valtiooikeus

Valtio-oikeus, often referred to as constitutional law, is a branch of public law that studies the organization of the state, the distribution of governmental powers, and the relationship between state authorities and individuals. It examines how constitutional rules allocate competences among legislative, executive and judicial branches, and how power is exercised within legal controls.

The field encompasses constitutional law, administrative law, and human rights within the public-law framework. Core topics include the constitution and other constitutional instruments, separation of powers, constitutional review, the structure and functions of parliament, government and courts, and the protection of fundamental rights. It also addresses the design of public administration and the legality of administrative procedures.

It also considers the interaction between national constitutional order and international law, including European Union law, and how international obligations influence domestic constitutional practice and rights protection.

Scholars use constitutional texts, statutory provisions, case law, and doctrinal writings, often employing comparative methods. The discipline informs public policy, judicial practice, and administrative governance, and is taught in Finnish universities as part of legal studies and political science curricula.

In Finland, valtio-oikeus is a central field within public law, focusing on the Finnish Constitution (perustuslaki), the statutory framework, and the mechanisms by which rights and powers are protected, limited, and reviewed. The area provides the theoretical and practical tools for understanding how a constitutional state is organized and controlled by law.