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Highest organs of government
Finland is a constitutional republic. Finland's highest organs of government are Parliament, the President of the Republic and the Government.
Finland has a parliamentary system of government, which means that the government must enjoy the confidence of the parliament. In Finland, legislative powers rest with the Parliament though the President of the Republic and the Government are also responsible for carrying out tasks that involve the use of legislative powers.
Supreme executive power is shared between the President of the Republic and the Government. After the constitutional reform of 2000, the role of the Government has become stronger in both national administration and EU matters.
Parliament
The Finnish Parliament is a 200-member unicameral legislative body. It is elected for a term of office lasting four years by direct, proportional and secret ballot.
Parliament enacts laws and approves the State budget and international treaties applying to Finland. Parliament's legislative work takes place in committees, comprising the Grand Committee and 14 other committees representing various fields. The Grand Committee functions as the committee responsible for EU matters.
The Parliamentary Ombudsman and the State Audit Office work in connection with Parliament, as does the Nordic Council, which is the forum for inter-Nordic parliamentary cooperation. The Audit Committee, comprised of Parliament Members and civil servants, oversees the management of government finances and compliance with the budget.
The administration of Parliament itself is the responsibility of the Office Commission, headed by the Speaker of Parliament, the Secretary General of Parliament and the Office of Parliament, made up of Parliamentary officials.
- Functions of the Parliament
Parliament of Finland - National Audit Office of Finland
National Audit Office of Finland - Nordic Council
Nordic Council - Parliament of Finland
Parliament of Finland - The Audit Committee
Parliament of Finland - The Parliamentary Ombudsman of Finland
Parliamentary Ombudsman of Finland
President of the Republic
The President of the Republic is elected for a period of six years by direct vote. The vote is in two stages, if necessary. The same person can be elected for a maximum of two consecutive terms of office. The President exercises supreme executive power in collaboration with the Government.
The President approves the bills passed by Parliament and the State budget. The President enjoys extensive powers of appointment: he or she appoints the Prime Minister elected by Parliament and the ministers proposed by the Prime Minister. He or she also appoints the highest officials. The President has the right to decide together with the Prime Minister on the holding of extraordinary parliamentary elections. The President conducts Finnish foreign policy in collaboration with the Government.
Government
The Government exercises supreme executive power and conducts Finnish foreign policy in collaboration with the President. It also drafts bills and the State budget.
The Government is comprised of the Prime Minister and ministers. The ministers head their ministries and the are responsible for matters within their ministries' mandates. A single ministry may, however, have more than one minister, in which case the mandates of the ministry are divided between the ministers.
The Chancellor of Justice operates in conjunction with the Government who, along with the Parliamentary Ombudsman, is the supreme guardian of the law in Finland. The Nordic Council of Ministers is a forum for inter-Nordic governmental cooperation.
- Finnish cabinets
Finnish Government - Finnish Government
Finnish Government - Government facts and history
Finnish Government - Nordic Council of Ministers
Nordic Council of Ministers - Office of the Chancellor of Justice
Office of the Chancellor of Justice
Diagram of the public administration
This diagram shows in highlight the position of the highest organs of government in the structure of the public administration.
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