European National Parliaments Trivia Quiz

Answer: Croatia

Full name: Hrvatski Sabor, the Croat Assembly. The Sabor was founded in Zagreb in 1273, then as the parliament of the kingdom of Slavonia.

Answer: Estonia

The Riigikogu was founded according to the constitution of 1920 which made Estonia an independent republic.

Answer: Slovenia

Slovenia became independent (from Yugoslavia) in 1991. At the same time the Drazavni Zbor became the national parliament.

Answer: Ireland

The Oireachtas include the President of Ireland and two houses, the Dáil Éireann (which is the most powerful) and the Seanad Éireann (in English called the Senate). Both houses reside in Leinster House, Dublin.

Answer: Latvia

The Saeima was first constituted after Latvia's independence in 1920. It functioned until a right wing coup in 1934. Then followed German and Soviet occupation. When Latvia restored its independence in 1990 the Saeima again became national parliament.

Answer: Norway

Norway got its own parliament in 1814 after the Danish loss in the Napoleonic wars. Denmark lost Norway to Sweden, and Norway had to accept a union with Sweden with some local autonomy. Norway gained full independence from Sweden in 1905.

Answer: Iceland

The Althingi is the world's oldest parliament. It was founded ca. 930.

Answer: Isle of Man

The Isle of Man is a part of the British Crown, but has its own legislature and laws. It is governed by the Court of Tynwald, which consists of both locally elected members and representatives from the British Crown.

Answer: Finland

Full name: Suomen Eduskunta, the Finnish National Assembly. The Eduskunta was founded as a unicameral parliament in 1906 when Finland was an autonomous grand duchy under the Russian Tsar. Finland has two official languages (Finnish and Swedish) the national parliament also has an official Swedish name, Riksdagen. This is the same name as that of Sweden's national parliament in Stockholm.

Answer: Denmark

The name means People's Assembly. It has been called the Folketing since 1953. Along with Danish members it has 2 representatives from Greenland and two from the Faeroe Islands.

Answer: Sweden

Sweden first got its national assembly in 1435 but the first real parliament (with members from all 4 classes) was settled under Gustav Vasas reign in the period 1527-44. The term "riksdag" was not used until the 1540s.

Answer: Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is a small principality that borders Switzerland and Austria. It can be called the last (semi-)feudal country in Europe because the monarch has more power and the parliament less power than in other European states.

Answer: Poland

The Sejm dates back to 1182, and the name means Assembly of Voters.

Answer: Lithuania

The Seimas dates from the days of the Duchy of Lituania (14th-18th century). Even after the union with Poland (1569) Lithuania remained a parliamentary republic, unlike other European countries who were mostly absolutist monarchies.

Answer: Wales

The name means: The Welsh National Assembly.

Answer: Hungary

This parliament was founded as a decision-making organ of the nomad state and later became the assembly of nobles who converted to Latin Christianity ca.1000 AD and created an independent kingdom.

Answer: Albania

Full name is Kuvendi i Sqipërisë, the Albanian National Assembly. In 1990-92 Albania established a multiparty democracy and hence also a multiparty parliament.

Answer: San Marino

San Marino is a small European republic which is an enclave inside Italy. It claims to be both the oldest and the smallest republic of the world.

Answer: Spain

The Cortes originates from the Feudal Age (8th-12th centuries). The members then were feudal lords.

Answer: Serbia and Montenegro

The state of Serbia and Montenegro only existed between 2003-2006, after which the two countries became separate entities.