Legislation
Home Rule Act of the Faroe Islands, 1948
Established the Faroe Islands as a self-governing community within the Kingdom of Denmark, with the Løgting and Landsstýri exercising devolved authority.
What happened
Following the disputed 1946 referendum and subsequent negotiations, the Home Rule Act, No. 137, was signed by King Frederik IX and Prime Minister Hans Hedtoft on 23 March 1948 and came into force on 1 April 1948.[1] Section 1 established the Faroe Islands as a self-governing community within the State of Denmark, with the Faroese people exercising self-government through the Løgting and the Landsstýri "within the unity of the Realm".[2]
The Act divided competences into "List A", matters transferred to the Home Government at once or on request — local government, health, welfare, taxation, schools, agriculture and fisheries among them — and "List B", matters reserved for further negotiation, including the Established Church, police, underground raw materials, radio and aviation.[3] Matters not transferred remained "joint concerns" for the Danish national authorities, and Faroese competence was always subject to Denmark's international treaty obligations.[4]
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
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1.
Claim: The Act was given at Christiansborg on 23 March 1948 and signed by King Frederik IX and Prime Minister Hans Hedtoft, coming into force on 1 April 1948.
- Home Rule Act of the Faroe Islands, No. 137 of 23 March 1948 (Prime Minister's Office of Denmark (english.stm.dk), 23 March 1948) link, s. 16 and signature block. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
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2.
Claim: Section 1 of the Home Rule Act, No. 137 of 23 March 1948, establishes the Faroe Islands as a self-governing community within the State of Denmark, with the Faroese people exercising self-government "within the unity of the Realm" through the Løgting and the Landsstýri.
- Home Rule Act of the Faroe Islands, No. 137 of 23 March 1948 (Prime Minister's Office of Denmark (english.stm.dk), 23 March 1948) link, s. 1. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
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3.
Claim: The Act's "List A" transferred a wide range of domestic matters — local government, health, welfare, taxation, schools, agriculture and fisheries among them — to the Home Government at once or on request; "List B" left matters including the Established Church, police, underground raw materials, radio, aviation and import/export controls for further negotiation.
- Home Rule Act of the Faroe Islands, No. 137 of 23 March 1948 (Prime Minister's Office of Denmark (english.stm.dk), 23 March 1948) link, List A and List B. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
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4.
Claim: Under sections 4–6, the Home Government holds legislative and administrative authority over matters transferred to it; matters not transferred remain "joint concerns" handled by the national (Danish) authorities, and the competence of Faroese authorities is always subject to Denmark's international treaty obligations.
- Home Rule Act of the Faroe Islands, No. 137 of 23 March 1948 (Prime Minister's Office of Denmark (english.stm.dk), 23 March 1948) link, ss. 4–6. Government perspective or primary official source Source record