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Althing, drawn up by the first constitution of Iceland, is the world's oldest practicing legislative assembly. Althing came together as an organized legislative body at Thingvellir, South West Iceland in 930 and established Iceland as a democratic and sovereign state. Althing began with the assembling of local chieftains at Thingvellir where they elected members annually. But Althing had no military whatsoever to enforce its will.
The parliament of Althing had a legislative body and a judicial body. But there was no executive aspect of the parliament.
The year 1800 witnessed the dissolution of Althing. But it was revived in 1845 as an advisory body to the monarch of Denmark when Iceland came under Danish rule and again in 1874 when Iceland obtained its own constitution under the grant of self rule by Denmark.
In 1944 Iceland turned into a republic after being voted by the members of the Althing. Thus the island finally attained complete independence from Denmark.
Today, the Althing is a unicameral body with 63 members, though till 1991 it had a lower house and an upper house. Members are elected by a system of proportional representation. The Althing therefore continues to awe everyone, with its long history and the role that it played in the administration of Iceland. Its novelty also lies in the fact that Althing is a pioneer in legislative assembly in the world.
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