Finnish Government
Finnish government | |
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Finnish: Suomen valtioneuvosto Swedish: Finlands statsrådet | |
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Overview | |
Established | 27 November 1917 |
State | Republic of Finland |
Leader | Prime Minister of Finland |
Appointed by | President of Finland |
Main organ | Prime Minister's Office |
Ministries | 12 (list) |
Responsible to | Parliament of Finland |
Annual budget | €55.8 billion[1] (2018) |
Headquarters |
Government Palace Snellmaninkatu 1 A, Helsinki, Finland |
Website | government.fi |
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Finland |
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Executive
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Legislative
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The Finnish government (Finnish: Suomen valtioneuvosto; Swedish: Finlands statsrådet; lit. Finland's council of state)[2][3] is the executive branch and cabinet of Finland, which directs the politics of Finland and is the main source of legislation proposed to the Parliament. In the incumbent Sipilä Cabinet, the government comprises 17 ministers leading 12 ministries under collective ministerial responsibility and representing Finland in the Council of the European Union.
Majority coalition governments have become the foundation of the Finnish government; apart from a few historical exceptions, a government is usually assembled by the representatives of two major parties and a number of smaller parties.[4]
Composition
The Finnish government is the most important executive body of Finland and synonymous with both the decision-making organ composed of the ministers as well as the combined organ of the ministers and the President of Finland.[5][6][7] Its supreme powers are based on Section 3, Chapter 1 of the Constitution of Finland (and the subordinate Government Act of 2003[8]):
The governmental powers are exercised by the President of the Republic and the Government, the members of which shall have the confidence of the Parliament.[9]
The Government is led by the prime minister, considered practically the most powerful single office holder in Finland and often the leader of the largest political party. The government is composed of 12 ministries plus the Prime Minister's Office. Each ministry is commonly led by one or two ministers, who sit in the cabinet. The cabinet itself proposes the number of ministers and their roles which the Parliament (Finnish: eduskunta; Swedish: riksdag) confirms, and it is usual to do so even in mid-election season. There are no senior or junior ministers, and ministers without portfolio are no longer permitted under the 2000 constitution. Although ministers' portfolios are divided among the participating political parties, the cabinet has collective ministerial responsibility, and the ministers are expected to follow a government programme agreed upon during government formation talks. Ministers are not required to be Members of Parliament (MPs), although they often are. Each minister is assisted by a secretary of state (Finnish: valtiosihteeri; Swedish: statssekreterare), who serve at the pleasure of the minister.[5][6][7]
Ministerial committees
The prime minister may sit with a subsection of the cabinet in a ministerial committee, when it is not necessary or desirable to have the entire government convene. There are government-specific and optional ministerial committees and four legally mandatory ministerial committees:[5][6][7]
- Ministerial Finance Committee (raha-asiainvaliokunta);
- Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy (ulko- ja turvallisuuspoliittinen ministerivaliokunta; officially since 1922 and unofficially before that);
- Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy (talouspoliittinen ministerivaliokunta; officially since 1977 and unofficially before that); and
- Ministerial Committee on European Union Affairs (Euroopan unionia koskevien asioiden ministerivaliokunta; established in 1995 to replace the Ministerial Committee on European Economic Community Affairs).
Legislation
The government initiates the majority of legislation. A proposed act (Finnish: laki; Swedish: lag) is drafted in the respective ministry under the direction of its minister, after which it is reviewed by the Government and forwarded as a government proposal (Finnish: hallituksen esitys; Swedish: regeringens proposition) to Parliament for processing and possible amendments. However, since coalition governments have become the norm in Finland, the parties represented in the Government usually form the majority in the parliament, making the process somewhat more harmonious. Since 1957, all governments have been majority governments. Before a proposal is adopted into law, it must be confirmed by the President of Finland. As such, the president has the power of a delaying veto as a check against majority politics and potential violations of international agreements. Periods of cohabitation, wherein the president and the government represent different political positions, can create strife. The president's veto can be overridden by the Parliament, although this is in practice not done. Parties can also agree to not to vote along party lines but to leave the decision to individual MPs, although this is uncommon.[5]
Besides law, the government issues decrees (Finnish: valtioneuvoston asetus; Swedish: statsrådets förordning) as delegated legislation. Decrees clarify, specify, and guide the implementation of an act of Parliament, but cannot contradict it. They are similar to US standing executive orders. A typical example is specifying the actual monetary sums for benefits described in general terms in an act.[5] Decrees form an important body of law alongside acts of parliament.
Budget
Government funds can be spent only in the framework of the state budget (Finnish: valtion talousarvio; Swedish: statsbudgeten), which must be confirmed by Parliament. The government drafts the annual budget and introduces it to Parliament for discussion and approval. If the Government requires more funds mid-year, they have to submit an additional budget proposal to the Parliament.[5] For 2018, the central government budget was €55.8 billion, not including municipal budgets and non-departmental bodies like state-owned enterprises.[10]
Incumbent government
The current Sipilä cabinet is Finland's 74th government, which was inaugurated on 29 May 2015.[11] It consists of 17 ministers and 3 centre-right parties: Centre Party, National Coalition Party, and Blue Reform.[11]
Ministers
The incumbent ministers and their associated portfolios are listed below.[12][13]
List of governments
The following is a list of all Finnish Governments since 1917.[14]
Government | Took office | Seats | Parties |
---|---|---|---|
Svinhufvud's senate | 27 November 1917 | 103/200 | Young Finnish Party Swedish People's Party Finnish Party Agrarian League |
Paasikivi's senate | 27 May 1918 | 103/200 | Young Finnish Party Swedish People's Party Finnish Party Agrarian League |
Ingman's cabinet | 27 November 1918 | 77/200
77/108 |
National Coalition Party Swedish People's Party National Progressive Party |
K. Castrén's cabinet | 17 April 1919 | 90/200 | Swedish People's Party National Progressive Party Agrarian League |
Vennola's cabinet | 15 August 1919 | 68/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League |
Erich's cabinet | 15 March 1920 | 118/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League National Coalition Party Swedish People's Party |
Vennola's second cabinet | 9 April 1921 | 68/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League |
Cajander's cabinet | 2 June 1922 | – | – |
Kallio's cabinet | 14 November 1922 | 60/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League |
Cajander's second cabinet | 18 January 1924 | – | – |
Ingman's second cabinet | 31 May 1924 | 122/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League National Coalition Party Swedish People's Party |
Tulenheimo's cabinet | 31 March 1925 | 82/200 | Agrarian League National Coalition Party |
Kallio's second cabinet | 31 December 1925 | 82/200 | Agrarian League National Coalition Party |
Tanner's cabinet | 13 December 1926 | 52/200 | Social Democratic Party |
Sunila's cabinet | 17 December 1927 | 52/200 | Agrarian League |
Mantere's cabinet | 22 December 1928 | 10/200 | National Progressive Party |
Kallio's third cabinet | 16 August 1929 | 60/200 | Agrarian League |
Svinhufvud's second cabinet | 4 July 1930 | 132/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League National Coalition Party Swedish People's Party |
Sunila's second cabinet | 21 March 1931 | 132/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League National Coalition Party Swedish People's Party |
Kivimäki's cabinet | 14 December 1932 | 85/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League Swedish People's Party |
Kallio's fourth cabinet | 7 October 1936 | 60/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League |
Cajander's third cabinet | 3 March 1937 | 164/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League Swedish People's Party Social Democratic Party |
Ryti's cabinet | 1 December 1939 | 165/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League Swedish People's Party Social Democratic Party |
Ryti's second cabinet | 27 March 1940 | 190/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League Swedish People's Party Social Democratic Party National Coalition Party |
Rangell's cabinet | 4 January 1941 | 198/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League Swedish People's Party Social Democratic Party National Coalition Party Patriotic People's Movement |
Linkomies' cabinet | 5 March 1943 | 190/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League Swedish People's Party Social Democratic Party National Coalition Party |
Hackzell's cabinet | 8 September 1944 | 190/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League Swedish People's Party Social Democratic Party National Coalition Party |
U. Castrén's cabinet | 21 October 1944 | 190/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League Swedish People's Party Social Democratic Party National Coalition Party |
Paasikivi's second cabinet | 17 November 1944 | 165/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League Swedish People's Party Social Democratic Party Finnish People's Democratic League |
Paasikivi's third cabinet | 17 April 1945 | 171/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League Swedish People's Party Social Democratic Party Finnish People's Democratic League |
Pekkala's cabinet | 26 March 1946 | 162/200 | Agrarian League Swedish People's Party Social Democratic Party Finnish People's Democratic League |
Fagerholm's cabinet | 29 August 1948 | 54/200 | Social Democratic Party |
Kekkonen's cabinet | 17 March 1950 | 75/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League Swedish People's Party |
Kekkonen's second cabinet | 17 January 1951 | 129/200 | National Progressive Party Agrarian League Swedish People's Party Social Democratic Party |
Kekkonen's third cabinet | 20 October 1951 | 119/200 | Agrarian League Social Democratic Party Swedish People's Party |
Kekkonen's fourth cabinet | 9 August 1953 | 66/200 | Agrarian League Swedish People's Party |
Sakari Tuomioja's cabinet | 17 November 1953 | 53/200 | – |
Törngren's cabinet | 5 May 1954 | 120/200 | Agrarian League Swedish People's Party |
Kekkonen's fifth cabinet | 20 October 1954 | 107/200 | Agrarian League Social Democratic Party |
Fagerholm's second cabinet | 3 March 1956 | 120/200 | Agrarian League Social Democratic Party Swedish People's Party |
Sukselainen's cabinet | 27 April 1957 | 79/200 | Agrarian League Swedish People'Party Social Democratic Union of Workers and Smallholders Finnish People's Party |
von Fieandt's cabinet | 29 November 1957 | – | – |
Kuuskoski's cabinet | 26 April 1958 | – | – |
Fagerholm's third cabinet | 29 September 1958 | 152/200 | Social Democratic Party Agrarian League National Coalition Party Finnish People's Party Swedish People's Party |
Sukselainen's second cabinet | 13 January 1959 | 62/200 | Agrarian League Swedish People's Party |
Miettunen's cabinet | 14 August 1961 | 48/200 | Agrarian League |
Karjalainen's cabinet | 13 April 1962 | 114/200 | Agrarian League Social Democratic Union of Workers and Smallholders Swedish People's Party National Coalition Party Finnish People's Party |
Lehto's cabinet | 18 December 1963 | – | – |
Virolainen's cabinet | 12 October 1964 | 112/200 | Centre Party National Coalition Party Swedish People's Party Finnish People's Party |
Paasio's cabinet | 27 May 1966 | 152/200 | Finnish People's Democratic League Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Union of Workers and Smallholders Centre Party |
Koivisto's cabinet | 22 March 1968 | 164/200 | Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Union of Workers and Smallholders Centre Party Swedish People's Party Finnish People's Democratic League |
Aura's cabinet | 14 May 1970 | – | – |
Karjalainen's second cabinet | 15 August 1970 | 144/200 | Social Democratic Party Centre Party Swedish People's Party Liberals |
Aura's second cabinet | 29 October 1971 | – | – |
Paasio's second cabinet | 23 February 1972 | 55/200 | Social Democratic Party |
Sorsa's cabinet | 4 October 1972 | 109/200 | Centre Party Swedish People's Party Liberals Social Democratic Party |
Liinamaa's cabinet | 13 June 1975 | – | – |
Miettunen's second cabinet | 30 November 1975 | 152/200 | Finnish People's Democratic League Centre Party Swedish People's Party Liberals Social Democratic Party |
Miettunen's third cabinet | 29 October 1976 | 58/200 | Centre Party Swedish People's Party Liberals |
Sorsa's second cabinet | 15 May 1977 | 152/200 | Finnish People's Democratic League Swedish People's Party Liberals Social Democratic Party Centre Party |
Koivisto's second cabinet | 26 May 1979 | 133/200 | Finnish People's Democratic League Swedish People's Party Social Democratic Party Centre Party |
Sorsa's third cabinet | 19 February 1982 | 133/200
102/200 |
Finnish People's Democratic League Swedish People's Party Social Democratic Party Centre Party |
Sorsa's fourth cabinet | 6 May 1983 | 123/200 | Swedish People's Party Social Democratic Party Centre Party Finnish Rural Party |
Holkeri's cabinet | 30 April 1987 | 131/200 | National Coalition Party Social Democratic Party Swedish People's Party Finnish Rural Party |
Aho's cabinet | 26 April 1991 | 115/200 | Centre Party National Coalition Party Swedish People's Party Christian Democrats |
Lipponen's cabinet | 13 April 1995 | 145/200 | National Coalition Party Social Democratic Party Swedish People's Party Left Alliance Green League |
Lipponen's second Cabinet | 15 April 1999 | 140/200
129/200 |
National Coalition Party Social Democratic Party Swedish People's Party Left Alliance Green League (−2002) |
Jäätteenmäki's Cabinet | 17 April 2003 | 117/200 | Centre Party Social Democratic Party Swedish People's Party |
Vanhanen's cabinet | 24 June 2003 | 117/200 | Centre Party Social Democratic Party Swedish People's Party |
Vanhanen's second cabinet | 19 April 2007 | 126/200 | Centre Party National Coalition Party Green League Swedish People's Party |
Kiviniemi's cabinet | 22 June 2010 | 126/200 | Centre Party National Coalition Party Green League Swedish People's Party |
Katainen's cabinet | 22 June 2011 | 124/200
112/200 |
National Coalition Party Social Democratic Party Left Alliance (−2014) Green League Swedish People's Party Christian Democrats |
Stubb's cabinet | 24 June 2014 | 112/200
102/200 |
National Coalition Party Social Democratic Party Green League (−2014) Swedish People's Party Christian Democrats |
Sipilä's cabinet Incumbent |
29 May 2015 | 124/200
105/200 |
Centre Party Finns Party (−2017) National Coalition Party Blue Reform (2017−) |
See also
References
- ↑ "Valtion talousarvioesitys 2018" [Finnish Budget Proposal 2018]. budjetti.vm.fi. Archived from the original on 24 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
- ↑ "About the Government". Finnish Government. Archived from the original on 12 December 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
- ↑ "Finnish Government Glossary". mot.kielikone.fi. Finnish Government Termbank Valter. Archived from the original on 10 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
Government : body which exercises general governmental power and must enjoy the confidence of Parliament, consisting of the prime minister, who is chosen by Parliament and appointed by the President of the Republic, and the other ministers, who are appointed by the president of the republic acting on a proposal by the prime minister
- ↑ "Governments in chronological order". Valtioneuvosto. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Saukkonen, Pasi (2008). Suomen poliittinen järjestelmä [Political System of Finland]. fi-fe20041404 (in Finnish). University of Helsinki.
- 1 2 3 Selovuori, Jorma, ed. (1996). Suomen keskushallinnon historia 1809–1996 [History of the Finnish Central Government 1809–1996] (in Finnish). Prime Minister's Office and Edita. ISBN 951-37-1976-6. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018.
- 1 2 3 Savolainen, Raimo (2011). Valtioneuvoston kanslia 200 vuotta [200 years of the Prime Minister's Office] (PDF) (in Finnish). Prime Minister's Office and Edita. ISBN 978-952-5896-73-2. ISSN 1799-7828.
- ↑ "Government Act 175/2003". www.finlex.fi. 28 February 2009. Archived from the original on 10 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
- ↑ "Finland's Constitution of 1999 with Amendments through 2011" (PDF). constituteproject.org. 23 November 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- ↑ http://tutkibudjettia.vm.fi/talousarvio
- 1 2 "Prime Minister Sipilä's Government". Government of Finland. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
- ↑ "Ministers". Valtioneuvosto. Retrieved 2017-11-25.
- ↑ "Composition of a certain government, 74. Sipilä". Valtioneuvosto. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
- ↑ "Finnish Governments and Ministers since 1917". Finnish Government. Archived from the original on 10 January 2018.