Althing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Icelandic ParliamentAlþingi Íslendinga |
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| Type | |
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| Leadership | |
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Einar Kristinn Guðfinnsson, Social Democratic Alliance
Since 14 May 2009 |
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| Structure | |
| Seats | 63 |
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Political groups
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Government coalition
Opposition Parties
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| Elections | |
| Proportional representation | |
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Last election
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25 April 2009 |
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| Parliament House (Alþingishúsið), Reykjavík | |
| Website | |
| www.althingi.is | |
The Althing (pronounced Al-thing-ee) is the main law-making body of Iceland. It's like their national parliament. It's super old! In fact, it's the oldest parliament in the world that is still around today.
It was started way back in 930 AD. This happened at a place called Thingvellir, which means "assembly fields." This spot is about 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Iceland's capital city, Reykjavík. When the Althing was first formed, it marked the beginning of Iceland as its own country.
Iceland is split into six areas called electoral constituencies. Each of these areas chooses nine people to be their members in the Althing. There are also nine extra seats. These seats are given to different parties based on how many votes they get from people all over the country.
Contents
How the Althing Started
The Althing began around the year 930. This was about 60 years after the first people came to live on the island of Iceland. It started as a big meeting where the country's most powerful leaders gathered. They met to create laws and make decisions about fairness and justice.
Any free man could come to these meetings. They were usually the biggest social event of the whole year! At the center of the meeting place was a special rock called the lögberg (which means "law rock"). The person in charge, called the speaker, would sit on this rock. It was his job to announce the new laws and decisions to everyone there.
The most important group within the Althing was called the lögrétta. This group was made up of 36 leaders from different parts of the country. It also included nine other members and the speaker. The lögrétta was responsible for making laws and settling disagreements.
Changes Over Time
After Iceland joined with Norway in 1264, the speaker was replaced. Two new leaders, called lögmenn, were chosen by the Norwegian king. The lögrétta and the king shared the power to make laws. Any law made by the Althing needed the king's approval. And if the king made a law, the Althing had to approve it too.
Later, in the 14th century, Norway and Denmark became one kingdom. So, Iceland was then ruled from Copenhagen, Denmark. The king became an absolute ruler, meaning he had all the power. The Althing lost its right to make laws for Iceland. It only worked as a court of law for a while. Then, in June 1800, the king completely closed it down. A new High Court with three judges took its place in Reykjavik.
The Althing Returns
In July 1843, the king decided that the Althing could be brought back. Elections were held the next year. The new parliament met for the first time on July 1, 1845.
A special set of rules, called a constitution, was created in 1874. This constitution gave the Althing the power to make laws, but only for things that had to do with Iceland. The number of members in the Althing grew to 36. Thirty of these members were elected by the people, and the king chose the other six.
Iceland gained home rule in October 1903. This meant they could manage more of their own affairs. In December 1918, Iceland entered a special agreement with the King of Denmark. This agreement said that after 25 years, Iceland could choose to leave the union. The Althing was given full power to make laws. The king no longer had any say in law-making for Iceland. The number of Althing members increased to 42 in 1920, and then to 52 in 1942.
Women in Iceland were given the right to vote in 1915. The very first woman was elected to the Althing in 1922.
The Modern Althing
When Germany took over Denmark on April 9, 1940, Iceland's connection to Denmark changed. The very next day, the Althing gave the Icelandic government's leaders, called the cabinet, the power to run the country. They made the prime minister the head of state.
A year later, the Althing chose a regent to act on behalf of the king. This role continued until 1944. That's when the special agreement with the Danish king ended. The modern-day Republic of Iceland was officially created. This happened at a meeting of the Althing held at Thingvellir on June 17, 1944.
Images for kids
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19th-century rendering of the Law Rock in Þingvellir.
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Parliament House, at Austurvöllur in Reykjavík, built 1880–1881.
See also
In Spanish: Alþingi para niños
