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I. Political systems of different countries

Read these texts and retell them. Find the meaning of all the words printed in bald. Use them in your stories. Which of these words can we use when telling about the political system of Russia?

1. Political system of Denmark

The Kingdom of Denmark, literally meaning "the land of Danes" is the smallest and southernmost of the Nordic countries, two of which are monarchies too – Norway and Sweden.

Denmark became a constitutional monarchy in 1849 after having been an absolutist state since 1660 and has been a parliamentary democracy since 1901. Having existed for more than 1,000 years, the Danish monarchy is the second oldest in the world, right after the Japanese. Denmark is a part of the European Union. The Kingdom of Denmark also encompasses two off-shore territories, Greenland and the Faeroe islands, both of which enjoy wide-ranging home rule. Since the mid-20th century, Danish society has been partly defined by the “Scandinavian Model” of public services. According to a study published by UNESCO and the CIA, Denmark ranks as the "happiest" nation on earth.

The Kingdom of Denmark is a constitutional monarchy, with executive power with Queen Margrethe II as head of state. This executive power is exercised on behalf of the monarch by the prime minister and other cabinet ministers who head departments. The cabinet, including the prime minister, and other ministers collectively make up the government. These ministers are responsible to Parliament, the legislative body, which is traditionally considered to be supreme.

While the monarch is head of state and theoretically holds all executive power, it is the prime minister who is head of government. The government is answerable chiefly to Parliament; however, ministers do not have to come from Parliament, though it is mostly the case.

The Folketing is the national legislature. It has the ultimate legislative authority according to the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty; however questions over sovereignty have been brought forward because of Denmark’s entry into the European Union. In theory however, the doctrine prevails. Parliament consists of 179 members elected by proportional majority. Parliamentary elections are held at least every four years, but it is within the powers of the prime minister to call one sooner. On a vote of no confidence the parliament may force the entire government to resign.

Compared to most other Western European countries, the Danish political system has traditionally emphasised coalitions. In some cases this has been in the form of majority coalitions, although most Danish post-war governments have been minority coalitions, ruling with more or less stable parliamentary support.

Since November 2001, the Danish Prime Minister has been Anders Fogh Rasmussen from the party Venstre, a centre-right liberal party. Apart from a 10 year period defined by economic reform and change of foreign policy during the 1980s, historically, the Social Democrats have led most post-war Danish governments, although the Social Democratic influence has never been as strong as in Sweden.

Greenland and the Faeroe islands are also parts of the Kingdom of Denmark, but have autonomous status and are largely self-governing, and are each represented by two seats in the parliament.

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