V.

Government

Finland is a democratic republic. It has a parliamentary form of government that divides executive power between the president and the prime minister. Finland is governed under a constitution adopted on March 1, 2000. The previous constitution was adopted on July 17, 1919, shortly after Finland’s declaration of independence from Russia. All citizens who have reached 18 years of age can vote.

A.

Executive

The president of Finland, who is elected to a six-year term by direct popular vote, is the head of state. Under the 1919 constitution, the president was responsible for national security and foreign affairs and also appointed the Council of State (cabinet) and the prime minister; the prime minister and cabinet were responsible for domestic policy making. The present constitution, adopted in March 2000, reduced the power of the president and gave more authority to the prime minister and cabinet. Today, the parliament elects the prime minister, who is then officially appointed by the president. The prime minister nominates cabinet members for appointment.

The new constitution also requires the president to work more closely with the prime minister and cabinet on foreign policy issues. The prime minister’s responsibility for Finland’s relations with the European Union (EU) is a significant example of this.

B.

Legislature

The Finnish parliament is a unicameral body known as the Eduskunta (Riksdag in Swedish). Its 200 members are popularly elected on a proportional basis for a term of up to four years. Members of the Eduskunta may initiate legislation, override presidential vetoes, or bring about the resignation of the cabinet and prime minister. The president may dissolve the Eduskunta and call for new elections at the request of the prime minister.

C.

Political Parties

Finland’s system of proportional representation encourages the formation of many small political parties. Nearly all governments are coalition governments. Historically, the most important political parties are the Finnish Social Democratic Party (SDP, formed in 1899), advocating state ownership of certain essential industries; the Center Party (KESK, 1906), which has traditionally derived its support from rural interests and advocates free enterprise; the Left Alliance (LA, 1990), formed by the 1990 merger of the Finnish People’s Democratic League (1944) and the Communist Party of Finland (1918); the National Coalition Party (KOK, 1918), an advocate of private enterprise; the Swedish People’s Party (SFP, 1906), representing the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland; and the Green League, an environmentalist party.

D.

Local Government

Finland is divided into five mainland provinces and the island province of Åland (Ahvenanmaa), which enjoys home-rule and keeps its own, distinct flag. Residents of Åland province are nearly all Swedish-speaking. The mainland provinces are Eastern Finland (Itä-Suomi), Western Finland (Länsi-Suomi), Southern Finland (Etelä-Suomi), Oulu, and Lappi. Each mainland province is administered by a governor who is appointed by the president. Åland is administered by a provincial council that is directly elected by residents; the council shares governing power with the governor.

Below the provincial level are cities, townships, and communes. Each is administered by municipal or communal councils elected by proportional representation.

E.

Judiciary

The local court system of Finland is divided into municipal courts in towns and district courts in rural areas. Appellate courts are located in Åbo, Vaasa, Kuopio, Kuovila, Rovaniemi, and Helsinki. The supreme court, which sits at Helsinki, is the final court of appeal for all civil and criminal cases.

F.

Health and Welfare

The Finnish social-welfare system provides unemployment, sickness, disability, and old-age insurance; family and child allowances; and war-invalid compensation. The National Health Act of 1972 provided for the establishment of health centers in all municipalities, and also provided for the elimination of doctor’s fees.

G.

Defense

Military service for up to 12 months is compulsory for all males 17 years of age or over. Since 1995, women have been allowed to serve as volunteers. Finland has an army, a navy, and an air force, but the armed forces are restricted by the Paris peace treaty of 1947 to maximum personnel of 41,900; in 2004 about 28,300 people were in the armed services. Reserves total about 400,000. In 1994 Finland joined the Partnership for Peace program as a first step toward full membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).