Iceland · Government
Government and administration in Iceland
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Head of State — President of Iceland
- Directly elected; holds a referendum-triggering veto.
- Executive — Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Accountable to the Althingi.
- Legislative — Althingi
- Single chamber of 63 members.
- Judicial — Three-tier courts
- District courts, Landsréttur and the Supreme Court.
How legislation is made
Bills pass three readings in the Althingi and are signed into law; if the President withholds signature the act still takes effect but must be put to a referendum.
Enforcement institutions
- National Police (Lögreglan)
- Under the National Commissioner.
- Director of Public Prosecutions
- Heads the prosecution service.
Government bodies and regulators
- judicialDirector of Public Prosecutions (Ríkissaksóknari)Heads the prosecution service.
- executiveDistrict Commissioner (Sýslumaður)Handles registration, family and property matters.
- executiveDirectorate of Immigration (Útlendingastofnun)Administers residence and asylum.
- executiveIceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn)Assesses taxes and registers companies.
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