tasavallan

Tasavallan is the genitive form of tasavalta, meaning “of the republic.” In Finnish, tasavalta denotes a form of government in which supreme power is exercised through elected representatives rather than a monarch. The term is used in formal and legal language to describe the organizational and constitutional form of a state.

Etymologically, tasavalta combines elements that convey the idea of equal power distribution and non-monarchical rule. The prefix tasa- implies equality, while valta means power or authority, signaling a system where authority resides in the people and their representatives rather than in a hereditary ruler.

In official Finnish usage, tasavalta appears in phrases such as Tasavallan presidentti (President of the Republic) and tasavallan hallitus (the cabinet of the Republic). The form and functions of the state’s leadership are defined in the constitution, which for Finland sets a parliamentary system where the president serves as head of state with largely ceremonial and international duties, and the prime minister leads the government and parliament.

Finland is commonly described as a republic, or tasavalta, emphasizing elected representation and constitutional rule of law rather than monarchy. The concept contrasts with a monarchy, where a king or queen typically holds a hereditary position. In practice, a republic can take various shapes, but in Finland the key features include elected representatives, the primacy of parliamentary decision-making, and a defined constitutional framework.

See also: Republic, Monarchy, Constitution, Presidency of Finland, Parliamentary system.