A constitutional referendum was held in

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establish ...

on 23 May 1939. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) ''Elections in Europe: A data handbook'', p524 Voters were asked whether they approved of a new

constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed. When these princ ...

. Although it was approved by 91.9% of those who voted, a turnout of only 48.9% meant that the percentage of eligible voters approving it was only 44.46%, below the 45% required by the existing constitution of 1915.Nohlen & Stöver, p505 The Danish constitution was finally altered to its present form following a 1953 referendum.

Proposed changes

The two primary changes in the proposed constitution from 1939 was lowering the electoral age from 25 to 23 years, and replacing the Landsting with a new

chamber Chamber or the chamber may refer to: In government and organizations * Chamber of commerce, an organization of business owners to promote commercial interests *Legislative chamber, in politics * Debate chamber, the space or room that houses delib ...

of parliament, the Rigsting.Wendt, Frantz W. (1951). "Rigsdagen 1915-40", in Bomholt, J., Fabricius, K., Hjelholt, H., Mackeprang, M. & Møller, A. (eds.): ''Den Danske Rigsdag 1849-1949 bind II - Rigsdagens histore 1866-1949'' . Copenhagen: J. H. Schultz Forlag, pp. 554-556. Additionally, the united parliament ( da, den forenede

rigsdag Rigsdagen () was the name of the national legislature of Denmark from 1849 to 1953. ''Rigsdagen'' was Denmark's first parliament, and it was incorporated in the Constitution of 1849. It was a bicameral legislature, consisting of two houses, the ...

) consisting of the members of the two other chambers was to become a third chamber of parliament.Skou, Kaare R. (2005). ''Dansk politik A-Å'' . Aschehoug, pp. 579-580. . The united parliament would handle the more important types of bills, including the budget and proposed changes to the constitution. Other bills could be proposed in either the Folketing or the Rigsting, and in order to pass they would have to go through three readings in the chamber in which they originated, and two readings in the other. This would have been a simplification of the existing process where all bills had to go through three readings in each of the two chambers.

Results

Notes

Referendums in Denmark

Constitutional referendum A referendum (plural: referendums or less commonly referenda) is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of a ...

Legal history of Denmark Constitutional referendums

{{Denmark-election-stub

Proposed changes

Results

See also

Notes