Parliamentary Elections
According to the Finnish Constitution sovereign power in Finland belongs to the people, represented by Parliament convened in session. The Finnish Parliament is unicameral and comprises 200 representatives.
Members of Parliament are elected every fourth year. The election day is the third Sunday of April in the election year, unless Easter affects this schedule. Every Finnish citizen who has reached the age of 18 not later than on the day of the election is entitled to vote in parliamentary elections.
On the basis of a reasoned initiative by the Prime Minister and after having consulted the various parliamentary fractions, the President of the Republic may dissolve Parliament at a time when it is in session by ordering that new elections be held. During the period of Finland’s independency, Parliament has been dissolved eight times, the latest dissolving happened in 1975 when Urho Kekkonen was President of Republic.
The first parliamentary elections in Finland were held on 15 and 16 March 1907. The Parliament of Finland, accordingly, celebrates its centennial in 2006 and 2007. The theme of the centennial is “ The right to vote – trust in law. One hundred years of Finnish democracy ".
Duties of Parliament
The Parliament of Finland enacts laws, decides the State budget, supervises the activities of authorities subordinated to the Government, and adopts international agreements.
Parliament chooses Prime Minister who is officially appointed by the President of Republic. The Prime Minister chooses the other members of the Cabinet who are appointed by the President of Republic. The Cabinet shall enjoy the confidence of the parliament.