page_title: Danish Realm
section_title: Devolved powers
hierarchical_section_title: Danish Realm / Devolved powers
caption_attribution_description: English: The peninsula Tinganes in Tórshavn in the Faroes Deutsch: Die Halbinsel Tinganes in Tórshavn auf den Färöern Dansk: Halvøen Tinganes i Tórshavn på Færøerne
context_page_description: The Danish Realm or the Realm of Denmark consists of Denmark proper and its two autonomous territories: the Faroe Islands and Greenland. Together they are organized in the sovereign state the Kingdom of Denmark. The relationship between the three parts of the Kingdom is commonly known as The unity of the Realm.
  The Realm of Denmark is not a federation; it is a collection of a state and territories united under its monarch. The Kingdom of Denmark is a unitary sovereign state. It has one Arctic territorial claim. Constitutionally, the Kingdom of Denmark encompass the realm, but the Faroe Islands and Greenland have an extended degree of autonomy to govern their relations.
  The Faroe Islands and Greenland have been under the Crown of Denmark since 1397 when the Kalmar Union was ratified, and part of the Danish Realm since 1814. However, due to their separate historical and cultural identities, these parts of the Realm now have an extensive degree of self-government and have assumed legislative and administrative responsibility in a substantial number of fields.
  Legal matters in the Realm are subject to the Constitution of the Realm of Denmark.
context_section_description: The Kingdom of Denmark constitutes an unified sovereign state, with equal status between its constituent parts. Devolution differs from federalism in that the devolved powers of the subnational authority ultimately reside in central government, thus the state remains de jure unitary.
  The Self-Government Arrangements devolves political competence and responsibility from the Danish political authorities to the Faroese and the Greenlandic political authorities. The Faroese and Greenlandic authorities administer the tasks taken over from the state, enact legislation in these specific fields and have the economic responsibility for solving these tasks. The Danish government provides an annual grant to the Faroese and the Greenlandic authorities to cover the costs of these devolved areas.
  The 1948 "Home Rule Act of the Faroe Islands" sets out the terms of Faroese home rule. The Act states, "...the Faroe Islands shall constitute a self-governing community within the State of Denmark." It establishes the home government of the Faroe Islands (Landsstýrið) and the Faroese parliament, the Løgting. More significantly, the Act specifies the powers devolved from the Government of Denmark, including: local government and municipal affairs; taxation, at a local and territorial level; public services, including police and town planning; welfare services, such as housing; primary and secondary education; Archives, libraries, museums; agriculture and fishing; entertainment; among other areas. The Faroe Islands were previously administered as a Danish county (amt); the Home Rule Act abolished the post of Amtmand (County Governor) and replaced it with the role of Rigsombudsmand (High Commissioner of the Danish government). These powers were expanded in a 2005 Act, which named the Faroese home government as an "equal partner" with the Danish government.
  The 1978 "Greenland Home Rule Act" devolves powers in much the same way as the Faroese Home Rule Act. It sets out a home rule government and Greenlandic parliament. Specific areas of governance specified in the act include: Organization of local government; Fishing and agriculture; Welfare system; protection of the environment; other areas affecting Greenlanders directly, etc.
  On 21 June 2009, Greenland assumed self-determination with responsibility for self-government of judicial affairs, policing, natural resources, immigration and border controls. Also, Greenlanders were recognized as a separate people under international law. Greenland is now described as having "self rule", with its home government exercising a wider range of powers.
  There are a number of matters that can not be acquired by the territories; Constitutional affairs, foreign policy, defence, the Supreme Court, citizenship, and monetary policy. Additionally, the  Faroese and Greenlandic parliaments are subordinate to the Danish parliament, where the two territories are represented by two seats each (from a total of 179 seats).
  The Faroe Islands have gradually taken control of more and more areas of responsibility according to their Home Rule Act from 1948. The Faroese/Danish act of 2005 states: "This law is based on an agreement between the Governments of the Faroe Islands and Denmark as equal partners."
caption: Tinganes, in the capital Tórshavn, is the location of the Faroese Home Government.
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