Malcolm Rivera
The Constitution of Finland, consisting of 131 sections divided into 13 chapters, was written in 1999 and came into force on 1 March 2000. It establishes a government under a parliamentary system and defines the basis, structures, and organisation of government, the relationship between the different constitutional organs, and the fundamental rights of Finnish citizens and individuals in general. The constitution closely mirrors the European Convention on Human Rights and affirms the principle of representative democracy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of enactment | 1919 |
| Year of coming into force | 2000 |
| Number of sections | 131 |
| Number of chapters | 13 |
| Type of government | Parliamentary system |
| Voting age | 18 |
| Number of Acts repealed | 4 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Constitution of Finland came into force on 1 March 2000
- Finland's constitutional provisions were previously divided between four statutes
- The Constitution establishes a parliamentary system of government
- The Constitution guarantees the freedom and rights of the individual
- The Constitution outlines the duties of the government and the Prime Minister
The Constitution of Finland came into force on 1 March 2000
The current Constitution of Finland came into force on 1 March 2000. It is the supreme source of national law in Finland, defining the basis, structure, and organisation of the country's government. It also outlines the relationship between different constitutional organs and lays out the fundamental rights of Finnish citizens and individuals in general.
Finland's current constitution is enshrined in a single statute: the Constitution of Finland (731/1999). Before this, the country's constitutional provisions were fragmented and contained across several acts. These were the Constitution Act of 1919 (also known as the Instrument of Government), the Parliament Act of 1928, the Ministerial Responsibility Act of 1922, and the Act on the High Court of Impeachment of 1922.
The process of constitutional reform began in the late 1990s, after Finland's accession to the European Union. This was partly due to the arguments that arose between the Parliament and the President regarding decision-making in European affairs. In 1995, a working group of experts called the Constitution 2000 Working Group was appointed to examine the need to consolidate and update the constitutional legislation.
The official text of the constitution consists of 131 sections, divided into 13 chapters. The opening chapter on fundamental provisions affirms Finland's status as a sovereign republic, the inviolability of human dignity and the rights of the individual, and the sovereignty of the Finnish people. It also establishes the principle of representative democracy and the position of Parliament as the highest organ of government, the separation of powers, the independence of the courts, and the principle of parliamentary government.
The Constitution establishes a government under a parliamentary system. It provides for a directly elected President of the Republic, a Government comprising the Prime Minister and the Ministers who form the Government, and the Parliament of Finland. It also establishes an independent judiciary and two judicial systems: one general and the other administrative.
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Finland's constitutional provisions were previously divided between four statutes
Finland's current constitutional provisions are enshrined in a single statute: the Constitution of Finland (731/1999). Before this enshrinement, Finland's constitutional provisions were fragmented and contained across several acts. They were divided between four separate statutes, all of which had constitutional status. These were:
- The Constitution Act of 1919, also known as the Instrument of Government (Finnish: Suomen hallitusmuoto; Swedish: Regeringsformen för Finland)
- The Parliament Act of 1928 (Finnish: valtiopäiväjärjestys; Swedish: riksdagsordningen)
- The Ministerial Responsibility Act of 1922 (Finnish: laki eduskunnan oikeudesta tarkastaa valtioneuvoston jäsenten ja oikeuskanslerin sekä eduskunnan oikeusasiamiehen virkatointen lainmukaisuutta, Swedish: Lag om rätt för riksdagen att granska lagenligheten av statsrådsmedlemmarnas och justitiekanslerns samt riksdagens justitieombudsmans ämbetsåtgärder)
- The Act on the High Court of Impeachment of 1922 (Finnish: laki valtakunnanoikeudesta; Swedish: Lag om riksrätten)
Finland's constitutional legislation was in need of integration and updating. In the 1990s, Finland's constitutional provisions were fragmented and contained across several acts. This was in contrast to most other European countries, where constitutional provisions are contained within a single constitutional act.
In 1995, a working group of experts called the Constitution 2000 Working Group was appointed to examine the need to consolidate and update the constitutional legislation. The working group proposed that all constitutional provisions be brought together into a single statute. One of the main goals of the constitutional reform process was to move Finland away from a semi-presidential system and further towards a parliamentary system of government. The new Constitution strengthens the position of Parliament as the highest organ of government and makes it easier for the legislature to carry out its work.
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The Constitution establishes a parliamentary system of government
Finland's Constitution, which came into force on 1 March 2000, establishes a parliamentary system of government. The Constitution is the supreme source of national law in Finland. It defines the basis, structures, and organisation of the government, the relationship between the different constitutional organs, and the fundamental rights of Finnish citizens and individuals in general.
The Constitution establishes a government under a parliamentary system, with a directly elected President of the Republic, a Government comprising the Prime Minister and the Ministers who form the Government, and the Parliament of Finland. It also establishes an independent judiciary and two judicial systems: one general, and the other administrative. The Constitution strengthens the position of Parliament as the highest organ of government, making it easier for the legislature to carry out its work.
Finland's parliamentary system is based on competition among political parties, with power divided among the highest organs of government. Legislative power is exercised by Parliament, while governmental powers are exercised by the President of the Republic and the Government, and judicial powers by independent courts of law. The President leads foreign policy in cooperation with the Government and has a role in matters of national security. The main executive power lies in the cabinet, which is headed by the Prime Minister. The President also formally appoints the Prime Minister and the rest of the cabinet.
The Finnish Constitution crystallizes the main principles of governance in very plain terms. Power in Finland is vested in the people, who are represented by deputies assembled in Parliament. The Parliament may alter the Constitution, bring about the resignation of the Government, and override presidential vetoes. Its acts are not subject to judicial review. The Constitution also sets out the right of every Finnish citizen who has reached the age of 18 to vote in national elections and referenda.
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The Constitution guarantees the freedom and rights of the individual
The Constitution of Finland was first enacted in 1919, soon after the country declared its independence in 1917. The current draft of the Constitution came into force on 1 March 2000. The Constitution establishes a government under a parliamentary system and defines the basis, structures, and organisation of the government, as well as the relationship between different constitutional organs.
The Constitution sets out the fundamental rights of Finnish citizens and individuals in general. These rights include the right to life, personal liberty, and integrity. It prohibits the death penalty and torture, guaranteeing that no one shall be sentenced to death, tortured, or treated in a manner that violates human dignity. The Constitution also protects the right to social security, ensuring that those who cannot obtain the means necessary for a dignified life have the right to receive indispensable subsistence and care.
The Constitution guarantees the freedom of movement, regulating the right of foreigners to enter Finland and remain in the country. It also ensures the right to freedom of science, the arts, and higher education. It guarantees the right to use one's own language, whether Finnish or Swedish, in court proceedings and to obtain documents in that language. The Constitution protects the rights of indigenous people, such as the Sami, the Romanies, and other groups, to maintain and develop their own languages and cultures.
The Constitution promotes justice in society by ensuring fair trial procedures and good public administration. It secures the right to publicity of proceedings, the right to be heard, and the right to appeal decisions. It also ensures that public authorities uphold fundamental rights and international human rights obligations, even during exceptional circumstances such as an armed attack on Finland.
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The Constitution outlines the duties of the government and the Prime Minister
The Constitution of Finland was first enacted in 1919, soon after the country declared its independence in 1917. The current draft of the Constitution came into force on 1 March 2000. The Constitution outlines the duties of the government and the Prime Minister.
The Constitution establishes a government under a parliamentary system. It provides for a directly elected President of the Republic, a government comprising the Prime Minister and the Ministers who form the government, and the Parliament of Finland. The Constitution also establishes an independent judiciary and two judicial systems: one general and the other administrative. The Constitution affirms the principle of representative democracy and the position of Parliament as the highest organ of government, the separation of powers, the independence of the courts, and the principle of parliamentary government.
The Constitution outlines that the government must uphold the sovereignty of the Finnish people. It also affirms the inviolability of human dignity and the rights of the individual. The Constitution establishes that every Finnish citizen who has reached the age of eighteen years shall have the right to vote in national elections and referenda. It also states that the government must protect the property of every person.
The Prime Minister's duties include attending to the duties of the President if the latter is prevented from doing so. The Prime Minister may also submit the resignation of the entire government to the President. The Prime Minister can also request that the President dissolve Parliament and call an unscheduled election, although the President may no longer do so at their own discretion. The Prime Minister also communicates significant foreign policy statements to other governments and international organisations.
The Constitution also outlines the duties of the government as a whole. The government must, for example, resign after a Parliamentary election. The government may also resign because of a vote of no confidence from Parliament or because of irreconcilable differences between the government parties. The government also has the power to adopt decrees pursuant to powers granted in the Constitution or other legislation.
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Frequently asked questions
The original Constitution Act of Finland was written and enacted in 1919, soon after the country declared its independence in 1917.
The Constitution Act of 1919 was also known as the Instrument of Government in English. Its Finnish name is Suomen hallitusmuoto, and its Swedish name is Regeringsformen för Finland.
The current draft of the Constitution of Finland came into force on March 1, 2000.
