kansalaisaloitteista

Kansalaisaloite is a Finnish term referring to a citizens' initiative. It is a legislative proposal that can be submitted to the Finnish Parliament by citizens. For a kansalaisaloite to be considered by Parliament, it must be supported by at least 50,000 adult Finnish citizens.

The process of a kansalaisaloite begins with citizens drafting a proposal for a new law or an amendment to an existing law. Once drafted, the proposal needs to be collected. This is typically done through online platforms, but paper-based collection is also permitted. The collection period is usually limited to six months. If the required number of signatures is reached within the specified time, the initiative is formally submitted to the Finnish Parliament.

Upon submission, the kansalaisaloite is assigned to a parliamentary committee for review. The committee examines the proposal's legality, feasibility, and potential impact. Following the committee's report, the proposal is debated in a plenary session of Parliament. Parliament then votes on the proposal. If the proposal receives a majority vote, it is passed into law. However, Parliament is not obligated to accept the proposal; it can reject it, amend it, or take other actions. The kansalaisaloite mechanism is a way for citizens to directly influence the legislative agenda and to bring forward issues they deem important. It enhances democratic participation by providing a formal channel for citizen input into law-making.