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Greenland shares its constitution with the Danish constitution created on in 1849. On June 5, 1953, the constitution established the Greenland Home Rule Act (no. 577) 1978-11-29 changing Greenland from a colony to an independent kingdom. According to the constitution of Greenland, the government will have an executive branch, a judicial branch and a legislative branch. The executive comprises the high commissioner, the prime minister and the landsstyre. The judiciary consists of the courts. The Landsret is the high court. The legislative is made up of the Parliament known as landsting, NATLEX and Natural resources Legislation.
The constitution of Denmark is the constitution of Greenland. Since 1953, the constitution has not been changed. Some amendments, though, have been made like those in the legal structure of the constitution. The political set up of Greenland is based on the constitutional decree of Denmark as the two countries have the same constitution. Thus the constitution states that a parliamentary government will rule the kingdom with the monarch of Denmark as the head of state who will have only formal and ceremonial functions to perform.
The Denmark constitution of 1849 is premised on the principle of the distribution of power. Thus different governing branches were formed such as legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative powers lie in the hands of both the Monarch and the parliament. Though the power of the monarch was restricted by the constitution, the monarch does have some rights. The assent of the monarch is required for the passing of the bills. The ministers are chosen by the monarch and it is the monarch which represents Greenland. Also the judges are appointed by the monarch.
The constitution has gifted the citizens of Greenland with various rights like the right to freedom, right to property, right to public assistance and so on.
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