A non-binding constitutional referendum was held in
Iceland
Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...
on 20 October 2012. As a part of the
2010–2013 constitutional reform, and upon recommendation by the
Constitutional Assembly
A constituent assembly (also known as a constitutional convention, constitutional congress, or constitutional assembly) is a body assembled for the purpose of drafting or revising a constitution. Members of a constituent assembly may be elected b ...
, voters were asked whether they approved of six proposals included in a new draft
constitution of Iceland
The Constitution of Iceland (Icelandic language, Icelandic: ''Stjórnarskrá lýðveldisins Íslands'' "Constitution of the republic of Iceland") is the supreme law of Iceland. It is composed of 80 articles in seven sections, and within it the l ...
. All six questions were approved by voters. The passing of Question 3 regarding the inclusion of a
national church
A national church is a Christian church associated with a specific ethnic group or nation state. The idea was notably discussed during the 19th century, during the emergence of modern nationalism.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, in a draft discussing ...
in the constitution was the only provision that went against the Constitutional Assembly's recommendations.
As of 2021, the changes had not been implemented, despite continued public support.
Questions
The referendum consisted of six questions:
Advertisement regarding the Referendum to be held on 20 October 2012
- Icelandic Ministry of Interior
# Do you wish the Constitution Council's proposals to form the basis of a new draft Constitution?
# In the new Constitution, do you want natural resources
Natural resources are resources that are drawn from nature and used with few modifications. This includes the sources of valued characteristics such as commercial and industrial use, aesthetic value, scientific interest, and cultural value. ...
that are not privately owned to be declared national property?
# Would you like to see provisions in the new Constitution on an established (national) church in Iceland?
# Would you like to see a provision in the new Constitution authorising the election of particular individuals to the Althing
The (; ), anglicised as Althingi or Althing, is the Parliamentary sovereignty, supreme Parliament, national parliament of Iceland. It is the oldest surviving parliament in the world. The Althing was founded in 930 at ('Thing (assembly), thing ...
more than is the case at present?
# Would you like to see a provision in the new Constitution giving equal weight to votes cast in all parts of the country?
# Would you like to see a provision in the new Constitution stating that a certain proportion of the electorate is able to demand that issues are put to a referendum?
Results
References
External links
Questions on the ballot - discussion and clarification
(English)
General information about the Constitutional Council
(English)
Voters in Iceland back new constitution, more resource control
Reuters (retrieved 23 May 2015).
{{Icelandic elections
Iceland
Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...
Referendums in Iceland
Constitutional
A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed.
When these princ ...
Constitution of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...