1953 disetujuinya legislatif unikameral dan wanita sebagai pimpinan negara 3. Ibukota Negara : Copenhagen 4. Bahasa Resmi : Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic 5. Bentuk Negara : Federal 6. Sistem Pemerintahan : Monarki Konstitusional 7. Bentuk Pemerintahan : Monarki 8. Kepala Negara : Ratu (Queen) Margrethe II 9. Kepala Pemerintahan : Perdana Menteri 10. Lembaga Legislatif : People’s Assembly atau Folketinget 11. Lembaga Yudikatif : Mahkamah Agung (Supreme Court)

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ProfilDenmark

1. Nama Resmi : Kingdom of Denmark2. Konstitusi : 5 Juni 1849, 5 Juni 1953 disetujuinya legislatif unikameral dan wanita

sebagai pimpinan negara3. Ibukota Negara : Copenhagen4. Bahasa Resmi : Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic5. Bentuk Negara : Federal6. Sistem Pemerintahan : Monarki Konstitusional7. Bentuk Pemerintahan : Monarki8. Kepala Negara : Ratu (Queen) Margrethe II9. Kepala Pemerintahan : Perdana Menteri10. Lembaga Legislatif : People’s Assembly atau Folketinget11. Lembaga Yudikatif : Mahkamah Agung (Supreme Court)

Part I [General Provisions]

Section 1 [Scope]This Constitution applies to all parts of theKingdom of Denmark.

Section 2 [State Form]The form of government shall be that of aconstitutional monarchy. The Royal Power isinherited by men and women in accordance withthe provisions of the Succession to the ThroneAct, 27th March, 1953.

Section 3 [State Powers]The legislative power is jointly vested in the Kingand the Parliament. The executive power is vestedin the King. The judicial power is vested in thecourts of justice.

Section 4 [State Church]The Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be theEstablished Church of Denmark, and, as such, itshall be supported by the State.

Part II [The King]

Section 5 [Reigning no Other Countries]The King shall not reign in other countries exceptwith the consent of the Parliament.Section 6 [Member of the State Church]The King shall be a member of the EvangelicalLutheran Church.

Section 7 [Of Age With 18 Years]The King shall be of age when he has completedhis eighteenth year. The same provision shall applyto the Successor to the Throne.

Section 8 [Sworn on the Constitution]The King, prior to his accession to the Throne,shall make a solemn Declaration in writing beforethe Council of State that he will faithfully adhereto the Constitution Act. Two identical originals ofthe Declaration shall be executed, one of whichshall be handed over to the Parliament to bepreserved in its archives, and the other shall be

Denmark – Constitution

filed in the Public Record Office. Where the Kin,owing to his absence or for other reasons, is unableto sign the aforesaid Declaration immediately onhis accession to the Throne, the government shall,unless otherwise provided by Statute, be conductedby the Council of State until such Declaration hasbeen signed. Where the King already as Successorto the Throne has signed the aforesaid Declaration,he shall accede to the Throne immediately on itsvacancy.

Section 9 [Vacancy of the Throne]Provisions relating to the exercising of sovereignpower in the event of the minority, illness, orabsence of the King shall be laid down by Statute.Where on the vacancy of the Throne there is noSuccessor to the Throne, the Parliament shall electa King and establish the future order of successionto the Throne.

Section 10 [Civil List](1) The Civil List of the King shall be granted

for the duration of his reign by Statute. SuchStatute shall also provide for the castles,palaces, and other State property which shallbe placed at the disposal of the King for hisuse.

(2) The Civil List shall not be chargeable withany debt.

Section 11 [Annuities]Members of the Royal House may be grantedannuities by Statute. Such annuities shall not beenjoyed outside the Realm except with the consentof the Parliament.

Part III [Powers of the King]

Section 12 [Supreme Authority]Subject to the limitations laid down in thisConstitution Act the King shall have the supremeauthority in all the affairs of the Realm, and heshall exercise such supreme authority through theMinisters.

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Section 13 [Responsibility of Ministers]The King shall not be answerable for his actions;his person shall be sacrosanct. The Ministers shallbe responsible for the conduct of the government;their responsibility shall be determined by Statute.

Section 14 [Appointing Ministers]The King shall appoint and dismiss the PrimeMinister and the other Ministers. He shall decideupon the number of Ministers and upon thedistribution of the duties of government amongthem. The signature of the King to resolutionsrelating to legislation and government shall makesuch resolutions valid, provided that the signatureof the King is accompanied by the signature orsignatures of one or more Ministers. A Ministerwho has signed a resolution shall be responsible forthe resolution.

Section 15 [Vote of No Confidence](1) A Minister shall not remain in office after the

Parliament has passed a vote of no confidencein him.

(2) Where the Parliament passes a vote of noconfidence in the Prime Minister, he shallask for the dismissal of the Ministry unlesswrits are to be issued for a general election.Where a vote of censure has been passed ona Ministry, or it has asked for its dismissal, itshall continue in office until a new Ministryhas been appointed. Ministers who continuein office as aforesaid shall do only what isnecessary for the purpose of theuninterrupted conduct of official business.

Section 16 [Impeachment]Ministers may be impeached by the King or theParliament with maladministration of office. TheHigh Court of the Realm shall try cases ofimpeachment brought against Ministers formaladministration of office.

Section 17 [Council of State](1) The body of Ministers shall form the Council

of State, in which the Successor to theThrone shall have a seat when he is of age.The Council of State shall be presided overby the King except in the instance mentionedin Section 8, and in the instances where theLegislature in pursuance of Section 9 may

have delegated the conduct of thegovernment to the Council of State.

(2) All Bills and important government measuresshall be discussed in the Council of State.

Section 18 [Council of Ministers]If the King should be prevented from holding aCouncil of State he may entrust the discussion ofa matter to a Council of Ministers. Such Councilof Ministers shall consist of all the Ministers, andit shall be presided over by the Prime Minister. Thevote of each Minister shall be entered in a minutebook, and any question shall be decided by amajority of votes. The Prime Minister shall submitthe Minutes, signed by the Ministers present, tothe King, who shall decide whether he willimmediately consent to the recommendations ofthe Council of Ministers, or have the matter broughtbefore him in a Council of State.

Section 19 [Foreign Affairs](1) The King shall act on behalf of the Realm in

international affairs. Provided that withoutthe consent of the Parliament the King shallnot undertake any act whereby the territoryof the Realm will be increased or decrease,nor shall he enter into any obligation whichfor fulfillment requires the concurrence ofthe Parliament, or which otherwise is ofmajor importance; nor shall the King, exceptwith the consent of the Parliament, terminateany international treaty entered into with theconsent of the Parliament.

(2) Except for purposes of defence against anarmed attack upon the Realm or Danish forcesthe King shall not use military force againstany foreign state without the consent of theParliament. Any measure which the King maytake in pursuance of this provision shallimmediately be submitted to the Parliament.If the Parliament is not in session it shall beconvoked immediately.

(3) The Parliament shall appoint from among itsMembers a Foreign Affairs Committee, whichthe Government shall consult prior to themaking of any decision of major importanceto foreign policy. Rules applying to theForeign Affairs Committee shall be laid downby Statute.

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Section 20 [Delegation of Powers](1) Powers vested in the authorities of the Realm

under this Constitution Act may, to suchextent as shall be provided by Statute, bedelegated to international authorities set upby mutual agreement with other states forthe promotion of international rules of lawand co-operation.

(2) For the passing of a Bill dealing with theabove a majority of five-sixths of theMembers of the Parliament shall be required.If this majority is not obtained, whereas themajority required for the passing of ordinaryBills is obtained, and if the Governmentmaintains it, the Bill shall be submitted tothe Electorate for approval or rejection inaccordance with the rules for Referenda laiddown in Section 42.

Section 21 [Introduction of Bills]The King may cause Bills and other measures to beintroduced in the Parliament.

Section 22 [Royal Assent]A Bill passed by the Parliament shall become lawif it receives the Royal Assent not later than thirtydays after it was finally passed. The King shall orderthe promulgation of Statutes and shall see to itthat they are carried into effect.

Section 23 [Provisional Laws]In an emergency the King may when the Parliamentcannot assemble, issue provisional laws, providedthat they shall not be at variance with theConstitution Act, and that they shall alwaysimmediately on the assembling of the Parliamentbe submitted to it for approval or rejection.

Section 24 [Prerogative of Mercy andAmnesty]

The King shall have the prerogative of mercy andof granting amnesty. The King may grant Ministersa pardon for sentences passed upon them by theHigh Court of the Realm only with the consent ofthe Parliament.

Section 25 [Grants]The King may either directly or through therelevant Government authorities make such grantsand grant such exemptions from the Statutes as are

either warranted under the rules existing beforethe 5th June, 1849, or have been warranted by aStatute passed since that date.

Section 26 [Coinage]The King may cause money to be coined as providedby Statute.

Section 27 [Appointment of Civil Cervants](1) Rules governing the appointment of civil

servants shall be laid down by Statute. Noperson shall be appointed a civil servant unlesshe is a Danish subject. Civil servants who areappointed by the King shall make a solemndeclaration to the effect that they will adhereto the Constitution Act.

(2) Rules governing the dismissal, transfer, andpensioning of civil servants shall be laid downby Statute, confer Section 64.

(3) Civil servants appointed by the King shallonly be transferred without their consent ifthey do not suffer any loss in the incomeaccruing from their posts or offices, and ifthey have been offered the choice of suchtransfer or retirement on pension under thegeneral rules and regulations.

Part IV [The Parliament]

Section 28 [Membership]The Parliament shall consist of one assembly ofnot more than one hundred and seventy-nineMembers, of whom two Members shall be electedon the Faeroe Islands and two Members inGreenland.

Section 29 [Right to Vote](1) Any Danish subject whose permanent

residence is in the Realm, and who has theage qualification for suffrage provided for inSubsection (2) shall have the right to vote atParliament elections, provided that he hasnot been declared incapable of conductinghis own affairs. It shall be laid down byStatute to what extent conviction and publicassistance amounting to poor relief withinthe meaning of the law shall entaildisfranchisement.

(2) The age qualification for suffrage shall besuch as has resulted from the Referendum

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held under the Act dated the 25th March,1953. Such age qualification for suffrage maybe altered at any time by Statute. A Bill passedby the Parliament for the purpose of suchenactment shall receive the Royal Assent onlywhen the provision on the alteration in theage qualification for suffrage has been put toa Referendum in accordance with Section 42(5), which was not resulted in the rejectionof the provision.

Section 30 [Eligibility for Membership](1) Any person who has a right to vote at

Parliament elections shall be eligible formembership of the Parliament, unless he hasbeen convicted of an act which in the eyesof the public makes him unworthy of beinga Member of the Parliament.

(2) Civil servants who are elected Members ofthe Parliament shall not require permissionfrom the Government to accept their election.

Section 31 [Elections](1) The Members of the Parliament shall be

elected by general and direct ballot.(2) Rules for the exercise of the suffrage shall be

laid down by the Elections Act, which, tosecure equal representation of the variousopinions of the Electorate, shall prescribethe manner of election and decide whetherproportional representation shall be adoptedwith or without elections in single-memberconstituencies.

(3) In determining the number of seats to beallotted to each area regard shall be paid tothe number of inhabitants, the number ofelectors, and the density of population.

(4) The Elections Act shall provide rulesgoverning the election of substitutes and theiradmission to the Parliament, and also rulesfor the procedure to be adopted where a newelection is required.

(5) Special rules for the representation ofGreenland in the Parliament may be laiddown by Statute.

Section 32 [Period](1) The members of the Parliament shall be

elected for a period of four years.

2) The King may at any time issue writs for anew election with the effect that the existingseats be vacated upon a new election.Provided that writs for an election shall notbe issued after the appointment of a newMinistry until the Prime Minister haspresented himself to the Parliament.

(3) The Prime Minister shall cause a generalelection to be held before the expiration ofthe period for which the Parliament has beenelected.

(4) No seats shall be vacated until a new electionhas been held.

(5) Special rules may be provided by Statute forthe commencement and determination ofFaeroe Islands and Greenland representationin the Parliament.

(6) If a Member of the Parliament becomesineligible his seating the Parliament shallbecome vacant.

(7) On approval of his election each newMember shall make a solemn declaration thathe will adhere to the Constitution Act.

Section 33 [Validity of Election]The Parliament itself shall determine the validityof the election of any Member and decide whethera Member has lost his eligibility or not.

Section 34 [Inciolability]The Parliament shall be inviolable. Any person whoattacks its security or freedom, or any person whoissues or obeys any command aiming thereat shallbe deemed guilty of high treason.

Part V [Procedures of the Parliament]

Section 35 [Constitutional Session](1) A newly elected Parliament shall assemble at

twelve o’clock noon on the twelfth week-day after the day of election, unless the Kinghas previously convoked a meeting of itsMembers.

(2) Immediately after the proving of themandates the Parliament shall constituteitself by the election of a President and Vice-Presidents.

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Section 36 [Sessional Year](1) The sessional year of the Parliament shall

commence on the first Tuesday of October,and shall continue until the first Tuesday ofOctober of the following year.

(2) On the first day of the sessional year attwelve o’clock noon the Members shallassemble for a new session of the Parliament.

Section 37 [Location]The Parliament shall meet in the place where theGovernment has its seat. Provided that inextraordinary circumstances the Parliament mayassemble elsewhere in the Realm.

Section 38 [Account of the General State ofthe Country]

(1) At the first meeting in the sessional year thePrime Minister shall render an account ofthe general state of the country and of themeasures proposed by the Government.

(2) Such account shall be made the subject of ageneral debate.

Section 39 [Meetings]The President of the Parliament shall convene themeetings of the Parliament, stating the Order ofthe Day. The President shall convene a meeting ofthe Parliament upon a requisition being made inwriting by at least two-fifths of the Members ofthe Parliament or the Prime Minister, stating theOrder of the Day.

Section 40 [Privileges of Ministers]The Ministers shall ex officio be entitled to attendthe sittings of the Parliament and to address theParliament during the debates as often as they maydesire, provided that they abide by the Rules ofProcedure of the Parliament. They shall be entitledto vote only when they are Members of theParliament.

Section 41 [Bills](1) Any Member of the Parliament shall be

entitled to introduce Bills and other measures.(2) No Bill shall be finally passed until it has

been read three times in the Parliament.(3) Two-fifths of the Members of the Parliament

may request of the President that the thirdreading of a Bill shall not take place until

twelve week-days after its passing the secondreading. The request shall be made in writingand signed by the Members making it.Provided that there shall be no suchpostponement in connection with FinanceBills, Supplementary Appropriation Bills,Provisional Appropriation Bills, GovernmentLoan Bills, Naturalization Bills, ExpropriationBills, Indirect Taxation Bills, and, inemergencies, Bills the enactment of whichcannot be postponed owing to the intent ofthe Act.

(4) In the case of a new election and at the endof the sessional year all Bills and othermeasures which have not been finally passed,shall be dropped.

Section 42 [Referendum](1) Where a Bill has been passed by the

Parliament, one-third of the Members of theParliament may within three week-days fromthe final passing of the Bill request of thePresident that the Bill be subjected to aReferendum. Such request shall be made inwriting and signed by the Members makingthe request.

(2) Except in the instance mentioned inSubsection (7), no Bill which may besubjected to a Referendum, confer Subsection(6), shall receive the Royal Assent before theexpiration of the time limit mentioned inSubsection (1), or before a Referendumrequested as aforesaid has take place.

(3) Where a Referendum on a Bill has beenrequested the Parliament may within a periodof five week-days from the final passing ofthe Bill resolve that the Bill shall bewithdrawn.

(4) Where the Parliament has made no resolutionin accordance with Subsection (3), notice tothe effect that the Bill will be put to aReferendum shall without delay be given tothe Prime Minister, who shall then cause theBill to be published together with a statementthat a Referendum will be held. TheReferendum shall be held in accordance withthe decision of the Prime Minister not lessthan twelve and not more than eighteen week-days after the publication of the Bill.

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(5) At the Referendum votes shall be cast for oragainst the Bill. For the Bill to be rejected amajority of the electors taking part in thevoting, however, not less than thirty per centof all persons entitled to vote, shall havevoted against the Bill.

(6) Finance Bills, Supplementary AppropriationBills, Provisional Appropriation Bills,Government Loan Bills, Civil Servants(Amendment) Bills, Salaries and PensionsBills, Naturalization Bills, ExpropriationBills, Taxation (Direct and Indirect) Bills, aswell as Bills introduced for the purpose ofdischarging existing treaty obligations shallnot be subject to a decision by Referendum.This provision shall also apply to the Billsreferred to in Sections 8, 9, 10, and 11, andto such resolutions as are provided for inSection 19, if existing in the form of a law,unless it has been provided by a special Actthat such resolutions shall be put to aReferendum. Amendments of theConstitution Act shall be governed by therules laid down in Section 88.

(7) In an emergency a Bill that may be subjectedto a Referendum may receive the Royal Assentimmediately after it has been passed, providedthat the Bill contains a provision to that effect.Where under the rules of Subsection (1) one-third of the Members of the Parliamentrequest a Referendum on the Bill or on theAct to which the Royal Assent has beengiven, such Referendum shall be held inaccordance with the above rules. Where theact is rejected by the Referendum, anannouncement to that effect shall be madeby the Prime Minister without undue delayand not later than fourteen days after theReferendum was held. From the date of suchannouncement the Act shall becomeineffective.

(8) Rules for Referenda, including the extent towhich Referenda shall be held on the FaeroeIslands and in Greenland, shall be laid downby Statute.

Section 43 [Taxes]No taxes shall be imposed, altered, or repealedexcept by Statute; nor shall any man be conscriptedor any public loan be raised except by Statute.

Section 44 [Naturalization](1) No alien shall be naturalized except by

Statute.(2) The extent of the right of aliens to become

owners of real property shall be laid downby Statute.

Section 45 [Finance Bill](1) A Finance Bill for the next financial year shall

be laid before the Parliament not later thanfour months before the beginning of suchfinancial year.

(2) Where it is expected that the reading of theFinance Bill for the next financial year willnot be completed before the commencementof that financial year, a ProvisionalAppropriation Bill shall be laid before theParliament.

Section 46 [Finance Act](1) Taxes shall not be levied before the Finance

Act or a Provisional Appropriation Act hasbeen passed by the Parliament.

(2) no expenditure shall be defrayed unlessprovided for by the Finance act passed by theParliament, or by a SupplementaryAppropriation Act, or by a ProvisionalAppropriation Act passed by the Parliament.

Section 47 [Auditing of Public Accounts](1) The Public Accounts shall be submitted to

the Parliament not later than six months afterthe expiration of the financial year.

(2) The Parliament shall elect a number ofAuditors. Such Auditors shall examine theannual Public Accounts and see that all therevenues of the State have been duly enteredtherein, and that no expenditure has beendefrayed unless provided for by the FinanceAct or some other Appropriation Act. TheAuditors shall be entitled to demand allnecessary information, and shall have a rightof access to all necessary documents. Rulesproviding for the number of Auditors andtheir duties shall be laid down by Statute.

(3) The Public Accounts together with theAuditors’ Report shall be submitted to theParliament for its decision.

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Section 48 [Rules of Procedure]The Parliament shall lay down its own Rules ofProcedure, including rules governing its conductof business and the maintenance of order.

Section 49 [Publicity]The sittings of the Parliament shall be public.Provided that the President, or such number ofMembers as may be provided for by the Rules ofProcedure, or a Minister shall be entitled to demandthe removal of all unauthorized persons,whereupon it shall be decided without a debatewhether the matter shall be debated at a public ora secret sitting.

Section 50 [Participation]In order to make a decision more than one-half ofthe Members of the Parliament shall be presentand take part in the voting.

Section 51 [Committees]The Parliament may appoint committees fromamong its Members to investigate matters ofgeneral importance. Such committees shall beentitled to demand written or oral information bothfrom private citizens and from public authorities.

Section 52 [Proportional Representation inCommittees]

The election by the Parliament of Members to siton committees and of Members to perform specialduties shall be according to proportionalrepresentation.

Section 53 [Discussion]With the consent of the Parliament any Memberthereof may submit for discussion any matter ofpublic interest and request a statement thereonfrom the Ministers.

Section 54 [Petitions]Petitions may be submitted tot he Parliament onlythrough one of its Members.

Section 55 [Control of Civil and MilitaryAdministration]

By Statute shall be provided for the appointmentby the Parliament of one or two persons, whoshall not be Members of the Parliament, to controlthe civil and military administration of the State.

Section 56 [Freedom of Members]The Members of the Parliament shall be boundsolely by their own conscience and not by anydirections given by their electors.

Section 57 [Immunity of Members]No Member of the Parliament shall be prosecutedor imprisoned in any manner whatsoever withoutthe consent of the Parliament, unless he is caughtin flagrante delicto. Outside the Parliament noMember shall be held liable for his utterance in theParliament save by the consent of the Parliament.

Section 58 [Remuneration]The Members of the Parliament shall be paid suchremuneration as may be Provided for in theElections Act.

Part VI [The High Court]

Section 59 [Membership](1) The High Court of the Realm shall consist

of up to fifteen of the eldest — according toseniority of office — ordinary members ofthe highest court of justice of the Realm,and an equal number of members elected forsix years by the Parliament according toproportional representation. one or moresubstitutes shall be elected for each electedmember. No Member of the Parliament shallbe elected a member of the High Court ofthe Realm, nor shall a Member of theParliament act as a member of the High Courtof the Realm. Where in a particular instancesome of the members of the highest courtof justice of the Realm are prevented fromtaking part in the trial of a case, an equalnumber of the members of the High Courtof the Realm last elected by the Parliamentshall retire from their seats.

(2) The High Court of the Realm shall elect apresident from among its members.

(3) Where a case has been brought before theHigh Court of the Realm, the members electedby the Parliament shall retain their seats inthe High Court of the Realm for the durationof such case, even if the period for whichthey were elected has expired.

(4) Rules for the High court of the Realm shallbe provided by Statute.

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Section 60 [Actions](1) The High Court of the Realm shall try such

actions as may be brought by the King or theParliament against Ministers.

(2) With the consent of the Parliament the Kingmay cause to be tried before the High Courtof the Realm also other persons for crimeswhich he may deem to be particularlydangerous to the State.

Section 61 [Exercise of Judiciary Power]The exercise of the judiciary power shall begoverned only by Statute. Extraordinary courts ofjustice with judicial power shall not be established.

Section 62 [Separation of Powers]The administration of justice shall always remainindependent of the executive power. Rules to thiseffect shall be laid down by Statute.

Section 63 [Control of Executive Power](1) The courts of justice shall be entitled to

decide any question bearing upon the scopeof the authority of the executive power.However, a person who wants to query suchauthority shall not, by bringing the casebefore the courts of justice, avoid temporarycompliance with orders given by the executivepower.

(2) Questions bearing upon the scope of theauthority of the executive power may bereferred by Statute for decision to one ormore administrative courts. Provided that anappeal from the decision of the administrativecourts shall lie to the highest court of theRealm. Rules governing this procedure shallbe laid down by Statute.

Section 64 [Independence of Judges]In the performance of their duties the judges shallbe directed solely by the law. Judges shall not bedismissed except by judgment, nor shall they betransferred against their will, except in the instanceswhere a rearrangement of the courts of justice ismade. However, a judge who has completed hissixty-fifth year may be retired, but without loss ofincome up to the time when he is due forretirement on account of age.

Section 65 [Publicity](1) In the administration of justice all

proceedings shall be public and oral to thewidest possible extent.

(2) Laymen shall take part in criminal procedure.The cases and the form in which suchparticipation shall take place, including whatcases are to be tried by jury, shall be providedfor by Statute.

Part VII [State Church]

Section 66 [Church Constitution]The constitution of the Established Church shallbe laid down by Statute.

Section 67 [Right to Worship]The citizens shall be entitled to form congregationsfor the worship of God in a manner consistentwith their convictions, provided that nothing atvariance with good morals or public order shall betaught or done.

Section 68 [Church Contributions]No one shall be liable to make personalcontributions to any denomination other than theone to which he adheres.

Section 69 [Regulation of Other ReligiousBodies]

Rules for religious bodies dissenting from theEstablished Church shall be laid down by Statute.

Section 70 [Freedom of Religion]No person shall for reasons of his creed or descentbe deprived of access to complete enjoyment ofhis civic and political rights, nor shall he for suchreasons evade compliance with any common civicduty.

Part VIII [Individual Rights]

Section 71 [Personal Liberty](1) Personal liberty shall be inviolable. No Danish

subject shall in any manner whatever bedeprived of his liberty because of his politicalor religious convictions or because of hisdescent.

(2) A person shall be deprived of his liberty onlywhere this is warranted by law.

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(3) Any person who is taken into custody shallbe brought before a judge within twenty-four hours. Where the person taken intocustody cannot be releasee immediately, thejudge shall decide, stating the grounds in anorder to be given as soon as possible and atthe latest within three days, whether theperson taken into custody shall be committedto prison, and in cases where he can bereleased on bail, the judge shall determinethe nature and amount of such bail. Thisprovision may be departed from by Statuteas far as Greenland is concerned, if for localconsiderations such departure may be deemednecessary.

(4) The finding given by the judge may at oncebe separately appealed against by the personconcerned to a higher court of justice.

(5) No person shall be remanded for an offencethat can involve only punishment consistingof a fine or mitigated imprisonment.

(6) outside criminal procedure the legality ofdeprivation of liberty which is not by orderof a judicial authority, and which is notwarranted by the legislation dealing withaliens, shall at the request of the person whohas been deprived of his liberty, or at therequest of any person acting on his behalf, bebrought before the ordinary courts of justiceor other judicial authority for decision. Rulesgoverning this procedure shall be providedby Statute.

(7) The persons mentioned in Subsection (6) shallbe under supervision by a board set up by theParliament, to which board the personsconcerned shall be permitted to apply.

Section 72 [Inviolability of the House]The dwelling shall be inviolable. House searching,seizure, and examination of letters and other papersas well as any breach of the secrecy to be observedin postal, telegraph, and telephone matters shalltake place only under a judicial order unlessparticular exception is warranted by Statute.

Section 73 [Right to Property,Expropriation]

(1) The right of property shall be inviolable. Noperson shall be ordered to cede his propertyexcept where required by the public weal. It

can be done only as provided by Statute andagainst full compensation.

(2) Where a Bill relating to the expropriation ofproperty has been passed, one-third of theMembers of the Parliament may within threeweek-days from the final passing of such Billdemand that it shall not be presented for theRoyal Assent until new elections to theParliament have been held and the Bill hasagain been passed by the Parliament assemblingthereupon.

(3) Any question of the legality of an act ofexpropriation and the amount ofcompensation may be brought before thecourts of justice. The hearing of issuesrelating to the amount of the compensationmay by Statute be referred to courts of justiceestablished for such purpose.

Section 74 [Free and Equal Access toTrade]

Any restraint of the free and equal access to tradewhich is not based on the public weal, shall beabolished by Statute.

Section 75 [Right to Work](1) In order to advance the public weal efforts

should be made to afford work to every able-bodied citizen on terms that will secure hisexistence.

(2) Any person unable to support himself or hisdependants shall, where no other person isresponsible for his or their maintenance, beentitled to receive public assistance, providedthat he shall comply with the obligationsimposed by Statute in such respect.

Section 76 [Compulsory Schooling]All children of school age shall be entitled to freeinstruction in the elementary schools. Parents orguardians who themselves arrange for their childrenor wards receiving instruction equal to the generalelementary school standard, shall not be obliged tohave their children or wards taught in elementaryschool.

Section 77 [Freedom of Speech]Any person shall be entitled to publish his thoughtsin printing, in writing, and in speech, providedthat he may be held answerable in a court of justice.

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Censorship and other preventive measures shallnever again be introduced.

Section 78 [Freedom of Association](1) The citizens shall be entitled without previous

permission to form associations for any lawfulpurpose.

(2) Associations employing violence, or aimingat attaining their object by violence, byinstigation to violence, or by similarpunishable influence on people of otherviews, shall be dissolved by judgment.

(3) No association shall be dissolved by anygovernment measure. However, anassociation may be temporarily prohibited,provided that proceedings be immediatelytaken against it for its dissolution.

(4) Cases relating to the dissolution of politicalassociations may without special permissionbe brought before the highest court of justiceof the Realm.

(5) The legal effects of the dissolution shall bedetermined by Statute.

Section 79 [Freedom of Assembly]The citizens shall without previous permission beentitled to assemble unarmed. The police shall beentitled to be present at public meetings. Open-airmeetings may be prohibited when it is feared thatthey may constitute a danger to the public peace.

Section 80 [Dissolution of Assemblies]In case of riots the armed forces, unless attacked,may take action only after the crowd in the nameof the King and the Law has three times beencalled upon to disperse, an such warning has beenunheeded.

Section 81 [Military Duty]Every male person able to carry arms shall be liablewith his person to contribute to the defence of hiscountry under such rules as are laid down by Statute.

Section 82 [Local Autonomy]The right of the municipalities to manage theirown affairs independently under the supervisionof the State shall be laid down by Statute.

Section 83 [Abolishing of Privileges]All privileges by legislation attached to nobility,title, and rank shall be abolished.

Section 84 [Abolishing of Estate Tails]In future no fiefs, estates tail inland or estates tailin personal property shall be created.

Section 85 [Exemptions for MilitaryForces]

The provisions of Sections 71, 78, and 79 shallonly be applicable to the defence forces subject tosuch limitations as are consequential to theprovisions of military laws.

Part IX [Local Governments, Iceland]

Section 86 [Local Governments]The age qualification for local government electorsand congregational council electors shall be thatapplying at any time to Parliament electors. Withreference to the Faeroe Islands and Greenland theage qualification for local government electors andcongregational council electors shall be such as maybe provided for by Statute or fixed in accordancewith Statute.

Section 87 [Iceland]Citizens of Iceland who enjoy equal rights withcitizens of Denmark under the Danish-IcelandicUnion (Abolition), etc. Act, shall continue to enjoythe rights attached to Danish citizenship under theprovisions of the Constitution Act.

Part X [Constitutional Amendments]

Section 88 [Constitutional Amendments,Electors’ Vote]

When the Parliament passes a Bill for the purposesof a new constitutional provision, and theGovernment wishes to proceed with the matter,writs shall be issued for the election of Membersof a new Parliament. If the Bill is passedunamended by the Parliament assembling after theelection, the Bill shall within six months after itsfinal passing be submitted to the Electors forapproval or rejection by direct voting. Rules forthis voting shall be laid down by Statute. If amajority of the persons taking part in the voting,and at least 40 per cent of the Electorate has voted

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in favor of the Bill as passed by the Parliament,and if the Bill receives the Royal Assent it shallform an integral part of the Constitution Act.

Part XI [Enacting the Constitution]

Section 89 [Abolishment of the Rigsdag]This Constitution Act shall come into operation atonce. Provided that the Rigsdag last elected underthe Constitution of the Kingdom of Denmark Act,5th June, 1915, as amended on the 10thSeptember, 1920, shall continue to exist until ageneral election has been held in accordance withthe rules laid down in Part IV. Until a generalelection has been held the provisions laid down forthe Rigsdag in the Constitution of the Kingdomof Denmark Act, 5th June, 1915, as amended onthe 10th September, 1920, shall remain in force.

Part I [General Provisions]

Section 1 [Scope]This Constitution applies to all parts of theKingdom of Denmark.

Section 2 [State Form]The form of government shall be that of aconstitutional monarchy. The Royal Power isinherited by men and women in accordance withthe provisions of the Succession to the ThroneAct, 27th March, 1953.

Section 3 [State Powers]The legislative power is jointly vested in the Kingand the Parliament. The executive power is vestedin the King. The judicial power is vested in thecourts of justice.

Section 4 [State Church]The Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be theEstablished Church of Denmark, and, as such, itshall be supported by the State.

Part II [The King]

Section 5 [Reigning no Other Countries]The King shall not reign in other countries exceptwith the consent of the Parliament.

Section 6 [Member of the State Church]The King shall be a member of the EvangelicalLutheran Church.

Section 7 [Of Age With 18 Years]The King shall be of age when he has completedhis eighteenth year. The same provision shall applyto the Successor to the Throne.

Section 8 [Sworn on the Constitution]The King, prior to his accession to the Throne,shall make a solemn Declaration in writing beforethe Council of State that he will faithfully adhereto the Constitution Act. Two identical originals ofthe Declaration shall be executed, one of whichshall be handed over to the Parliament to bepreserved in its archives, and the other shall befiled in the Public Record Office. Where the Kin,owing to his absence or for other reasons, is unableto sign the aforesaid Declaration immediately onhis accession to the Throne, the government shall,unless otherwise provided by Statute, be conductedby the Council of State until such Declaration hasbeen signed. Where the King already as Successorto the Throne has signed the aforesaid Declaration,he shall accede to the Throne immediately on itsvacancy.

Section 9 [Vacancy of the Throne]Provisions relating to the exercising of sovereignpower in the event of the minority, illness, orabsence of the King shall be laid down by Statute.Where on the vacancy of the Throne there is noSuccessor to the Throne, the Parliament shall electa King and establish the future order of successionto the Throne.

Section 10 [Civil List](1) The Civil List of the King shall be granted

for the duration of his reign by Statute. SuchStatute shall also provide for the castles,palaces, and other State property which shallbe placed at the disposal of the King for hisuse.

(2) The Civil List shall not be chargeable withany debt.

Section 11 [Annuities]Members of the Royal House may be grantedannuities by Statute. Such annuities shall not be

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enjoyed outside the Realm except with the consentof the Parliament.

Part III [Powers of the King]

Section 12 [Supreme Authority]Subject to the limitations laid down in thisConstitution Act the King shall have the supremeauthority in all the affairs of the Realm, and heshall exercise such supreme authority through theMinisters.

Section 13 [Responsibility of Ministers]The King shall not be answerable for his actions;his person shall be sacrosanct. The Ministers shallbe responsible for the conduct of the government;their responsibility shall be determined by Statute.

Section 14 [Appointing Ministers]The King shall appoint and dismiss the PrimeMinister and the other Ministers. He shall decideupon the number of Ministers and upon thedistribution of the duties of government amongthem. The signature of the King to resolutionsrelating to legislation and government shall makesuch resolutions valid, provided that the signatureof the King is accompanied by the signature orsignatures of one or more Ministers. A Ministerwho has signed a resolution shall be responsible forthe resolution.

Section 15 [Vote of No Confidence](1) A Minister shall not remain in office after the

Parliament has passed a vote of no confidencein him.

(2) Where the Parliament passes a vote of noconfidence in the Prime Minister, he shallask for the dismissal of the Ministry unlesswrits are to be issued for a general election.Where a vote of censure has been passed ona Ministry, or it has asked for its dismissal, itshall continue in office until a new Ministryhas been appointed. Ministers who continuein office as aforesaid shall do only what isnecessary for the purpose of theuninterrupted conduct of official business.

Section 16 [Impeachment]Ministers may be impeached by the King or theParliament with maladministration of office. The

High Court of the Realm shall try cases ofimpeachment brought against Ministers formaladministration of office.

Section 17 [Council of State](1) The body of Ministers shall form the Council

of State, in which the Successor to theThrone shall have a seat when he is of age.The Council of State shall be presided overby the King except in the instance mentionedin Section 8, and in the instances where theLegislature in pursuance of Section 9 mayhave delegated the conduct of thegovernment to the Council of State.

(2) All Bills and important government measuresshall be discussed in the Council of State.

Section 18 [Council of Ministers]If the King should be prevented from holding aCouncil of State he may entrust the discussion ofa matter to a Council of Ministers. Such Councilof Ministers shall consist of all the Ministers, andit shall be presided over by the Prime Minister. Thevote of each Minister shall be entered in a minutebook, and any question shall be decided by amajority of votes. The Prime Minister shall submitthe Minutes, signed by the Ministers present, tothe King, who shall decide whether he willimmediately consent to the recommendations ofthe Council of Ministers, or have the matter broughtbefore him in a Council of State.

Section 19 [Foreign Affairs](1) The King shall act on behalf of the Realm in

international affairs. Provided that withoutthe consent of the Parliament the King shallnot undertake any act whereby the territoryof the Realm will be increased or decrease,nor shall he enter into any obligation whichfor fulfillment requires the concurrence ofthe Parliament, or which otherwise is ofmajor importance; nor shall the King, exceptwith the consent of the Parliament, terminateany international treaty entered into with theconsent of the Parliament.

(2) Except for purposes of defence against anarmed attack upon the Realm or Danish forcesthe King shall not use military force againstany foreign state without the consent of theParliament. Any measure which the King may

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take in pursuance of this provision shallimmediately be submitted to the Parliament.If the Parliament is not in session it shall beconvoked immediately.

(3) The Parliament shall appoint from among itsMembers a Foreign Affairs Committee, whichthe Government shall consult prior to themaking of any decision of major importanceto foreign policy. Rules applying to theForeign Affairs Committee shall be laid downby Statute.

Section 20 [Delegation of Powers](1) Powers vested in the authorities of the Realm

under this Constitution Act may, to suchextent as shall be provided by Statute, bedelegated to international authorities set upby mutual agreement with other states forthe promotion of international rules of lawand co-operation.

(2) For the passing of a Bill dealing with theabove a majority of five-sixths of theMembers of the Parliament shall be required.If this majority is not obtained, whereas themajority required for the passing of ordinaryBills is obtained, and if the Governmentmaintains it, the Bill shall be submitted tothe Electorate for approval or rejection inaccordance with the rules for Referenda laiddown in Section 42.

Section 21 [Introduction of Bills]The King may cause Bills and other measures to beintroduced in the Parliament.

Section 22 [Royal Assent]A Bill passed by the Parliament shall become lawif it receives the Royal Assent not later than thirtydays after it was finally passed. The King shall orderthe promulgation of Statutes and shall see to itthat they are carried into effect.

Section 23 [Provisional Laws]In an emergency the King may when the Parliamentcannot assemble, issue provisional laws, providedthat they shall not be at variance with theConstitution Act, and that they shall alwaysimmediately on the assembling of the Parliamentbe submitted to it for approval or rejection.

Section 24 [Prerogative of Mercy andAmnesty]

The King shall have the prerogative of mercy andof granting amnesty. The King may grant Ministersa pardon for sentences passed upon them by theHigh Court of the Realm only with the consent ofthe Parliament.

Section 25 [Grants]The King may either directly or through therelevant Government authorities make such grantsand grant such exemptions from the Statutes as areeither warranted under the rules existing beforethe 5th June, 1849, or have been warranted by aStatute passed since that date.

Section 26 [Coinage]The King may cause money to be coined as providedby Statute.

Section 27 [Appointment of Civil Cervants](1) Rules governing the appointment of civil

servants shall be laid down by Statute. Noperson shall be appointed a civil servant unlesshe is a Danish subject. Civil servants who areappointed by the King shall make a solemndeclaration to the effect that they will adhereto the Constitution Act.

(2) Rules governing the dismissal, transfer, andpensioning of civil servants shall be laid downby Statute, confer Section 64.

(3) Civil servants appointed by the King shallonly be transferred without their consent ifthey do not suffer any loss in the incomeaccruing from their posts or offices, and ifthey have been offered the choice of suchtransfer or retirement on pension under thegeneral rules and regulations.

Part IV [The Parliament]

Section 28 [Membership]The Parliament shall consist of one assembly ofnot more than one hundred and seventy-nineMembers, of whom two Members shall be electedon the Faeroe Islands and two Members inGreenland.

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Section 29 [Right to Vote](1) Any Danish subject whose permanent

residence is in the Realm, and who has theage qualification for suffrage provided for inSubsection (2) shall have the right to vote atParliament elections, provided that he hasnot been declared incapable of conductinghis own affairs. It shall be laid down byStatute to what extent conviction and publicassistance amounting to poor relief withinthe meaning of the law shall entaildisfranchisement.

(2) The age qualification for suffrage shall besuch as has resulted from the Referendumheld under the Act dated the 25th March,1953. Such age qualification for suffrage maybe altered at any time by Statute. A Bill passedby the Parliament for the purpose of suchenactment shall receive the Royal Assent onlywhen the provision on the alteration in theage qualification for suffrage has been put toa Referendum in accordance with Section 42(5), which was not resulted in the rejectionof the provision.

Section 30 [Eligibility for Membership](1) Any person who has a right to vote at

Parliament elections shall be eligible formembership of the Parliament, unless he hasbeen convicted of an act which in the eyesof the public makes him unworthy of beinga Member of the Parliament.

(2) Civil servants who are elected Members ofthe Parliament shall not require permissionfrom the Government to accept their election.

Section 31 [Elections](1) The Members of the Parliament shall be

elected by general and direct ballot.(2) Rules for the exercise of the suffrage shall be

laid down by the Elections Act, which, tosecure equal representation of the variousopinions of the Electorate, shall prescribethe manner of election and decide whetherproportional representation shall be adoptedwith or without elections in single-memberconstituencies.

(3) In determining the number of seats to beallotted to each area regard shall be paid to

the number of inhabitants, the number ofelectors, and the density of population.

(4) The Elections Act shall provide rulesgoverning the election of substitutes and theiradmission to the Parliament, and also rulesfor the procedure to be adopted where a newelection is required.

(5) Special rules for the representation ofGreenland in the Parliament may be laiddown by Statute.

Section 32 [Period](1) The members of the Parliament shall be

elected for a period of four years.(2) The King may at any time issue writs for a

new election with the effect that the existingseats be vacated upon a new election.Provided that writs for an election shall notbe issued after the appointment of a newMinistry until the Prime Minister haspresented himself to the Parliament.

(3) The Prime Minister shall cause a generalelection to be held before the expiration ofthe period for which the Parliament has beenelected.

(4) No seats shall be vacated until a new electionhas been held.

(5) Special rules may be provided by Statute forthe commencement and determination ofFaeroe Islands and Greenland representationin the Parliament.

(6) If a Member of the Parliament becomesineligible his seating the Parliament shallbecome vacant.

(7) On approval of his election each newMember shall make a solemn declaration thathe will adhere to the Constitution Act.

Section 33 [Validity of Election]The Parliament itself shall determine the validityof the election of any Member and decide whethera Member has lost his eligibility or not.

Section 34 [Inciolability]The Parliament shall be inviolable. Any person whoattacks its security or freedom, or any person whoissues or obeys any command aiming thereat shallbe deemed guilty of high treason.

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Part V [Procedures of the Parliament]

Section 35 [Constitutional Session](1) A newly elected Parliament shall assemble at

twelve o’clock noon on the twelfth week-day after the day of election, unless the Kinghas previously convoked a meeting of itsMembers.

(2) Immediately after the proving of themandates the Parliament shall constituteitself by the election of a President and Vice-Presidents.

Section 36 [Sessional Year](1) The sessional year of the Parliament shall

commence on the first Tuesday of October,and shall continue until the first Tuesday ofOctober of the following year.

(2) On the first day of the sessional year attwelve o’clock noon the Members shallassemble for a new session of the Parliament.

Section 37 [Location]The Parliament shall meet in the place where theGovernment has its seat. Provided that inextraordinary circumstances the Parliament mayassemble elsewhere in the Realm.

Section 38 [Account of the General State ofthe Country]

(1) At the first meeting in the sessional year thePrime Minister shall render an account ofthe general state of the country and of themeasures proposed by the Government.

(2) Such account shall be made the subject of ageneral debate.

Section 39 [Meetings]The President of the Parliament shall convene themeetings of the Parliament, stating the Order ofthe Day. The President shall convene a meeting ofthe Parliament upon a requisition being made inwriting by at least two-fifths of the Members ofthe Parliament or the Prime Minister, stating theOrder of the Day.

Section 40 [Privileges of Ministers]The Ministers shall ex officio be entitled to attendthe sittings of the Parliament and to address theParliament during the debates as often as they may

desire, provided that they abide by the Rules ofProcedure of the Parliament. They shall be entitledto vote only when they are Members of theParliament.

Section 41 [Bills](1) Any Member of the Parliament shall be

entitled to introduce Bills and other measures.(2) No Bill shall be finally passed until it has

been read three times in the Parliament.(3) Two-fifths of the Members of the Parliament

may request of the President that the thirdreading of a Bill shall not take place untiltwelve week-days after its passing the secondreading. The request shall be made in writingand signed by the Members making it.Provided that there shall be no suchpostponement in connection with FinanceBills, Supplementary Appropriation Bills,Provisional Appropriation Bills, GovernmentLoan Bills, Naturalization Bills, ExpropriationBills, Indirect Taxation Bills, and, inemergencies, Bills the enactment of whichcannot be postponed owing to the intent ofthe Act.

(4) In the case of a new election and at the endof the sessional year all Bills and othermeasures which have not been finally passed,shall be dropped.

Section 42 [Referendum](1) Where a Bill has been passed by the

Parliament, one-third of the Members of theParliament may within three week-days fromthe final passing of the Bill request of thePresident that the Bill be subjected to aReferendum. Such request shall be made inwriting and signed by the Members makingthe request.

(2) Except in the instance mentioned inSubsection (7), no Bill which may besubjected to a Referendum, confer Subsection(6), shall receive the Royal Assent before theexpiration of the time limit mentioned inSubsection (1), or before a Referendumrequested as aforesaid has take place.

(3) Where a Referendum on a Bill has beenrequested the Parliament may within a periodof five week-days from the final passing of

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the Bill resolve that the Bill shall bewithdrawn.

(4) Where the Parliament has made no resolutionin accordance with Subsection (3), notice tothe effect that the Bill will be put to aReferendum shall without delay be given tothe Prime Minister, who shall then cause theBill to be published together with a statementthat a Referendum will be held. TheReferendum shall be held in accordance withthe decision of the Prime Minister not lessthan twelve and not more than eighteen week-days after the publication of the Bill.

(5) At the Referendum votes shall be cast for oragainst the Bill. For the Bill to be rejected amajority of the electors taking part in thevoting, however, not less than thirty per centof all persons entitled to vote, shall havevoted against the Bill.

(6) Finance Bills, Supplementary AppropriationBills, Provisional Appropriation Bills,Government Loan Bills, Civil Servants(Amendment) Bills, Salaries and PensionsBills, Naturalization Bills, ExpropriationBills, Taxation (Direct and Indirect) Bills, aswell as Bills introduced for the purpose ofdischarging existing treaty obligations shallnot be subject to a decision by Referendum.This provision shall also apply to the Billsreferred to in Sections 8, 9, 10, and 11, andto such resolutions as are provided for inSection 19, if existing in the form of a law,unless it has been provided by a special Actthat such resolutions shall be put to aReferendum. Amendments of theConstitution Act shall be governed by therules laid down in Section 88.

(7) In an emergency a Bill that may be subjectedto a Referendum may receive the Royal Assentimmediately after it has been passed, providedthat the Bill contains a provision to that effect.Where under the rules of Subsection (1) one-third of the Members of the Parliamentrequest a Referendum on the Bill or on theAct to which the Royal Assent has beengiven, such Referendum shall be held inaccordance with the above rules. Where theact is rejected by the Referendum, anannouncement to that effect shall be madeby the Prime Minister without undue delay

and not later than fourteen days after theReferendum was held. From the date of suchannouncement the Act shall becomeineffective.

(8) Rules for Referenda, including the extent towhich Referenda shall be held on the FaeroeIslands and in Greenland, shall be laid downby Statute.

Section 43 [Taxes]No taxes shall be imposed, altered, or repealedexcept by Statute; nor shall any man be conscriptedor any public loan be raised except by Statute.

Section 44 [Naturalization](1) No alien shall be naturalized except by

Statute.(2) The extent of the right of aliens to become

owners of real property shall be laid downby Statute.

Section 45 [Finance Bill](1) A Finance Bill for the next financial year shall

be laid before the Parliament not later thanfour months before the beginning of suchfinancial year.

(2) Where it is expected that the reading of theFinance Bill for the next financial year willnot be completed before the commencementof that financial year, a ProvisionalAppropriation Bill shall be laid before theParliament.

Section 46 [Finance Act](1) Taxes shall not be levied before the Finance

Act or a Provisional Appropriation Act hasbeen passed by the Parliament.

(2) no expenditure shall be defrayed unlessprovided for by the Finance act passed by theParliament, or by a SupplementaryAppropriation Act, or by a ProvisionalAppropriation Act passed by the Parliament.

Section 47 [Auditing of Public Accounts](1) The Public Accounts shall be submitted to

the Parliament not later than six months afterthe expiration of the financial year.

(2) The Parliament shall elect a number ofAuditors. Such Auditors shall examine theannual Public Accounts and see that all the

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revenues of the State have been duly enteredtherein, and that no expenditure has beendefrayed unless provided for by the FinanceAct or some other Appropriation Act. TheAuditors shall be entitled to demand allnecessary information, and shall have a rightof access to all necessary documents. Rulesproviding for the number of Auditors andtheir duties shall be laid down by Statute.

(3) The Public Accounts together with theAuditors’ Report shall be submitted to theParliament for its decision.

Section 48 [Rules of Procedure]The Parliament shall lay down its own Rules ofProcedure, including rules governing its conductof business and the maintenance of order.

Section 49 [Publicity]The sittings of the Parliament shall be public.Provided that the President, or such number ofMembers as may be provided for by the Rules ofProcedure, or a Minister shall be entitled to demandthe removal of all unauthorized persons,whereupon it shall be decided without a debatewhether the matter shall be debated at a public ora secret sitting.

Section 50 [Participation]In order to make a decision more than one-half ofthe Members of the Parliament shall be presentand take part in the voting.

Section 51 [Committees]The Parliament may appoint committees fromamong its Members to investigate matters ofgeneral importance. Such committees shall beentitled to demand written or oral information bothfrom private citizens and from public authorities.

Section 52 [Proportional Representation inCommittees]

The election by the Parliament of Members to siton committees and of Members to perform specialduties shall be according to proportionalrepresentation.

Section 53 [Discussion]With the consent of the Parliament any Memberthereof may submit for discussion any matter of

public interest and request a statement thereonfrom the Ministers.

Section 54 [Petitions]Petitions may be submitted tot he Parliament onlythrough one of its Members.

Section 55 [Control of Civil and MilitaryAdministration]

By Statute shall be provided for the appointmentby the Parliament of one or two persons, whoshall not be Members of the Parliament, to controlthe civil and military administration of the State.

Section 56 [Freedom of Members]The Members of the Parliament shall be boundsolely by their own conscience and not by anydirections given by their electors.

Section 57 [Immunity of Members]No Member of the Parliament shall be prosecutedor imprisoned in any manner whatsoever withoutthe consent of the Parliament, unless he is caughtin flagrante delicto. Outside the Parliament noMember shall be held liable for his utterance in theParliament save by the consent of the Parliament.

Section 58 [Remuneration]The Members of the Parliament shall be paid suchremuneration as may be Provided for in theElections Act.

Part VI [The High Court]

Section 59 [Membership](1) The High Court of the Realm shall consist

of up to fifteen of the eldest — according toseniority of office — ordinary members ofthe highest court of justice of the Realm,and an equal number of members elected forsix years by the Parliament according toproportional representation. one or moresubstitutes shall be elected for each electedmember. No Member of the Parliament shallbe elected a member of the High Court ofthe Realm, nor shall a Member of theParliament act as a member of the High Courtof the Realm. Where in a particular instancesome of the members of the highest courtof justice of the Realm are prevented from

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taking part in the trial of a case, an equalnumber of the members of the High Courtof the Realm last elected by the Parliamentshall retire from their seats.

(2) The High Court of the Realm shall elect apresident from among its members.

(3) Where a case has been brought before theHigh Court of the Realm, the members electedby the Parliament shall retain their seats inthe High Court of the Realm for the durationof such case, even if the period for whichthey were elected has expired.

(4) Rules for the High court of the Realm shallbe provided by Statute.

Section 60 [Actions](1) The High Court of the Realm shall try such

actions as may be brought by the King or theParliament against Ministers.

(2) With the consent of the Parliament the Kingmay cause to be tried before the High Courtof the Realm also other persons for crimeswhich he may deem to be particularlydangerous to the State.

Section 61 [Exercise of Judiciary Power]The exercise of the judiciary power shall begoverned only by Statute. Extraordinary courts ofjustice with judicial power shall not be established.

Section 62 [Separation of Powers]The administration of justice shall always remainindependent of the executive power. Rules to thiseffect shall be laid down by Statute.

Section 63 [Control of Executive Power](1) The courts of justice shall be entitled to

decide any question bearing upon the scopeof the authority of the executive power.However, a person who wants to query suchauthority shall not, by bringing the casebefore the courts of justice, avoid temporarycompliance with orders given by the executivepower.

(2) Questions bearing upon the scope of theauthority of the executive power may bereferred by Statute for decision to one ormore administrative courts. Provided that anappeal from the decision of the administrativecourts shall lie to the highest court of the

Realm. Rules governing this procedure shallbe laid down by Statute.

Section 64 [Independence of Judges]In the performance of their duties the judges shallbe directed solely by the law. Judges shall not bedismissed except by judgment, nor shall they betransferred against their will, except in the instanceswhere a rearrangement of the courts of justice ismade. However, a judge who has completed hissixty-fifth year may be retired, but without loss ofincome up to the time when he is due forretirement on account of age.

Section 65 [Publicity](1) In the administration of justice all

proceedings shall be public and oral to thewidest possible extent.

(2) Laymen shall take part in criminal procedure.The cases and the form in which suchparticipation shall take place, including whatcases are to be tried by jury, shall be providedfor by Statute.

Part VII [State Church]

Section 66 [Church Constitution]The constitution of the Established Church shallbe laid down by Statute.

Section 67 [Right to Worship]The citizens shall be entitled to form congregationsfor the worship of God in a manner consistentwith their convictions, provided that nothing atvariance with good morals or public order shall betaught or done.

Section 68 [Church Contributions]No one shall be liable to make personalcontributions to any denomination other than theone to which he adheres.

Section 69 [Regulation of Other ReligiousBodies]

Rules for religious bodies dissenting from theEstablished Church shall be laid down by Statute.

Section 70 [Freedom of Religion]No person shall for reasons of his creed or descentbe deprived of access to complete enjoyment of

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his civic and political rights, nor shall he for suchreasons evade compliance with any common civicduty.

Part VIII [Individual Rights]

Section 71 [Personal Liberty](1) Personal liberty shall be inviolable. No Danish

subject shall in any manner whatever bedeprived of his liberty because of his politicalor religious convictions or because of hisdescent.

(2) A person shall be deprived of his liberty onlywhere this is warranted by law.

(3) Any person who is taken into custody shallbe brought before a judge within twenty-four hours. Where the person taken intocustody cannot be releasee immediately, thejudge shall decide, stating the grounds in anorder to be given as soon as possible and atthe latest within three days, whether theperson taken into custody shall be committedto prison, and in cases where he can bereleased on bail, the judge shall determinethe nature and amount of such bail. Thisprovision may be departed from by Statuteas far as Greenland is concerned, if for localconsiderations such departure may be deemednecessary.

(4) The finding given by the judge may at oncebe separately appealed against by the personconcerned to a higher court of justice.

(5) No person shall be remanded for an offencethat can involve only punishment consistingof a fine or mitigated imprisonment.

(6) outside criminal procedure the legality ofdeprivation of liberty which is not by orderof a judicial authority, and which is notwarranted by the legislation dealing withaliens, shall at the request of the person whohas been deprived of his liberty, or at therequest of any person acting on his behalf, bebrought before the ordinary courts of justiceor other judicial authority for decision. Rulesgoverning this procedure shall be providedby Statute.

(7) The persons mentioned in Subsection (6) shallbe under supervision by a board set up by theParliament, to which board the personsconcerned shall be permitted to apply.

Section 72 [Inviolability of the House]The dwelling shall be inviolable. House searching,seizure, and examination of letters and other papersas well as any breach of the secrecy to be observedin postal, telegraph, and telephone matters shalltake place only under a judicial order unlessparticular exception is warranted by Statute.

Section 73 [Right to Property,Expropriation]

(1) The right of property shall be inviolable. Noperson shall be ordered to cede his propertyexcept where required by the public weal. Itcan be done only as provided by Statute andagainst full compensation.

(2) Where a Bill relating to the expropriation ofproperty has been passed, one-third of theMembers of the Parliament may within threeweek-days from the final passing of such Billdemand that it shall not be presented for theRoyal Assent until new elections to theParliament have been held and the Bill hasagain been passed by the Parliament assemblingthereupon.

(3) Any question of the legality of an act ofexpropriation and the amount ofcompensation may be brought before thecourts of justice. The hearing of issuesrelating to the amount of the compensationmay by Statute be referred to courts of justiceestablished for such purpose.

Section 74 [Free and Equal Access toTrade]

Any restraint of the free and equal access to tradewhich is not based on the public weal, shall beabolished by Statute.

Section 75 [Right to Work](1) In order to advance the public weal efforts

should be made to afford work to every able-bodied citizen on terms that will secure hisexistence.

(2) Any person unable to support himself or hisdependants shall, where no other person isresponsible for his or their maintenance, beentitled to receive public assistance, providedthat he shall comply with the obligationsimposed by Statute in such respect.

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Section 76 [Compulsory Schooling]All children of school age shall be entitled to freeinstruction in the elementary schools. Parents orguardians who themselves arrange for their childrenor wards receiving instruction equal to the generalelementary school standard, shall not be obliged tohave their children or wards taught in elementaryschool.

Section 77 [Freedom of Speech]Any person shall be entitled to publish his thoughtsin printing, in writing, and in speech, providedthat he may be held answerable in a court of justice.Censorship and other preventive measures shallnever again be introduced.

Section 78 [Freedom of Association](1) The citizens shall be entitled without previous

permission to form associations for any lawfulpurpose.

(2) Associations employing violence, or aimingat attaining their object by violence, byinstigation to violence, or by similarpunishable influence on people of otherviews, shall be dissolved by judgment.

(3) No association shall be dissolved by anygovernment measure. However, anassociation may be temporarily prohibited,provided that proceedings be immediatelytaken against it for its dissolution.

(4) Cases relating to the dissolution of politicalassociations may without special permissionbe brought before the highest court of justiceof the Realm.

(5) The legal effects of the dissolution shall bedetermined by Statute.

Section 79 [Freedom of Assembly]The citizens shall without previous permission beentitled to assemble unarmed. The police shall beentitled to be present at public meetings. Open-airmeetings may be prohibited when it is feared thatthey may constitute a danger to the public peace.

Section 80 [Dissolution of Assemblies]In case of riots the armed forces, unless attacked,may take action only after the crowd in the nameof the King and the Law has three times beencalled upon to disperse, an such warning has beenunheeded.

Section 81 [Military Duty]Every male person able to carry arms shall be liablewith his person to contribute to the defence of hiscountry under such rules as are laid down by Statute.

Section 82 [Local Autonomy]The right of the municipalities to manage theirown affairs independently under the supervisionof the State shall be laid down by Statute.

Section 83 [Abolishing of Privileges]All privileges by legislation attached to nobility,title, and rank shall be abolished.

Section 84 [Abolishing of Estate Tails]In future no fiefs, estates tail inland or estates tailin personal property shall be created.

Section 85 [Exemptions for MilitaryForces]

The provisions of Sections 71, 78, and 79 shallonly be applicable to the defence forces subject tosuch limitations as are consequential to theprovisions of military laws.

Part IX [Local Governments, Iceland]

Section 86 [Local Governments]The age qualification for local government electorsand congregational council electors shall be thatapplying at any time to Parliament electors. Withreference to the Faeroe Islands and Greenland theage qualification for local government electors andcongregational council electors shall be such as maybe provided for by Statute or fixed in accordancewith Statute.

Section 87 [Iceland]Citizens of Iceland who enjoy equal rights withcitizens of Denmark under the Danish-IcelandicUnion (Abolition), etc. Act, shall continue to enjoythe rights attached to Danish citizenship under theprovisions of the Constitution Act.

Part X [Constitutional Amendments]

Section 88 [Constitutional Amendments,Electors’ Vote]

When the Parliament passes a Bill for the purposesof a new constitutional provision, and the

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Government wishes to proceed with the matter,writs shall be issued for the election of Membersof a new Parliament. If the Bill is passedunamended by the Parliament assembling after theelection, the Bill shall within six months after itsfinal passing be submitted to the Electors forapproval or rejection by direct voting. Rules forthis voting shall be laid down by Statute. If amajority of the persons taking part in the voting,and at least 40 per cent of the Electorate has votedin favor of the Bill as passed by the Parliament,and if the Bill receives the Royal Assent it shallform an integral part of the Constitution Act.

Part XI [Enacting the Constitution]

Section 89 [Abolishment of the Rigsdag]This Constitution Act shall come into operation atonce. Provided that the Rigsdag last elected underthe Constitution of the Kingdom of Denmark Act,5th June, 1915, as amended on the 10thSeptember, 1920, shall continue to exist until ageneral election has been held in accordance withthe rules laid down in Part IV. Until a generalelection has been held the provisions laid down forthe Rigsdag in the Constitution of the Kingdomof Denmark Act, 5th June, 1915, as amended onthe 10th September, 1920, shall remain in force.

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