Editing Politics of Finland (section)

==Constitution==
{{main|Constitution of Finland}}
The current version of the constitution of Finland was written on 1 March 2000. The first iteration of the constitution was adopted on 17 July 1919. The original comprised four constitutional laws and several amendments, which the latter replaced.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nousiainen |first=Jaakko |title=The Finnish System of Government: From a Mixed Constitution to Parliamentarism |url=http://oikeusministerio.fi/material/attachments/om/toiminta/laitjalainvalmistelunkehittaminen/6HC1ymikp/Nousiainen_english.pdf |publisher=Ministry of Justice |access-date=3 September 2016}}</ref>

According to the constitution, the legislative powers are exercised by the Parliament, the governmental powers are exercised by the President of the Republic and the Government, and the judicial powers are exercised by government-independent courts of law.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990731.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041130111527/http://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990731.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 November 2004 |title=The Constitution of Finland - unofficial translation |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=1999–2011 |website=Finlex |publisher=The Ministry of Justice}}</ref> The Supreme Court may request legislation that interprets or modifies existing laws. Judges are appointed by the President.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oikeus.fi/tuomioistuimet/en/index/lautakunnat/tuomarinvalintalautakunta.html |title=Judicial Appointments Board  |publisher=Ministry of Justice |access-date=3 September 2016}}</ref>

The [[constitution of Finland]] and its place in the judicial system are unusual in that there is no constitutional court and the Supreme Court does not have the explicit right to declare a law unconstitutional. In principle, the constitutionality of laws in Finland is verified by a simple vote by Parliament (see ''[[parliamentary sovereignty]]''). However, the Parliament's Constitutional Law Committee reviews any doubtful bills and recommends changes, if needed. In practice, the Constitutional Law Committee fulfils the duties of a constitutional court. A Finnish peculiarity is the possibility of making exceptions to the constitution in ordinary laws that are enacted in the same procedure as constitutional amendments. An example of such a law is the State of Preparedness Act, which gives the Government certain exceptional powers in cases of national emergency. As these powers, which correspond to US executive orders, affect constitutional basic rights, the law was enacted in the same manner as a constitutional amendment. However, it can be repealed in the same manner as an ordinary law. In addition to preview by the Constitutional Law Committee, all Finnish courts are obligated to give precedence to the constitution when there is an obvious conflict between the constitution and a regular law. Such a case is, however, very rare.{{Citation needed|date=March 2018}}

Some matters are decided by the [[President of Finland]], the Head of State, in plenary meetings with the government, echoing the constitutional history of a [[privy council]]. The President is otherwise not present in the government, but decides on issues such as personal appointments and pardons on the advice of the relevant [[Political minister|minister]]. In the ministries, matters of secondary importance are decided by individual ministers, advised by the minister's [[Secretary of State#Finland|State Secretary]]. The Prime Minister and the other ministers in the government are responsible for their actions in office to the [[Parliament of Finland|Parliament]].