1 city* (stad); Arhus, Bornholms,
Frederiksborg, Fyns, Kobenhavns, Nordjyllands, Ribe, Ringkobing,
Roskilde, Sonderjyllands, Staden Kobenhavn*, Storstroms, Vejle,
Vestsjaellands, Viborg
note: see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland,
which are part of the Danish realm and self-governing administrative
divisions

Independence: 10th century first organized as a unified state; in
1849 became a constitutional monarchy

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

Constitution: 1849 was the original constitution; there was a
major overhaul 5 June 1953, allowing for a unicameral legislature
and a female chief of state

Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since NA January 1972) is a
constitutional monarch; Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder
son of the queen (born 26 May 1968)
head of government: Prime Minister Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN (since NA
January 1993) was appointed by the queen
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the queen

Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament (Folketing): elections last held 21 September 1994 (next
to be held by December 1998); results - Social Democrats 34.6%,
Liberals 23.3%, Conservatives 15.0%, Social People's Party 7.3%,
Progress Party 6.4%, Radical Liberals 4.6%, Unity Party 3.1%, Center
Democrats 2.8%, Christian People's Party 1.8%; seats - (179 total)
Social Democrats 63, Liberals 44, Conservatives 28, Social People's
Party 13, Progress Party 11, Radical Liberals 8, Unity Party 6,
Center Democrats 5, independent 1

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

Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party, Poul Nyrup
RASMUSSEN; Conservative Party, Hans ENGELL; Liberal Party, Uffe
ELLEMANN-JENSEN; Socialist People's Party, Holger K. NIELSEN;
Progress Party, Group Chairman Kim BEHNKE and Policy Spokesman Jan
Kopke CHRISTENSEN; Center Democratic Party, Mimi Stilling JAKOBSEN;
Radical Liberal Party, Marianne JELVED; Christian People's Party,
Jann SJURSEN; Danish Workers' Party, Common Cause, Preben Moller
HANSEN; Unity Party

International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),
AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB,
ESA, EU, F