Landsting (Denmark)
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- This article is about the usage of Landsting in Denmark. For other uses, see Landsting.
The Landsting was a house in the Rigsdag in Denmark from 1849 until 1953, when the bicameral system was abolished. The house had powers equal to the Folketing which made them hard to distinguish.
Originally it was regarded as the house of lords, and the members were largely conservatives. Membership of the house was then restricted to certain sectors of society – only males with a certain net worth could hold a seat. Later, these restrictions were removed. A small number of new members were appointed by the existing members.
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[edit] History
Under the Constitution of 1849, the two houses the requirements right to vote was the same for the two houses, however the requirements for electability was stricter for the Landsting; candidates were limited to those of age 40 and above and the were required to have a substantial income.[1] The house originally had 51 members, all elected by indirect election.[2] The voters elected a group of electors for each constituency, and the electors elected the members of the house. The members were elected for a term of eight years, however half of the seats were up for election every four years.
With the Constitution of 1866, the election system was reformed. The number of seats was increased to 66 of which twelve were appointed by the king for a period of twelve years, and one by the Faroese Løgting.[3] The remaining 53 were elected by indirect election, and half of the electors were elected by those who paid the largest amount in taxes, the other half by all the voters.[4] The result was a conservative majority lasting 35 years, until the 1902 election.[3]
The next reform of the election system came with the Constitution of 1915, and the first election under the system was the 1918 election. Women were given the right to vote, the number of seats was increased to 72, the numbers of constituencies was reduced to seven, and the system of appointed members was replaced by 18 members elected by the resigning Landsting for a period of eight years.[5][6]
[edit] Etymology and earlier use
Ting (old norse: þing) means assembly. It first came into being during Viking times and was formed by the freemen of the community. In those times it numbered a hundred men. Tings were necessary in the clan society of Northern Germany and Scandinavia. Inter-clan wars were resolved or prevented through the governance of the ting. It also served as the place for religious rites and trade negotiations.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Zahle, Henrik (May 2003). Official Denmark - Constitution. Denmark. Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved on January 21, 2007.
- ^ Danmarks Riges Grundlov af 5. juni 1849 (Danish). Danmarkshistorien. Danish Ministry of Education. Retrieved on January 21, 2007.
- ^ a b Danmarks Riges Gjennemsete Grundlov af 5. juni 1849 som stadfæstet 28. juli 1866 (Danish). Danmarkshistorien. Danish Ministry of Education. Retrieved on January 21, 2007.
- ^ Engelstoft, Povl (1951). in Bomholt, J.; Fabricius, K.;Hjelholt, H.; Mackeprang, M.; Møller, A. (eds.): Den Danske Rigsdag 1849-1949 bind II - Rigsdagens historie 1866-1949 (in Danish). Copenhagen: J. H. Schultz Forlag, pp. 22-23.
- ^ Engelstoft, p. 278.
- ^ Rosenkrantz, Palle (1934). Den danske regering og rigsdag 1903-1934 (in Danish). Copenhagen: Arthur Jensens Forlag, pp. 41, 407.
