Yleisvaltuutus

Yleisvaltuutus is a Finnish term meaning a broad or general authorization by which one person or body empowers another to act on its behalf in a range of matters without separate, case‑by‑case approvals. The concept appears in both public administration and private law, where it can cover administrative decision‑making, financial transactions, procurement, or representation in legal and contractual affairs.

In practice, a yleisvaltuutus defines the scope and limits of the delegated powers, often specifying subject matter, temporal duration and any reporting or oversight requirements. In public organizations, it enables executive bodies or officials to carry out routine or technical decisions more efficiently while leaving major policy choices with elected organs. In private law it functions similarly to a general power of attorney, enabling agents to manage affairs within agreed boundaries.

Legal frameworks generally require that yleisvaltuutukset comply with statutory limits and principles such as legality, accountability and proportionality. Certain core competences or rights cannot be delegated if law reserves them to a specific organ. Authorities may also set conditions for documentation, transparency and revocation to prevent misuse.

Advantages attributed to yleisvaltuutus include administrative efficiency and operational flexibility; criticisms focus on potential erosion of accountability and risks of exceeding delegated authority. Related concepts include specific delegations, special authorizations and powers of attorney.