Guide to Foreign and International Legal Citations - New York ...

I. COUNTRY PROFILE (Civil Law)
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FINLAND
Suomen Tasavalta (Republic of Finland)
The Republic of Finland, established December 6, 1917, is a sovereign republic. Finland
(Suomi) is subdivided into six provinces and operates under a civil legal system. The two
official languages are Finnish and Swedish. All laws are published in both official languages. In
addition, the Sámi people of Lapland, the northern region of Finland, hold the constitutionally
protected right to publish laws in the Sámi language. Finland entered into membership of the
European Union on January 1, 1995.
Finland’s Constitution was adopted March 1, 2000. Prior to that date, the country was
governed by four Constitutional Acts: The Constitution Act of Finland (1919), the Parliament
Act, and two ministerial liability acts. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and is the
source of all public power. It enshrines the fundamental principle that sovereign power lies with
the Finnish people represented by the Parliament.
The state is organized on the basis of a separation of powers between the Government,
Parliament, the President, and the courts. Executive power lies with the Government
(valtioneuvosto) with certain duties carried out by the President (tasavallan presidentti). The
President is elected directly by majority vote, with a second run-off election held if necessary,
for a term of six years. The President must be a native Finnish citizen and is limited to two terms
in office. The Prime Minister is elected by Parliament and appointed by the President. Other
ministers are appointed by the President based upon nominations by the Prime Minister. The
Government or Council of Ministers is made up of the Prime Minister (Pääministeri) and a
maximum of seventeen Ministers (Ministeri). The Government is the decision-making body for
governmental and administrative matters consisting of the Government plenary session and the
ministries. Foreign policy is directed by the President in conjunction with the Government. The
Government has the authority to forward proposals for legislation to the Parliament for
enactment.
The legislative power lies with the Parliament (eduskunta). Finland has a unicameral
Parliament consisting of 200 seats. Chapter Six of the Constitution provides that the principal
duty of Parliament is to enact legislation. Members of Parliament are elected directly by popular
vote to four-year terms, although the President, after consulting with Parliament, may order a
new election prior to the end of that term if the Prime Minister so advises. Parliament may adopt
Acts, which must be submitted to the President for ratification. Following signature by the
President, the Act is published in the official statute book. Acts which are not ratified within
three months, or which are vetoed by the President, are returned to the Parliament, and they may
still enter into force if there is sufficient support in Parliament, provided that no further
amendments are made.
Judicial power lies with the Courts (tuomioistuimet). Finland has a three-tiered
hierarchical system of courts. Sixty-six first instance District Courts (käräjäoikeus) have
jurisdiction to hear both civil and criminal matters in territorially limited districts. Their
decisions may be appealed to one of six regionally organized Courts of Appeal (hovioikeus),
which also have first instance jurisdiction over certain governmental and treason matters. The
highest court is the Supreme Court of Finland (korkein oikeus). Appeals from decisions of the
Court of Appeal are heard only with leave of the Supreme Court, usually by a panel of five