Government of Denmark
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Denmark is a constitutional monarchy with a representative democracy based on a unicameral parliamentary system. The affairs of Government are decided by a Cabinet of Ministers, which is led by a Prime Minister. The Cabinet and the Prime Minister are responsible for their actions to the Parliament of Denmark.
Members of the cabinet are given the formal title of minister and each hold a different portfolio of government duties. The day-to-day role of the cabinet members is to serve as head of one or more segments of the national bureaucracy, as head of the civil servants to which all employees in that department report.
Head of Government
Enjoying the status of primus inter pares, the Prime Minister is head of the Danish government. The Minister and members of the cabinet are appointed by the Crown on basis of the party composition in Parliament. No vote of confidence is necessary. If the Parliament expresses its lack of confidence in the Prime Minister, the entire cabinet must step down, unless a new election for Parliament is called.
As of October 3, 2011, the Prime Minister is Helle Thorning-Schmidt, leading a minority government coalition of the Social Democrats, Social Liberal Party and Socialist Peoples' Party. The government is supported by the Red-Green Alliance.
Cabinet Government
According to section 14 of the constitution, the king sets the number of ministers and the distribution of cases between them. That means that the number of cabinet positions and the organisation of the state administration into agencies are not set by law, but subject to change without notice. A coalition of many parties usually means a large cabinet and many ministries, while a small coalition or the rare one party government means fewer, larger ministries.
As of October 3, 2011 in the wake of the parliamentary elections, the cabinet has 23 members including the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister leads the work of the Cabinet as well as being minister for constitutional affairs, overseas territories and for the affairs of the press.
The 23 cabinet members hold different portfolios of duties, including but not limited to the day-to-day role as head of one or more segments of the government departments.
Since it is not a requirement that cabinet members be elected members of parliament, it is likewise not required for them to resign a seat in parliament while holding a position in the cabinet.
Departments
On October 3, 2011, the Minister of State, Helle Thorning-Schmidt presented the new government, firstly to the Queen and thereafter to the public. The ministerial posts are as follows:
| Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | Social Democrats | ||
| Minister for Economy and Interior | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | Social Liberals | ||
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | SF | ||
| Minister for Finance | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | Social Democrats | ||
| Minister for Justice | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | Social Democrats | ||
| Minister for Defence | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | Social Democrats | ||
| Minister for Culture | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | Social Liberals | ||
| Minister for Taxation | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | SF | ||
| Minister for Research, Innovation and Higher Education | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | Social Liberals | ||
| Minister for Commerce and Growth | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | SF | ||
| Minister for the City, Housing and Rural Affairs | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | Social Democrats | ||
| Minister for Employment | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | Social Democrats | ||
| Minister for Children and Education | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | Social Democrats | ||
| Minister for Integration and Social Affairs | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | Social Democrats | ||
| Minister for Development Cooperation | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | Social Liberals | ||
| Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | Social Democrats | ||
| Minister for Trade and Investment | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | SF | ||
| Minister for Climate and Energy | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | Social Liberals | ||
| Minister for Transport | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | Social Democrats | ||
| Minister for Health and Prevention | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | SF | ||
| Minister for European Affairs | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | Social Democrats | ||
| Minister for the Environment | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | SF | ||
| Minister for Equality, Church and Nordic Cooperation | 3 October 2011 | Incumbent | Social Liberals | ||
