Folketing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parliament of DenmarkFolketinget (Danish) |
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| 72nd Folketing | |
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| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
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Speaker
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Søren Gade, Venstre
Since 16 November 2022 |
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Deputy Speakers
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Leif Lahn Jensen, Social Democrats
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Karina Adsbøl, Denmark Democrats
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Karsten Hønge, Green Left
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Lars-Christian Brask, Liberal Alliance
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| Structure | |
| Seats | 179 |
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Political groups
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Government parties (85 members)
Supported by (5 members)
Opposition parties (89 members)
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| Elections | |
| Open list proportional representation through the D'Hondt method with a 2% election threshold in constituencies See Elections in Denmark |
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Last election
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1 November 2022 |
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Next election
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On or before 31 October 2026 |
| Meeting place | |
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| Folketingssalen, Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen | |
The Folketing (pronounced FOHL-keh-ting) is also known as the Parliament of Denmark. It is the main law-making body for the entire Kingdom of Denmark. This includes Denmark itself, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland.
The Folketing was first created in 1849. For many years, it was one of two parts of the Danish parliament. Since 1953, it has been the only part, making it a unicameral parliament.
The Folketing meets in Christiansborg Palace. This important building is located on the island of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen.
The main jobs of the Folketing are to create all new laws and approve the government. It also watches over the government's work. The Folketing is responsible for setting the country's budget. It also checks how the government spends money.
The Folketing has 179 members. Two of these members come from Greenland. Another two members come from the Faroe Islands.
Elections for the Folketing happen at least every four years. However, the Prime Minister can ask the monarch to call an election sooner. If the Folketing loses trust in a minister or the whole government, it can make them resign. This is called a vote of no confidence.
Members are chosen through a system called proportional representation. This means that political parties get seats in parliament based on the percentage of votes they receive. This system often leads to governments made up of several parties working together.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of Denmark's Parliament
The Folketing has a long and interesting history. It started in 1849 as part of a two-house parliament called the Rigsdag. The other house was called the Landsting.
At first, only men could vote for the Folketing. These voters were often farmers, traders, and educated people. The Landsting had different rules. Only the wealthiest people could vote for it. Some of its members were even chosen by the king.
Things changed a lot in 1915. Both men and women gained the right to vote for both houses. Over time, the Folketing became the main place where laws were made. The Landsting was seen as less important.
In 1953, a new constitution was approved. This change got rid of the Landsting. The Folketing then became the only parliament. This is why it is now called a unicameral parliament.
Christiansborg Palace has been the home of the parliament since 1849. People sometimes call it Borgen, which means 'the castle' in Danish. It is right in the heart of Copenhagen.
To get a seat in the Folketing, a party usually needs at least 2% of the national votes. Because this percentage is quite low, many different parties are often represented. This makes it hard for one party to win enough seats to have a majority on its own.
Since 1901, no single party has won a majority of seats. This means that Danish governments are usually coalitions of several parties. Sometimes, it's a single party that needs support from other parties to pass laws.
How Members are Chosen and What They Do
Who Can Be a Member of Parliament?
The Folketing has 179 members. They are all elected for a four-year term. However, elections can happen earlier if the Prime Minister decides. Most members (175) are elected from Denmark itself. Two members come from Greenland, and two from the Faroe Islands.
Members are almost always elected as part of a political party. It is very rare for an independent candidate (someone not part of a party) to be elected.
How People Vote
The voting system makes sure that different opinions are represented fairly. It also ensures that different regions have a voice. There are 135 seats elected directly in 10 areas called constituencies. Another 40 seats are "levelling seats." These help make sure the total number of seats for each party matches their national vote percentage.
Voters can choose a party list, a specific candidate from a party list, or an an independent candidate. If you vote for a candidate on a party list, your vote also counts for that party.
For a party to get seats, it must usually get at least 2% of all the national votes. This is called the election threshold.
Who Can Vote?
In Denmark, all citizens aged 18 and older can vote. They must live in the Danish Realm. This is called universal suffrage. People who have committed serious offenses might have their right to vote restricted, but this is rare.
All voters who are eligible can also stand for election. The parliament decides if a member is eligible after they are elected.
Special Rules for Members
Members of parliament have immunity. This means that criminal charges cannot be brought against them easily. This rule helps protect them from political unfairness. However, the Folketing can usually remove this immunity if a member is accused of a crime.
Parliamentary debates are usually open to the public. In very rare cases, debates can be held in private. This has not happened since World War II.
Ministers and Laws
Ministers are part of the government. They can also be members of parliament, but they don't have to be. Ministers can speak in parliament whenever they need to, even if they are not elected members.
New laws can be suggested by members of parliament. They can also be suggested by ministers. Most new laws are proposed by ministers. This is because they have legal experts to help them write the laws.
How the Parliament is Organized
The Speaker
The Speaker is like the referee of the Folketing. They lead the meetings and decide who gets to speak. The Speaker also makes sure that debates stay orderly. The first Speaker was Carl Christoffer Georg Andræ in 1850.
The current Speaker is Søren Gade from the Venstre party. The Speaker and four Deputy Speakers are chosen by the members after each election. They form the leadership team of the Folketing.
Working in Committees
Members of parliament work in about thirty special groups called standing parliamentary committees. Each committee focuses on a specific area, like education or health. These areas usually match the responsibilities of one or more government ministers.
Who Makes Up the Folketing?
The Folketing is a representative democracy. This means its members represent the people of Denmark. However, the group of people in the Folketing doesn't always look exactly like the entire country. For example, there are often more middle-aged men.
About one-third of the seats in the Folketing change hands in each election. This number has stayed quite steady over the years.
Since women gained the right to be elected in 1915, more and more women have become members. In the most recent election in 2022, 78 out of 179 seats were held by women.
| Election year | Female members | Percent change | Percentage of Folketing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | 15 | - | 8,4% |
| 1960 | 17 | +13.3% | 9,5% |
| 1964 | 17 | +0.0% | 9,5% |
| 1966 | 19 | +11.8% | 10,6% |
| 1968 | 19 | +0.0% | 10,6% |
| 1971 | 30 | +57.9% | 16,8% |
| 1973 | 27 | −10.0% | 15,1% |
| 1975 | 28 | +3.7% | 15,6% |
| 1977 | 30 | +7.1% | 16,8% |
| 1979 | 42 | +40.0% | 23,5% |
| 1981 | 42 | +0.0% | 23,5% |
| 1984 | 47 | +11.9% | 26,3% |
| 1987 | 52 | +10.6% | 29,1% |
| 1988 | 52 | 0.0% | 29,1% |
| 1990 | 59 | +13.5% | 33,0% |
| 1994 | 59 | +0.0% | 33,0% |
| 1998 | 67 | +13.6% | 37,4% |
| 2001 | 68 | +1.5% | 38,0% |
| 2005 | 66 | −2.9% | 36,9% |
| 2007 | 67 | +1.5% | 37,4% |
| 2011 | 70 | +4.5% | 39,1% |
| 2015 | 67 | −4.3% | 37,4% |
| 2019 | 70 | +4.5% | 39,1% |
| 2022 | 78 | +11.4% | 43,6% |
Past Numbers of Members
The number of seats in the Folketing has changed over time. Between 1918 and 1920, there were 140 seats. This number then increased to 149. In 1953, the number was set at 179, which it remains today.
Current Members of Parliament
Here is a look at the parties and their leaders in the Folketing today:
| Party Name | Leader | 2022 Election | Current Seats | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes (%) | Seats Won | ||||||
| A | Social Democrats Socialdemokratiet | Mette Frederiksen | 27.5% |
50 / 179
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50 / 179
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| V | Venstre Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti | Troels Lund Poulsen | 13.3% |
23 / 179
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22 / 179
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| M | Moderates Moderaterne | Lars Løkke Rasmussen | 13.3% |
16 / 179
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15 / 179
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| F | Green Left Socialistisk Folkeparti | Pia Olsen Dyhr | 8.3% |
15 / 179
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15 / 179
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| Æ | Denmark Democrats Danmarksdemokraterne | Inger Støjberg | 8.1% |
14 / 179
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16 / 179
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| I | Liberal Alliance Liberal Alliance | Alex Vanopslagh | 7.9% |
14 / 179
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14 / 179
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| C | Conservative People's Party Det Konservative Folkeparti | Mona Juul | 5.5% |
10 / 179
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10 / 179
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| Ø | Red–Green Alliance Enhedslisten – De Rød-Grønne | Collective leadership Political leader: Pelle Dragsted | 5.1% |
9 / 179
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9 / 179
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| B | Social Liberals Det Radikale Venstre | Martin Lidegaard | 3.8% |
7 / 179
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7 / 179
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| O | Danish People's Party Dansk Folkeparti | Morten Messerschmidt | 2.6% |
5 / 179
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7 / 179
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| Å | The Alternative Alternativet | Franciska Rosenkilde | 3.3% |
6 / 179
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5 / 179
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| Ind. | Independent | 0.1% |
0 / 179
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4 / 179
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See also
In Spanish: Folketing para niños
- Cabinet of Denmark
- Elections in Denmark
- Elections in the Faroe Islands
- Elections in Greenland
- Inatsisartut – Greenland's Parliament
- Løgting – Faroe Islands' Parliament
- List of prime ministers of Denmark
