The Council of State (Finnish: Valtioneuvosto, Swedish: Statsrådet) is Finland's cabinet; it directs the Government of Finland. However, in governmental translations to English, the distinction is often blurred between cabinet and government in the wider sense that includes the Parliament of Finland, on which the cabinet is dependent, the governmental agencies directed by the Cabinet, and the independent judicial branch of government; although this distinction is significant. Alternate meanings in cabinet (disambiguation) A Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... Finland is a republic with a representative democracy governed according to the principles of Parliamentarism. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The Eduskunta in Finnish, or the Riksdag in Swedish, is the Parliament of Finland. ...

In 1918, after Finland's independence, the Cabinet, that in the Grand Duchy of Finland had been called the Senate of Finland, was reorganized and renamed to the Council of State. One of the main objectives of that reform was to separate the judiciary from the executive branch. 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... The Finnish declaration of independence was adopted by the Parliament of Finland on December 6, 1917. ... The Grand Duchy of Finland was a state that existed 1809–1917. ... The Senate of Finland combined the functions of cabinet and supreme court in the Grand Duchy of Finland between 1816 to 1917. ... Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the executive is the branch of a government charged with implementing, or executing, the law. ...

According to the recent revision of the Constitution of Finland (as of 2000), the power over foreign affairs is retained by the president, as it also is in France, although with a narrow definition of foreign affairs that excludes influence over preparations of decisions within the European Union. International treaties and declaration of war are within the authority of the parliament. The Constitution of Finland defines the government and its shape, the relationship between the different topmost branches of the commonwealth and the rights of the individual. ... This article is in need of attention. ... Finlands basic foreign policy goal, from the end of the Continuation War with the U.S.S.R. in 1944 until 1991, was to avoid great-power conflicts and to build mutual confidence with the Soviet Union. ... The President of Finland (Suomen Tasavallan Presidentti; Republiken Finlands President) is the Head of State of Finland. ... A treaty is a binding agreement under international law concluded by subjects of international law, namely states and international organizations. ... A Declaration of War is a formal declaration issued by a national government indicating that a state of war exists between that nation, and one or more others. ...

With the constitution of 2000, Finland adheres de jure to the principles of Parliamentarism, although de facto all presidents since Kyösti Kallio (1936–1940) have chosen to appoint cabinets supported or tolerated by parliamentary majorities. A parliamentary system, or parliamentarism, is distinguished by the executive branch of government being dependent on the direct or indirect support of the parliament, often expressed through a vote of confidence. ... Statue of K. Kallio in Helsinki Kyösti Kallio (April 10, 1873 – December 19, 1940) was the fourth President of Finland (1937-1940). ... 1936 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1940 was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Matters within the authority of the Cabinet are decided at plenary meetings, with a quorum of five ministers present, in the case of matters of wide importance and matters that are significant for reasons of principle. Less important matters are decided within the respective ministries.

Matters within the authority of the President are decided at plenary meetings of the Cabinet, with the exception of appointments, pardon, and calling of extraordinary elections. A pardon is the forgiveness of a crime and the penalty associated with it. ...

Current Council of State

The current Council of State, the 69th to be formed since Finland's independence, was appointed by President Tarja Halonen on June 24, 2003. The current Council of State is a coalition comprising the Social Democrats (SDP), the Centre Party (KESK) and the Swedish People's Party (SFP). Tarja Kaarina Halonen (born December 24, 1943) is a Finnish lawyer and politician. ... June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP) is one of the most influential political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the Coalition Party. ... Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Liberal parties | Finnish political parties | Nordic Agrarian parties ... The Swedish Peoples Party (Svenska folkpartiet (SFP) in Swedish or Ruotsalainen kansanpuolue (RKP) in Finnish) is a Swedish minority and mainly liberal party in Finland. ...

Ministers

• Prime Minister of Finland - Matti Vanhanen, KESK

• Deputy Prime Minister of Finland, Minister of Finance - Antti Kalliomäki, SDP

• Minister of Foreign Affairs - Erkki Tuomioja, SDP

• Minister for Foreign Trade and Development - Mari Kiviniemi, KESK

• Minister of Justice - Johannes Koskinen, SDP

• Minister of the Interior - Kari Rajamäki, SDP

• Minister of Regional and Municipal Affairs - Hannes Manninen, KESK

• Minister of Defence - Seppo Kääriäinen, KESK

• Coordinate Minister for Finance - Ulla-Maj Wideroos, SFP.

• Minister of Education - Tuula Haatainen, SDP

• Minister of Culture - Tanja Karpela, KESK

• Minister of Agriculture and Forestry - Juha Korkeaoja, KESK

• Minister of Transport and Communications - Leena Luhtanen, SDP

• Minister of Trade and Industry - Mauri Pekkarinen, KESK

• Minister of Social Affairs and Health - Sinikka Mönkäre, SDP

• Minister of Health and Social Services - Liisa Hyssälä, KESK

• Minister of Labour - Tarja Filatov, SDP

• Minister of the Environment - Jan-Erik Enestam, SFP

• Chancellor of Justice, (ex officio member of the Cabinet) - Paavo Nikula

Note: Former Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomäki is currently on maternity leave (since 2 september 2005). The Prime Minister (Finnish Pääministeri, Swedish: Statsminister) is the head of government in Finland. ... Matti Taneli Vanhanen (born November 4, 1955, in Jyväskylä) is the current Prime Minister of Finland (as of July 2003) and chairman of the Centre Party. ... Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Liberal parties | Finnish political parties | Nordic Agrarian parties ... A Deputy Prime Minister is the deputy of a Prime Minister, and a member of a nations cabinet. ... The finance minister is a cabinet position in a government. ... Antti Kalliomäki (born 8 January 1947) is Finnish Minister of Finance since 17 April 2003 and MP since 1983. ... The Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP) is one of the most influential political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the Coalition Party. ... A minister for foreign affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the governmental foreign policy of a sovereign nation. ... Erkki Tuomioja (born 1 July 1946) is the foreign affairs minister of Finland (since 2000). ... The Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP) is one of the most influential political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the Coalition Party. ... Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Liberal parties | Finnish political parties | Nordic Agrarian parties ... The Justice Minister is a cabinet position in a government. ... Johannes Koskinen (born 19 December 1954) is current Justice Minister of Finland (since 1999) and MP (since 1991). ... The Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP) is one of the most influential political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the Coalition Party. ... The Interior Minister is a member of a Cabinet in a Government. ... Kari Rajamäki (born 15 October 1948) is current Minister of the Interior of Finland (since 2003). ... The Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP) is one of the most influential political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the Coalition Party. ... Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Liberal parties | Finnish political parties | Nordic Agrarian parties ... A defence minister (Commonwealth English) or defense minister (American English) is a cabinet portfolio (position) which regulates the armed forces in a sovereign nation. ... Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Liberal parties | Finnish political parties | Nordic Agrarian parties ... The Swedish Peoples Party (Svenska folkpartiet (SFP) in Swedish or Ruotsalainen kansanpuolue (RKP) in Finnish) is a Swedish minority and mainly liberal party in Finland. ... The Secretary of State for Education and Skills is the chief minister of the Department for Education and Skills in the United Kingdom government. ... The Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP) is one of the most influential political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the Coalition Party. ... Minister of culture is a cabinet position in a government: Minister of Canadian Heritage (Canada) Minister of Culture (Denmark) (Denmark) Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan) (Japan) Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (United Kingdom) Categories: Disambiguation | Government stubs ... Tanja Tellervo Karpela (b. ... Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Liberal parties | Finnish political parties | Nordic Agrarian parties ... The Minister of Agriculture is a position in several cabinet governments. ... Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Liberal parties | Finnish political parties | Nordic Agrarian parties ... The government role of Minister for Transport is common to several countries: The British Secretary of State for Transport The Canadian Minister of Transport The Irish Minister for Transport This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The acronym SDP can stand for: Session Description Protocol Social Democratic Party, for example: Social Democratic Party of the United Kingdom Social Democratic Party (Japan) Social Democratic Party of Finland Social Democratic Party of Germany (more often known by the German abbreviation SPD) Social Democratic Party of Croatia Service Data... Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Liberal parties | Finnish political parties | Nordic Agrarian parties ... The Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP) is one of the most influential political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the Coalition Party. ... Minister of Health redirects here. ... Categories: Politics stubs | Liberal related stubs | Liberal parties | Finnish political parties | Nordic Agrarian parties ... Minister of Labour re-directs here. ... The Social Democratic Party of Finland (SDP) is one of the most influential political parties in Finland, along with the Centre Party and the Coalition Party. ... A minister of the environment or secretary of the environment, is a cabinet position in charge of a government ministry dealing with the natural environment. ... Jan-Erik Enestam (born 12 March 1947 in Västanfjärd) is a Finnish politician. ... The Swedish Peoples Party (Svenska folkpartiet (SFP) in Swedish or Ruotsalainen kansanpuolue (RKP) in Finnish) is a Swedish minority and mainly liberal party in Finland. ... The Chancellor of Justice (Justitiekanslern) is a government official charged with representing the Swedish government in various legal matters. ... This page includes English translations of several Latin phrases and abbreviations such as . ... Paula Lehtomäki (Born November 29, 1972 in Kuhmo, Finland) is a finnish politician. ...

See also

• Council of State
• Minister of Foreign Affairs (Finland)
• Minister of Justice (Finland)
• Minister of Defence (Finland)
• Minister of Finance (Finland)

The Council of State is the name of an organ of government in many states, and especially in republics. ... List of Ministers of Foreign Affairs 1918 Otto Stenroth 1918 - 1919 Carl Enckell 1919 - 1922 Eino Holsti 1922 Carl Enckell 1922 - 1924 Juho Heikki Vennola 1924 Carl Enckell 1924 - 1925 Johann Procopé 1925 Karl Idman 1925 - 1926 Emil Nestor Setälä 1926 - 1927 Kaarle Väinö Voionmaa 1927 - 1931 Johan... List of Ministers of Justice 1917 - 1918 Onni Eugen Aleksander Talas 1918 - 1919 Karl Gustaf Söderholm 1919 - 1920 Henrik Hjalmar Kahelin 1920 Heikki Ritavuori 1920 Karl Gustaf Söderholm 1920 - 1921 Otto Hjalmar Granfelt 1921 - 1922 Heimo Helminen 1922 Albert Alexander von Hellens 1922 Frans Oskar Lilius 1922 - 1923... The Minister of Defence of Finland (in Finnish Puolustusministeri, in Swedish Försvarsministern) is a member of the Council of State and is the minister with responsibility for national defence. ... List of Ministers of Finance 1918 - 1919 Kaarlo Castrén 1919 August Ramsay 1919 - 1920 Otto Johannes Lundson 1920 - 1921 Jonathan Vindician Wartiovaara 1921 - 1922 Risto Ryti 1922 Ernst Gråsten 1922 - 1924 Risto Ryti 1924 Hugo Magnus Johannes Relander 1924 - 1925 Yrjö Rafael Pulkkinen 1925 Hugo Magnus Johannes Relander...

External links

• The Finnish Government - Official site