ABSTRACT
The Finnish political system combines parliamentary democracy with a strong presidency and is therefore often characterised as semi-presidential. The birth of parliamentary democracy is closely linked to the struggle for independence, which was won in December 1917. The Constitution of 1906 estahlished universal sufrrage and replaced the old four-estate assembly with a one-chamher parliament, the Eduskunta. The rirst parliamentary elections were held in 1907. In the summer of 1917 the Constitutional Committee approved a regulation on parliamentary governance ",,'hieh was subsequently enshrined in the 1919 Constitution Act. Section 2 reads: '(1) Sovereign power in Finland shall lie with the people; the people shall he represented by the Parliament. (2) Democracy shall entail the right of the individuals to participate in and inlluencc the development of society and their living conditions. (3) The exercise of puhlic authority shall bc based on law. In all public activity, the law shall be scrupulously ohserved.' I According to Section 3, '(1) the legislative power shall lie with the Parliament; the Parliament shall decide also on State finances. (2) The executive power shall lie with the President of the Republic and the Government; the Ministers must enjoy the confidence of the Parliament. (3) The judicial power shall lie with independent court of law; the highest courts of law shall he the Supreme Cnurt and thc Supreme Administrative Court.'2
