Constitution of Iceland

The Constitution of Iceland was adopted on 17 June 1944, when Iceland became a republic and ended its union with Denmark, following earlier constitutional stages under Danish rule in 1849 and 1874. It contains 80 articles in seven sections, sharing legislative and executive power between the Althing, the national parliament, and the presidency, with an independent judiciary. It has been amended seven times, chiefly on electoral constituencies and voting eligibility, and amendments require approval in two consecutive parliamentary sessions with a general election between them. Section VII sets out fundamental rights including prohibitions on torture and capital punishment and freedom of speech. A crowd-sourced constitutional revision pursued between 2010 and 2013 after the financial crisis remains unimplemented despite ongoing public support.