| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Althingi / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| NATURE |
| Nature of the mandate |
Free representation (Constitution Act, art. 48) |
| Start of the mandate |
When the election is over and the results have been announced. Certain rights only accrue to MPs when their election has been validated and they have pledged to uphold the Constitution (Constitution Act, art. 46 and 47 and Standing Orders of Althingi, arts. 1 and 2). |
| Validation of mandates |
Validation by the Althingi (Constitution Act, art. 46) on the recommendation of a committee (Standing Orders of Althingi, art. 1) |
| End of the mandate |
On the day of new elections (Constitution Act, art. 24); the same applies in the event of early dissolution. |
| Can MPs resign? |
Yes |
N/A |
| Can MPs lose their mandate? |
Yes |
N/A |
| STATUS OF MEMBERS |
| Rank in hierarchy |
N/A |
| Indemnities, facilities and services |
Basic salary + living allowance
Pension scheme
Official passport
Work-related postal services
Free telephone
Domestic travel
International travel approved by the President of the Althingi
Secretariat |
| Obligation to declare personal assets |
No |
|
| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability |
MPs cannot be held accountable outside parliament for words spoken in parliament, unless the Althingi gives its consent. |
| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability |
MPs cannot be taken into custody or to court during a parliamentary session without parliamentary consent, unless they are caught in flagrante delicto. |
| EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE |
| Training |
Introduction to the Secretariat by Althingi officials; Handbook on the workings of the Althingi, services, compensation and various rules and regulations; Standing Orders of Althingi |
| Participation in the work of the Parliament |
MPs are required to attend plenary sittings and committee meetings unless unable to attend. There are no penalties for non-compliance. |
| Discipline |
The rules governing parliamentary discipline are contained in the Standing Orders of Althingi, arts. 59 and 89: adjournment or closing of the sitting in the case of a general disturbance; reprimand (if an MP has been reprimanded twice during the same sitting, the President of the Althingi may, with Parliament's consent, take away the MP's speaking rights for the duration of the sitting). |
| Code (rules) of conduct |
N/A |
| Relations between MPs and pressure group |
There are no legal provisions in this field. |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Mandate module
