Landsting (Denmark)
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- This article is about the usage of Landsting in Denmark. For other uses, see Landsting.
The Landsting was a house in the Rigsdag in Denmark from 1849 until 1953, when the bicameral system was abolished. The house had powers equal to the Folketing which made them hard to distinguish.
Originally it was regarded as the house of lords, and the members were largely conservatives. Membership of the house was then restricted to certain sectors of society – only males with a certain net worth could hold a seat. Later, these restrictions were removed. A small number of new members were appointed by the existing members.
[edit] Etymology and earlier use
Ting (old norse: þing) means assembly. It first came into being during Viking times and was formed by the freemen of the community. In those times it numbered a hundred men. Tings were necessary in the clan society of Northern Germany and Scandinavia. Inter-clan wars were resolved or prevented through the governance of the ting. It also served as the place for religious rites and trade negotiations.
