Administrative divisions
metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region); Hovedstaden, Midtjylland, Nordjylland, Sjaelland, Syddanmark
note: an extensive local government reform merged 271 municipalities into 98 and 13 counties into five regions, effective 1 January 2007 |
|
Capital city > Geographic coordinates
|
55 40 N, 12 35 E |
|
|
Constitution
5 June 1953 constitution allowed for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state |
|
Corruption
|
9.5 |
|
[4th of 160]
|
|
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address
|
PSC 73, APO AE 09716 |
|
|
Executive branch > Cabinet
Council of State appointed by the monarch |
Executive branch > Chief of state
Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born 26 May 1968) |
Flag description
red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side; the banner is referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag); note: the shifted design element was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden |
|
Government type
|
constitutional monarchy |
|
|
Independence
first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy |
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch for life) |
Legal system
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations |
Legislative branch
unicameral People's Assembly or Folketinget (179 seats, including 2 from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms unless the Folketinget is dissolved earlier) |
Political parties and leaders
Christian Democrats [Bjarne Hartung KIRKEGAARD] (was Christian People's Party); Conservative Party [Bendt BENDTSEN] (sometimes known as Conservative People's Party); Danish People's Party [Pia KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Party [Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN]; New Alliance [Naser KHADER]; Red-Green Unity List (Alliance) [collective leadership] (bloc includes Left Socialist Party, Communist Party of Denmark, Socialist Workers' Party); Social Democratic Party [Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT]; Social Liberal Party [Margrethe VESTAGER]; Socialist People's Party [Villy SOEVNDAL] |
Political pressure groups and leaders
Danish Free Press Society (freedom of speech); Danish National Socialist Movement or DNSB [Jonni HANSEN] (neo-Nazi organization) |
Status
democracy |
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal |
|
Time required to start a business > days
|
5 days
|
|
[168th of 171]
|
|
Trademarks, residents
|
4,185
|
|
[25th of 98]
|
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International
Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; Faroese continue to study proposals for full independence; sovereignty dispute with Canada over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland |
del.icio.us
There are 2 more (non-authoritative) comments on this page
Feeds |
Contact