Lakiesityksen

Lakiesitys is a Finnish term that translates to "legislative proposal" or "bill" in English. It refers to a formal document that is put forward in the Finnish Parliament (Eduskunta) with the intention of becoming a law. A lakiesitys is the first step in the legislative process.

Before a lakiesitys can be submitted to Parliament, it is typically drafted by the government, often by a specific ministry. However, individual members of Parliament also have the right to submit their own legislative proposals, known as "kansalaisaloite" if it originates from citizens and gathers sufficient support, or simply "lakialoite" when initiated by an MP.

Once submitted to Parliament, the lakiesitys undergoes a thorough review process. It is assigned to a relevant parliamentary committee for examination, where it is debated, amended, and scrutinized. Following the committee's report, the proposal is presented to the full Parliament for voting. It must pass through multiple readings and votes before it can be approved. If a lakiesitys is passed by Parliament, it is then sent to the President of Finland for confirmation, after which it becomes law and is published in the official statute book. The term encompasses the entire journey of a proposed law from its inception to its potential enactment.