Constitution of Finland

The Finnish Constitution (Finnish perustuslaki, Basic Law ') provides the legal and political constitution of the Republic of Finland. It entered into force on 1 March 2000.

Content

The new constitution broke four laws with constitutional status from, including the Finnish Constitution of 1919. It contains a considerable shift of authority from the President of the Republic to the parliament and government. The powers of the President were clearly limited. However, he will remain important tasks as the supreme command of the armed forces and participation in foreign policy.

The country's government, the State Council ( Valtioneuvosto ) is directly responsible to the Parliament, since the constitutional reform. The head of government is elected by a majority in Parliament, appointed the Minister at his suggestion by the President.

Structure

The Constitution is divided into:

History

Since the 1970s, the Finnish constitution was suspended in 1919 an increasing pressure to modernize. Numerous interventions individual constituents have been adapted to the new requirements. The most significant reform in 1995 extended the catalog of fundamental rights. Finally, the view prevailed that the four existing laws with constitutional status in a single constitution should be merged. The Parliament called on the government in 1990 to prepare a new constitution. The following year, the Constitutional Commission concluded at this point. 1992, Parliament called in particular, more to bind the President to the Parliament. The government presented 1998 a draft constitution, which was adopted in a modified form on June 1, 1999.