What can be brought to a referendum?

Constitution(1953)

Section 20

(1) Powersvested in the authorities of the Realm under this Constitutional Act may, tosuch extent as shall be provided by statute, be delegated to internationalauthorities set up by mutual agreement with other states for the promotion ofinternational rules of law and cooperation.

(2) Forthe enactment of a Bill dealing with the above, a majority of five-sixths ofthe members of the Folketing shall be required. If this majority is notobtained, whereas the majority required for the passing of ordinary Bills isobtained, and if the Government maintains it, the Bill shall be submitted tothe electorate for approval or rejection in accordance with the rules forreferenda laid down in section 42.

Section 29

(2) Theage qualification for suffrage shall be as determined by the referendum heldunder the Act dated March 25, 1953. Such age qualification for suffrage may bealtered at any time by statute. A Bill passed by the Folketing for the purposeof such enactment shall receive the Royal Assent only when the provision foraltering the age qualification for suffrage has been submitted to a referendum inaccordance with sub-section (5) of section 42, and which has not resulted inthe rejection of the provision.

Section 88

Should the Folketing pass a Bill for the purposes ofa new constitutional provision, and the Government wish to proceed with thematter, writs shall be issued for the election of members of a new Folketing.If the Bill is passed unamended by the Folketing assembling after the election,the Bill shall, within six months after its final passage, be submitted to theelectors for approval or rejection by direct voting. Rules for this votingshall be laid down by statute. If a majority of the persons taking part in thevoting, and at least 40 per cent of the electorate, have voted in favour of theBill as passed by the Folketing, and if the Bill receives the Royal Assent, itshall form an integral part of the Constitutional Act.

Section42

(1) Wherea Bill has been passed by the Folketing, one-third of the members of theFolketing may, within three weekdays from the final passing of the Bill,request of the President that the Bill be submitted to a referendum. Suchrequest shall be made in writing and signed by the members making the request.

(6) FinanceBills, Supplementary Appropriation Bills, Provisional Appropriation Bills,Government Loan Bills, Civil Servants (Amendment) Bills, Salaries and PensionsBills, Naturalization Bills, Expropriation Bills, Taxation (Direct and

Indirect) Bills, as well as Bills introduced for thepurpose of discharging existing treaty obligations shall not be submitted todecision by referendum.

This provision shall also apply to the Billsreferred to in sections 9, 8, 10, and 11, and to such resolutions as areprovided for in section 19, if existing in the form of a law, unless it hasbeen prescribed by a special Act that such resolutions shall be submitted toreferendum. Amendments to the Constitutional Act shall be governed by the ruleslaid down in section 88.

Section 19

(1) TheKing shall act on behalf of the Realm in international affairs, but, exceptwith the consent of the Folketing, the King shall not undertake any act wherebythe territory of the Realm shall be increased or reduced, nor shall he enterinto any obligation which for fulfilment requires the concurrence of theFolketing or which is otherwise of major importance; nor shall the King, exceptwith the consent of the Folketing, terminate any international treaty enteredinto with the consent of the Folketing.

(2) Exceptfor purposes of defence against an armed attack upon the Realm or Danish forcesthe King shall not use military force against any foreign state without theconsent of the Folketing. Any measure which the King may take in pursuance ofthis provision shall forthwith be submitted to the Folketing. If the Folketingis not in session it shall be convened immediately.

(3) TheFolketing shall appoint from among its members a Foreign Policy Committee, whichthe government shall consult before making any decision of major importance toforeign policy. Rules applying to the Foreign Policy Committee shall be laiddown by statute.