Denmark - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Denmark, it was the name derives from the words "Dane(s)" and "mark"; the latter referring to a march (borderland) or forest. The Government system in this country is the parliamentary constitutional monarchy type and the different Administrative divisions includes: metropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region); Hovedstaden (Capital), Midtjylland (Central Jutland), Nordjylland (North Jutland), Sjaelland (Zealand), Syddanmark (Southern Denmark)
National symbols
Lion, mute swan; national colors: red, white.
The flag
The National flag of Denmark has 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) and is one of the oldest national flags in the world; traditions as to the origin of the flag design vary, but the best known is a legend that the banner fell from the sky during an early-13th century battle; caught up by the Danish king before it ever touched the earth, this heavenly talisman inspired the royal army to victory; in actuality, the flag may derive from a crusade banner or ensign.
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note: the shifted cross design element was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, as well as by the Faroe Islands
The National Anthem
| Title | "Der er et yndigt land" (There is a Lovely Country); "Kong Christian" (King Christian) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Adam Gottlob OEHLENSCHLAGER/Hans Ernst KROYER; Johannes EWALD/unknown |
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note: Denmark has two national anthems with equal status; "Der er et yndigt land," adopted 1844, is a national anthem, while "Kong Christian," adopted 1780, serves as both a national and royal anthem; "Kong Christian" is also known as "Kong Christian stod ved hojen mast" (King Christian Stood by the Lofty Mast) and "Kongesangen" (The King's Anthem); within Denmark, the royal anthem is played only when royalty is present and is usually followed by the national anthem; when royalty is not present, only the national anthem is performed; outside Denmark, the royal anthem is played, unless the national anthem is requested
More about the government of Denmark
| Date of Independence | ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under Harald I GORMSSON); 5 June 1849 (became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Constitution Day, 5 June (1849); note - closest equivalent to a national holiday |
| Legal system | civil law; judicial review of legislative acts |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Constitution | |
| History | Several previous; latest adopted 5 June 1953 |
| Amendments | Proposed by the Folketing (Parliament) with consent of the government; passage requires approval by the next Folketing following a general election, approval by simple majority vote of at least 40% of voters in a referendum, and assent of the chief of state; changed several times, last in 2009 (Danish Act of Succession) |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a citizen of Denmark |
| Dual citizenship recognized | yes |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 7 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | King FREDERIK X (since 14 January 2024) |
| Head of government | Prime Minister Mette FREDERIKSEN (since 27 June 2019) |
| Cabinet | Council of State appointed by the monarch |
| Elections/appointments | the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch |
| Legislative branch | |
| Description | Unicameral People's Assembly or Folketing (179 seats, including 2 each representing Greenland and the Faroe Islands; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms unless the Folketing is dissolved earlier) |
| Elections | Last held on 1 November 2022 (next to be held by 31 October 2026) |
| Election results | Percent of vote by party - SDP 27.5%, V 13.3%, M 9.3%, SF 8.3%, E 8.1%, LA 8.1%, C 5.5%, EL 5.1%, SLP 3.8%, AP 3.3%, NB 3.3%, DF 2.6%; seats by party - SDP 50, V 23, M 16, SF 15, E 14, LA 14, C 10, EL 9, SLP 7, AP 6, NB 6, DF 5; composition - men 98, women 81, percentage women 45.3% |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court (consists of the court president and 18 judges) |
| Judge selection and term of office | Judges appointed by the monarch upon the recommendation of the Minister of Justice, with the advice of the Judicial Appointments Council, a 6-member independent body of judges and lawyers; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 70 |
| Subordinate courts | Special Court of Indictment and Revision; 2 High Courts; Maritime and Commercial Court; county courts |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Jesper Møller SØRENSEN (since 15 September 2023) |
| Chancery | 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 234-4300 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 328-1470 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://usa.um.dk/en |
| Consulate(s) general | Chicago, Houston, New York, Silicon Valley (CA) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Alan LEVENTHAL (since 1 July 2022) |
| Embassy | Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Kobenhavn 0 |
| Mailing address | 5280 Copenhagen Place, Washington DC 20521-5280 |
| Telephone | [45] 33-41-71-00 |
| FAX | [45] 35-43-02-23 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://dk.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 11 (8 cultural, 3 natural); note - includes three sites in Greenland |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Denmark: Mounds, Runic Stones, and Church at Jelling (c); Roskilde Cathedral (c); Kronborg Castle (c); Wadden Sea (n); Stevns Klint (n); Christiansfeld, Moravian Church Settlement (c); Par force hunting landscape, North Zealand (c); Greenland: Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit–Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c); Viking-Age Ring Fortresses (c) |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Denmark
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Denmark
Want to know more about Denmark? Check all different factbooks for Denmark below.
