Government and Politics

Government and Politics of Iceland

Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of Iceland.

Government Structure

Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.

Government Type: constitutional republic
Administrative Divisions: 8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra, Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland
Legal System: civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Citizenship: Citizenship by birth: no Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Iceland Dual citizenship recognized: yes Residency requirement for naturalization: 3 to 7 years
Executive Branch: chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Halldor ASGRIMSSON (since 15 September 2004) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections: president, largely a ceremonial post, is elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 26 June 2004 (next to be held June 2008); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually the prime minister election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON 85.6%, Baldur AGUSTSSON 12.5%, Astthor MAGNUSSON 1.9%
Legislative Branch: unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 10 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - Independence Party 33.7%, Social Democratic Alliance 31%, Progressive Party 17.7%, Left-Green Movement 8.8%, Liberal Party 7.4%; seats by party - Independence Party 22, Social Democratic Alliance 20, Progressive Party 12, Left-Green Alliance 5, Liberal Party 4
Judicial Branch: Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice); eight district courts (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice)
Political Parties: Independence Party or IP [Geir HAARDE]; Left-Green Movement or LGM [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party or LP [Gudjon KRISTJANSSON]; Progressive Party or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON]; Social Democratic Alliance (includes People's Alliance or PA, Social Democratic Party or SDP, Women's List) or SDA [Ingibjorg Solrun GISLADOTTIR]
Head of State: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON
Head of Government: Prime Minister Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
Elections: president, largely a ceremonial post, is elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held 28 June 2004; the planned 2008 election was never held; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually the prime minister
Election Results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON 85.6%, Baldur AGUSTSSON 12.5%, Astthor MAGNUSSON 1.9% note: the election for president planned for 28 June 2008 was never held because Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON had no challengers; he was sworn in on 1 August 2008; a coalition government of the Social Democractic Alliance and the Left-Green Movement, headed by Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR, assumed office 1 February 2009
Constitution: 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
Independence: 1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
National Holiday: Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
International Organization Participation: Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIK, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.: chief of mission: Ambassador Helgi AGUSTSSON chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1704 telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653 FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656 consulate(s) general: New York
U.S. Diplomatic Representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Carol VAN VOORST embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340 telephone: [354] 562-9100 FAX: [354] 562-9118

Capital City

Seat of government and political history.

Capital City: Reykjavik
Location: 64 09 N, 21 57 W
Time Difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
History: The name means "smoky bay" in Icelandic and refers to the steamy, smoke-like vapors discharged by hot springs in the area

Embassy and Diplomatic Representation

Embassy location and contact details.

U.S. Embassy Reykjavik Laufasvegur 21 101 Reykjavik Telephone: 354-562-9100 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: 011-354-595-2248 Fax: 354-562-9110

Military

Branches, service obligations, expenditures, and manpower.

Military Branches: no regular military forces; Icelandic National Police; Icelandic Coast Guard

National Symbols

Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.

National Flag

Flag Symbolism: 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) Blue represents the color of the Atlantic Ocean. Red represents their links to Norway. White represents the snow and ice that covers the island most of the year.
Date of Adoption: 17 June 1944

National Anthem

Anthem Lyrics: Lofsöngur (þjóðsöngurinn) Ó, guð vors lands! Ó, land vors guðs, vér lofum þitt heilaga, heilaga nafn. úr sólkerfum himnanna hnýta þér krans þínir herskarar, tímanna safn. Fyrir þér er einn dagur sem þúsund ár og þúsund ár dagur, ei meir: eitt eil¡fðar smáblóm með titrandi tár, sem tilbiður guð sinn og deyr. Íslands þúsund ár, eitt eil¡fðar smáblóm með titrandi tár, sem tilbiður guð sinn og deyr
Anthem Lyrics (English): O God of Our land, Our land is God, We worship thy holy name, thy holy name >From the solar systems of the heavens bind for you a wreath, Your warriors the assembly of the ages For the is one day as a thousand years, and a thousand years is a day and no more. One small flower of eternity with a quivering tear, that prays to it's god and dies Iceland's thousand years, Iceland's thousand years One small flower of eternity with a quivering tear, that prays to it's god and dies Other English text version Our Country's God, Our Country's God We worship thy holy name, in it's wonder sublime The sons of thy heaven are set in thy crown by the legions, the ages of time. For thee is each day as a thousand years, and each thousand years, but a day. Eternity's flower with an homage of tears, that reverently prays life away. Iceland's thousand years, Icelands thousand years, Eternity's flower with a quivering tear, that prays to it's god and dies. Second and third verse (not used often) 2. O God, Our God, We bow to thee Our spirits most fervent we place in thy care. Lord God of our fathers, from age unto age, we are breating our holiest prayer We pray and we thank thee a thousand years for safely protected we stand We pray and we bring thee our homage of tears our destiny rests in thy hand. Iceland thousand years, Iceland's thousand years, the hoarfrost of morning which tinted those years, thy sun rising high shall command! 3. Our land is God, Our country's God, Our life is a feeble and quivering reed. We perish, deprived of thy spirit and light to redeem and uphold in our need. God, inspire us at morn' with thy courage and love, and lead through the days of our strife At evening send peace from thy heaven above, and safeguard our nation through life! Iceland's thousand years, Iceland thousand years, O prosper our people diminish our tears, and guide us in thy wisdom through life!

Other National Symbols

National Flower
White Dryas (Dryas octopetala)
It is a small prostrate evergreen subshrub forming large colonies, and is a popular flower in rock gardens. The specific epithet octopetala derives from the Greek octo (eight) and petalon (petal), referring to the eight petals of the flower, an unusual number in the Rosaceae, where five is the normal number. However flowers with up to 16 petals also occur naturally.

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