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Finland GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Government: Constitution Act of 1919 basis of
system of
government both parliamentary and presidential. Division
of power
among legislative, executive, and judicial branches only
partial,
and resulting overlapping of competencies ensures that
authorities act according to Constitution. Supreme power
rests
with the Finnish people, who elect through universal
suffrage
200-member Eduskunta, country's parliament. This body
ultimately
more powerful than president, the supreme executive, who
often
can act only through Council of State, or cabinet, whose
members
come mainly from Eduskunta.
Politics: As many as a dozen parties actively
articulate wide range of political viewpoints. Smaller
number of
parties, socialist and nonsocialist, have participated in
cabinet
governments in the postwar era. All parties with members
in
Eduskunta receive state subsidies. Party newspapers also
enjoy
state financial support.
Legal System: Independent judges and
constitutional
guarantees protect integrity of judicial system consisting
of
general courts that deal with civil and criminal cases and
administrative courts concerned with appeals against
decisions of
government agencies. General courts exist at three levels:
local,
appeal, and Supreme Court; administrative courts exist at
provincial and Supreme Administrative Court levels.
Chancellor of
justice, Finland's highest prosecutor, and parliamentary
ombudsman charged with rectifying legal injustice.
Foreign Relations: Finland follows what is
officially
termed an active and peaceful policy of neutrality. Member
of
Nordic Council, European Free Trade Association (EFTA),
Council
of Europe, and United Nations (UN).
Data as of December 1988
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