Menettelytapamenettelyä

Menettelytapamenettelyä is a Finnish term describing a meta-procedure: the process or rules for determining which procedural method to use in a given case. In Finnish law and administration, menettelytapa refers to the manner in which a procedure is carried out (for example written versus oral proceedings, public versus private hearings). The compound form, often understood as a meta-procedure, denotes the method by which these procedural choices are themselves made. The partitive form menettelytapamenettelyä appears in texts describing the scope or application of these meta-procedural rules, for example in phrases like “menettelytapamenettelyä koskevat säännökset” (the provisions concerning the meta-procedure for choosing procedure).

In practice, the concept is primarily used in legal drafting and academic discussions rather than everyday language. It helps illuminate how authorities decide on procedural form, who has the authority to choose, which criteria guide the choice, and how the chosen procedure affects rights to be heard, efficiency, and transparency. The meta-procedure is intended to balance fairness, legality, and efficiency, and is typically governed by broader statutory procedures (such as administrative procedure acts and evidentiary rules) as well as internal guidelines of courts and agencies.

Etymology: it combines menettely (procedure) and tapa (style/method), with reduplication signaling a higher, meta-level concept. See also menettelytapa, hallintomenettely, oikeudenkäynti, and yleinen prosessi. Limitations: it is a technical term and may be context-dependent or uncommon outside legal scholarship.