Editing Althing (section)

=== Legislative assembly from 1874 ===
[[File:Reykjavik althing.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Parliament House (right), at [[Austurvöllur]] in [[Reykjavík]], built 1880–1881.]]
The [[Constitution of Iceland|Constitution of 1874]] granted to the Althing joint legislative power with the Crown in matters of exclusive Icelandic concern. At the same time, the National [[Treasury]] acquired powers of taxation and [[Government spending|financial allocation]]. The king retained the right to veto legislation and often, on the advice of his ministers, refused to consent to legislation adopted by the Althing. The number of members of the Althing was increased to 36, 30 of them elected in general elections in eight single-member [[constituencies]] and 11 double-member constituencies, the other six appointed by the Crown as before. The Althing was now divided into an upper chamber, known as the ''Efri deild'' and a lower chamber, known as the ''Neðri deild''.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AgIkAQAAIAAJ |title=Clements' Encyclopedia of World Governments |volume=8 |publisher= John Clements Political Research, Inc. |date= 1989 |page=162 }}</ref> Six elected members and the six appointed ones sat in the [[upper chamber]], which meant that the latter could prevent legislation from being passed by acting as a bloc. Twenty-four elected [[Legislator|representatives]] sat in the [[lower chamber]]. From 1874 until 1915 ad hoc committees were appointed. After 1915 seven standing committees were elected by each of the chambers. Regular sessions of the Althing convened every other year. A supplementary session was first held in 1886, and these became more frequent in the 20th century. The Althing met from 1881 in the newly built Parliament House. The [[Governor-General]] (''landshöfðingi'') was the highest representative of the government in Iceland and was responsible to the Advisor for Iceland (''Íslandsráðgjafi'') in [[Copenhagen]].<ref name="ath"/>