Politics of Iceland
Conventional Long Form Name of country: Republic of Iceland
Capital: Reykjavik
Type of Government: constitutional republic
Date of Independence: June 17,1944
National Holiday(s): Independence Day- June 17, 1944
Chief of State: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON Head of Government: Minister Sigmundur David GUNNLAUGSSON
Capital: Reykjavik
Type of Government: constitutional republic
Date of Independence: June 17,1944
National Holiday(s): Independence Day- June 17, 1944
Chief of State: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON Head of Government: Minister Sigmundur David GUNNLAUGSSON
Description of Executive Branch/Powers: President is elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held on 30 June 2012 (next to be held in June 2016); note - following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually the prime minister.
Description of Legislative Branch/Powers:unicameral Althingi (parliament) (63 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Description of Judicial Branch/Powers: highest court(s): Supreme Court or Haestirettur (consists of 9 judges)judge selection and term of office: judges proposed by Ministry of Interior selection committee and appointed by the president; judges appointed for an indefinite period
subordinate courts: 8 district courts; Labor Court
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Ambassador to the U.S: Ambassador Luis E. ARREAGA
embassy in the U.S.: House of Sweden
consulate(s) in the U.S.: New York
U.S. Ambassador: Ambassador Gudmundur A. STEFANSSON
Location of U.S. embassy in Iceland: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik
consulate(s) of the U.S.: N/A
representative to UN: N/A
Description of Legislative Branch/Powers:unicameral Althingi (parliament) (63 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Description of Judicial Branch/Powers: highest court(s): Supreme Court or Haestirettur (consists of 9 judges)judge selection and term of office: judges proposed by Ministry of Interior selection committee and appointed by the president; judges appointed for an indefinite period
subordinate courts: 8 district courts; Labor Court
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Ambassador to the U.S: Ambassador Luis E. ARREAGA
embassy in the U.S.: House of Sweden
consulate(s) in the U.S.: New York
U.S. Ambassador: Ambassador Gudmundur A. STEFANSSON
Location of U.S. embassy in Iceland: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik
consulate(s) of the U.S.: N/A
representative to UN: N/A
blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors represent three of the elements that make up the island: red is for the island's volcanic fires, white recalls the snow and ice fields of the island, and blue is for the surrounding ocean
National Symbol(s): gyrfalcon
International Disputes: Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; the European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority filed a suit against Iceland, claiming the country violated the European Economic Area agreement in failing to pay minimum compensation to Icesave depositors
Quantity of refugees: N/A
Quantity of Internally Displaced Persons: N/A
Quantity of Stateless Persons: 119 (2012)
Description of current human trafficking issues related to this country: N/A
International Disputes: Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; the European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority filed a suit against Iceland, claiming the country violated the European Economic Area agreement in failing to pay minimum compensation to Icesave depositors
Quantity of refugees: N/A
Quantity of Internally Displaced Persons: N/A
Quantity of Stateless Persons: 119 (2012)
Description of current human trafficking issues related to this country: N/A