WELCOME TO THE FOLKETING
The sessions of the Folketing are public, and it is thus possible for anyone who is interested to follow the debates in the Chamber from the seats in the Public Galleries. However, the work of the Chamber must never be upset in any way by visitors. And the instructions of the Folketing officers shall be observed at all times.
Lay-out of the Chamber
Each of the 179 Members of the Folketing has his own seat in the Chamber.
Members of the Cabinet, who are usually also Members of the Folketing, occupy the front seats on the right side of the Chamber. The Speaker who presides over the debates sits in the middle. To the right of the Speaker (seen
from the Public Galleries) is the rostrum of the Folketing. Members and
Ministers make their interventions from this rostrum. However, Members speak
from their seats in the Chamber during Question Time. To the left of the
Speaker, you will find the Clerk of the Folketing. The latter is a civil
servant who assists the Speaker in his work. The Press Gallery is situated on
the right side of the Chamber i.e. below the Public Galleries. On the left
side, you will find some special galleries i.a. galleries reserved for the
Royal Family whose members attend the opening debate of the Folketing together
with representatives of the Supreme Court.
Members' working day
Members of the Folketing have a busy and generally very long working day.
Meetings in the various committees of the Folketing and in the parliamentary
groups as well as contacts with the Press and the voters are part of the work
which takes place outside the Chamber. The Members can - i.a. by attending
committee meetings, meetings in the parliamentary groups and by listening to
close circuit radios in their offices - keep up to date with everything which
goes on in the Chamber, even though they may not always, for practical reasons,
be present during the debates.
Votings
The tapestry weaving in the middle of the Chamber has been created by the
weaver, Mrs Berit Hjelholt, and is entitled, "like a fleet anxious to weigh anchor". On either side of the tapestry weaving there is a board. The two
boards indicate which proposal is being discussed and who is speaking during
the debates. During the votings, a graphic chart is displaying the Members'
seats in the Chamber. On the chart, the colour of a lamp placed at every seat
indicates how the individual Member votes: A vote for the proposal is indicated
by a green light, a vote against the proposal is indicated by a red light and a
yellow light indicates an abstention. When the voting has come to a close, the
number of Members who have voted for, against or abstained from voting is
likewise indicated.
Debates of the Folketing
The debates usually take place at the hours stated below and with the said
matters on the order paper.
TUESDAY
The session opens at 1.00 p.m.
1) Third and second readings
2) First readings
3) Eventual interpellation debates
4) Eventual debates on accounts
WEDNESDAY
The session opens at 1.00 p.m.
1) Question Hour
2) Question Time
3) First readings
4) Eventual debates on accounts
THURSDAY
The session opens at 10.00 a.m.
1) Third and second readings
2) First readings
3) Eventual interpellation debates
4) Eventual debates on accounts
Usually the debate is interrupted by a lunch break
FRIDAY
The session opens at 10.00 a.m.
1) Third and second readings
2) First readings
3) Eventual debates on accounts
The Folketing uses a number of special expressions such as first readings,
Question Time and interpellation debates. Here, you will
find a list of these expressions.
EXPRESSIONS RELATED TO THE WORK OF THE FOLKETING
Order paper
An order paper is a printed list of the matters to be dealt with during the
session in question.
Interpellation
By means of an interpellation addressed to a Minister, one or more Members can
make a matter on a public issue the subject of a debate in the Chamber. After
the Folketing has approved the interpellation, a reply to it is given by the
Minister during an interpellation debate. The parliamentary groups
appoint the spokesmen who are to take part in this debate.
Speaker
The work in the Folketing is planned by the Speaker who is assisted by the
Clerk of the Folketing. It is also the Speaker who, seated at the
rostrum, presides over the debates. The Speaker may, however, be replaced by
one of the four Deputy Speakers.
Proposal for Parliamentary Resolution
Such a proposal is typically introduced by the Opposition parties i.e. by the
parties which are not part of the Cabinet. A proposal for parliamentary
resolution often contains a recommendation to the Government to submit a Bill
according to detailed guidelines. A proposal for parliamentary resolution is
only read twice. Usually, a committee reading is inserted between the two
readings.
Bills
Bills can be submitted either by the Government or by Members of the
Opposition parties. In accordance with the Constitutional Act of the Kingdom of
Denmark, a Bill shall be read three times before it is adopted.
First reading: At the first reading, the Bill is discussed in
general. No amendments may be moved. Normally, the Bill is referred to a
committee.
Report: After having read the Bill, the committee may make a
report. The report contains recommendations to the Folketing as well as
eventual amendments.
Second reading: The Bill is discussed in general and in detail.
The individual Sections and eventual amendments to the Bill are put to the
vote. Usually, the Bill passes on directly to the third reading.
Supplementary report: The Bill can also be referred to a new
committee reading. Subsequent to this reading, the committee usually makes a
supplementary report which may i.a. contain amendments.
Third reading: At the third reading, eventual new amendments are
discussed and put to the vote. Subsequently, the Bill is discussed in its
entirety and it is put to the final vote.
Proposals to be passed
A proposal to be passed (formerly referred to as "proposal for a resolution on
the order of business") can be introduced during an interpellation debate or
during an opening debate. If a proposal which has been moved by the Opposition
is passed and if it implies an expression of no confidence in the Government,
the Government shall resign. On the contrary, a proposal to be passed implying
an expression of confidence in the Government - moved by one or more of the
parties supporting the Government - can counter a vote of no confidence. Such a
vote becomes void if the Folketing adopts the proposal expressing confidence in
the Government. Subsequently, the Folketing moves on to the next item on the
order paper.
Spokesmen
When a given matter is being read, the individual party group chooses a
spokesman who speaks, from the rostrum, on the part of the whole group.
Parliamentary groups
178 out of the total number of 179 Members of the Folketing have joined
parliamentary groups which correspond to the parties which they represent in
the Folketing. At the moment, there are 10 parliamentary groups.
Accounts
A Minister can give the Folketing an account of a public matter. The account
which will normally be in writing will usually be subjected to a debate during
an interpellation debate.
Questions
The Members of the Folketing can put questions to the Ministers regarding a
public matter and ask for a written or an oral reply. Replies to the oral
questions are given briefly, in the Chamber, during the weekly Question
Time on Wednesdays. As from the opening of the sessional year 1997-1998, a
weekly Question Hour was introduced. This Hour is inserted immediately
before Question Time. Question Hour differs from Question Time as the Minister
does not have the possibility of preparing his answer beforehand but has to
reply to the question on the spot.
Speaking Time
The Standing Orders of the Folketing comprise rules as to how long one may
speak during the reading of the various types of cases. The spokesmen are given
the floor in an order decided by the size of the parliamentary groups. The
Members may be given the Floor to make short remarks to the extent which the
Speaker thinks fit.
Committees
The Folketing has 24 standing (i.e. permanent) committees. With
one exception, there are 17 Members and a number of substitutes on each
committee. Such substitutes may attend committee meetings if they so wish. The
parliamentary groups are represented according to their size. The committees
examine Bills and proposals for parliamentary resolution. The committees may
call in a Minister for consultation, put questions to a Minister and receive
deputations.