Althing

The **Althing** () is the national parliament of Iceland. It is the oldest legislature in the world that has been abolished and subsequently re-established. It was founded in 930 at Thingvellir (the "assembly fields"), which is almost  east of Iceland's capital, Reykjavík. When the Althing was formed, that was the beginning of Iceland as a country.

Iceland is divided into six electoral constituencies. Each constituency elects nine members. Another nine seats are divided between parties based on how many people in the whole country voted for them.

## History

The Althing formed around the year 930, about 60 years after humans arrived on the island of Iceland. It started as a meeting of the country's most powerful leaders. They met to make laws and rule on matters of justice. All free men could attend the assemblies, which were usually the main social event of the year. However, slaves and women were not permitted to attend it, which means that the parliament was not completely egalitarian. Forming the centre of the meeting place was the _lögberg_ (law rock), a rock where the speaker of the assembly sat. It was his responsibility to say the laws and decisions out loud to the people.

The most important group within the Althing was the _lögrétta_. It was made up of the country's 36 district leaders, nine other members, and the speaker. This group made the laws and ruled on legal disputes.

### Royal period

After the union with Norway in 1264, the speaker was replaced by two administrators called _lögmenn_, who were appointed by the Norwegian king. The _lögrétta_ shared legislative power with the king. Laws adopted by the Althing had to be approved by the king, and if the king made a law, it had to be approved by the Althing.

In the 14th century, the monarchies of Norway and Denmark were united and Iceland was ruled from Copenhagen. This became an absolute monarchy and the Althing gave up the right to make laws for Iceland. It served only as a court of law until June 1800, when the king dissolved it completely. It was replaced by a High Court of three judges who met in Reykjavik.

### Constitutional period

In July 1843, the king said the Althing could be recreated. Elections were held the year after, and the new parliament met for the first time on 1 July 1845. A constitution was created in 1874. It granted the Althing joint legislative power with the crown in matters relating only to Iceland. It increased the number of members of the Althing to 36: 30 of them were elected and the other six appointed by the king.

Iceland was given home rule in October 1903. In December 1918, Iceland was brought into a personal union with the King of Denmark. It was set so that after 25 years, the country could choose to leave the union. The Althing was given unlimited legislative power. The king no longer had any law-making powers in the country. The number of members of the Althing was increased to 42 in 1920, and to 52 in 1942.

Women were given the right to vote in 1915. The first female member of parliament was elected in 1922.

### Modern period

When Denmark was occupied by Germany on 9 April 1940, its union with Iceland was no longer in effect. On the next day, the Althing gave the Icelandic cabinet executive power. It made the prime minister head of state. A year later the Althing appointed a regent to represent the king. This office continued until 1944, when the personal union with the Danish king expired. The modern-day Republic of Iceland was established at a session of the Althing held at Thingvellir on 17 June 1944.

## Infobox (legislature)

- **background color**: #725b2f
- **text color**: #FFFFFF
- **name**: Icelandic Parliament
- **native name**: Alþingi Íslendinga
- **coa pic**: Reykjavik althing.jpg
- **coa res**: 260px
- **house type**: Unicameral
- **leader1 type**: Speaker (politics), Speaker
- **leader1**: Einar Kristinn Guðfinnsson
- **party1**: Social Democratic Alliance
- **election1**: 14 May 2009
- **members**: 63
- **structure1**: 2013 Icelandic Parliament Structure.png
- **structure1 res**: 260px
- **structure1 alt**: Current Structure of the Icelandic Parliament
- **political groups1**: **Government coalition**
: Independence Party (Iceland), Independence Party (21)
: Progressive Party (Iceland), Progressive Party (8)
**Opposition Parties**
: Pirate Party (Iceland, Pirate Party (10)
: Left-Green Movement (10)
: Reform Party (Iceland), Reform Party (7)
: Bright Future (4)
: Social Democratic Alliance (3)
- **voting system1**: Proportional representation
- **last election1**: 25 April 2009
- **session room**: Alþingi.JPG
- **session res**: 260px
- **session alt**: The Icelandic Parliament sits in the Old Royal Palace in Athens
- **meeting place**: Parliament House (_Alþingishúsið_), Reykjavík
- **website**: [http://www.althingi.is www.althingi.is]