perustuslaki

Perustuslaki, or the Constitution of Finland, is the supreme law of the Finnish state. It sets out the basic principles of government, the organization and powers of the main state institutions, and the fundamental rights of individuals. The constitution is enacted as a constitution act and is complemented by other fundamental laws that regulate the legal order and rights protections. It enshrines the form of government as a democratic republic with representative government and ensures the separation of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, as well as the independence of the courts.

The Parliament (Eduskunta) holds legislative power; the Government and the President exercise executive functions; and the judiciary operates independently to apply and interpret laws. The perustuslaki also guarantees civil liberties such as freedom of expression, religion, assembly, and the right to privacy, along with equality before the law and protections for the accused.

Constitutional amendments are deliberately difficult to change; changes must be considered by Parliament in two successive sessions with an intervening general election, and generally require broad cross-party support and the appropriate vote thresholds specified in the Constitution. The perustuslaki binds all public authorities and guides the drafting and interpretation of ordinary legislation. It also provides for constitutional review and the protection of fundamental rights through courts and independent constitutional bodies.

Over time, the perustuslaki has been amended to address contemporary governance, EU integration, and evolving rights, while preserving the core principles of democracy, rule of law, and accountability. It forms the bedrock of Finnish constitutional law and public administration.