Law of Iceland

Law of Iceland during the Commonwealth (930—1262) was decided by the Althing. It has changed over the years but the legislative body is still called the Althing.

Jónsbók, MS AM 351 Fol., Skálholtsbók eldri.

History

Prior to 1262 the law-code was Grágás.

Following the Gamli sáttmáli, Magnus VI of Norway introduced the law-code Járnsíða, which was itself superseded when existing laws were compiled in the Jónsbók by Jón Einarsson (in 1281).

The Althing was suspended in 1799, and re-established in 1845 as an advisory body of the Danish king and from 1874 as a legislative body.

The legislative body of the modern Republic of Iceland (since 1944) is again known as Althing, although it is a representative parliamentary body and not a popular assembly in the thing mold.

Uses of old laws

Old laws are still quoted, the 13th century law of Grágás was used in a case in 2017 regarding an injury caused in a MMA tournament, citing the rules of "friendly fight".[1]

Current system

Icelandic law consists primarily of statutes adopted by the parliament, the Althingi, with some orders issued by the Cabinet (executive branch of the state), normally as regulations. The Ministry of Justice makes public, the rules of law which apply in Iceland.[2]

Under Article 2 of the constitution, the Althingi and the President of Iceland jointly exercise legislative power, with Articles 13 and 19 requiring the President to entrust his authority to the Ministers, with the President validating each law by signing with a Minister to give formal consent. Between 1944 and 2023 the president has refused consent twice.[3]

Article 78 allows certain public tasks and rights being delegated to local municipalities, governed by the Local Authorities Act No. 138/2011. There are 74 local municipalities, each governed by an elected body of locally elected representatives.[3]

See also

References
  1. "13th century body of law used in case against MMA fighter". Iceland Monitor. 12 April 2017.
  2. "Law and Order". Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  3. "UPDATE: Researching Icelandic Law". September 2019.
  • Jana K Schulman, The Laws of Later Iceland: Jónsbók: The Icelandic Text According to MS AM 351 fol. Skálholtsbók eldri. With an English Translation, Introduction and Notes (2010) ISBN 978-3-922441-82-3.
  • Hans Fix: Wortschatz der Jónsbók. Lang, Frankfurt am Main/Bern/New York 1984, ISBN 3-8204-5204-4.
Notes
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