Denmark Government 1997

Country name
conventional long form : Kingdom of Denmark
conventional short form: Denmark
local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
local short form: Danmark

Data code DA

Government type constitutional monarchy

National capital Copenhagen

Administrative divisions metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 1 city*(stad); Arhus, Bornholms, Frederiksborg, Fyns, Kobenhavns, Nordjyllands, Ribe,Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjyllands, Staden Kobenhavn*, Storstroms, Vejle,Vestsjaellands, Viborg
note : there is one other city, Fredericksberg, mentioned by some sources,but the US government has not recognized it as a first-order administrativedivision; see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, whichare part of the Danish realm and self-governing administrative divisions

Independence 10th century first organized as a unified state; in 1849 became a constitutionalmonarchy

National holiday Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Constitution 1849 was the original constitution; there was a major overhaul 5 June1953, allowing for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state

Legal system civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown PrinceFREDERIK, elder son of the queen (born 26 May 1968)
head of government: Prime Minister Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN (since 25 January 1993)
cabinet : Cabinet appointed by the queen
elections: none; the queen is a constitutional monarch; prime minister appointedby the queen

Legislative branch unicameral Parliament or Folketing (179 seats; members are elected onthe basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 21 September 1994 (next to be held not later than September1998)
election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 34.6%, Liberals 23.3%, Conservatives15.0%, Socialist People's Party 7.3%, Progress Party 6.4%, Social Liberals4.6%, Unity List 3.1%, Center Democrats 2.8%, Christian People's Party 1.8%;seats by party - Social Democrats 63, Liberals 44, Conservatives 28, SocialistPeople's Party 13, Progress Party 11, Social Liberals 8, Unity List 6, CenterDemocrats 5, independent 1; note - Progress Party split up in spring of 1995:Progress Party retained 7 seats, Danish People's Party 4 seats

Judicial branch Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the monarch for life

Political parties and leaders Social Democratic Party [Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN]; Conservative Party [HansENGELL]; Liberal Party [Uffe ELLEMANN-JENSEN]; Socialist People's Party [HolgerK. NIELSEN]; Progress Party [Kirsten JAKOBSEN]; Center Democratic Party [MimiJAKOBSEN]; Social Liberal Party [Marianne JELVED]; Unity Party [none]; DanishPeople's Party [Pia KJAERSGAARD]

International organization participation AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN,EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG,UNPREDEP, UNTAES, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission : Ambassador Knud-Erik TYGESEN
chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300
FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission : Ambassador Edward E. ELSON
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen
mailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716
telephone: [45] (31) 42 31 44
FAX : [45] (35) 43 02 23

Flag description red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the verticalpart of the cross is shifted to the hoist side, and that design element ofthe Dannebrog (Danish flag) was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countriesof Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden

NOTE: The information regarding Denmark on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Denmark Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Denmark Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.