þingmaður

Þingmaður is the Icelandic term for a member of parliament. In Iceland, a þingmaður serves in the Alþingi, the country's national legislature, and represents voters either through a political party or as an independent candidate. The role encompasses lawmaking, debate, and oversight of the government, and þingmenn participate in committees that scrutinize proposed legislation and public policy.

Elections and representation: The Alþingi is composed of 63 members elected for four-year terms, though early elections can occur. Iceland uses a form of open-list proportional representation within multi-member constituencies, with leveling seats to ensure national proportionality. Candidates are nominated by political parties or may run as independents, and voters can influence the order of candidates on party lists through preferential voting.

Duties and activities: A þingmaður debates and votes on laws, approves the national budget, and scrutinizes government actions. They may introduce bills, submit questions to ministers, and participate in parliamentary committees that handle specialized areas such as finance, foreign affairs, or welfare. MPs also represent the interests and concerns of their constituents, communicating issues from the public to the legislature and vice versa.

Relationship to the government: Icelandic governments are formed from the parties that secure a majority in the Alþingi. The þingmenn hold the balance of power and can influence policy through coalition negotiations, party discipline, and voting. The Speaker of the Alþingi (Forseti) presides over sessions and coordinates parliamentary work. The term þingmaður thereby denotes a citizen-elected representative with responsibilities in lawmaking, oversight, and representation within Iceland’s parliamentary system.