NB: Unofficial translation - Eduskunta

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NB: Unofficial translation

PARLIAMENT’S RULES OF PROCEDURE17December1999(40/2000,amendmentsupto63/2015included)

Chapter 1 — Parliamentary session

Section 1 — Convocation in session

TheParliamentshallconveneinsessioneveryyearonthefirstdayofFebruary,atnoon,unlesstheParliamenthasdecidedonanotherdateandtimeofconvocation.TheopeningoftheparliamentarysessionshalltakeplacewithinthreedaysoftheconvocationoftheParliament.

TheParliamentshallconveneintheParliamentHouse.TheSpeakermaydecideonanotherplaceofconvocation,ifthereareunavoidablereasonsforthesame.

Section 2 — Examination of Credentials

Beforethefirstplenarysessionofanelectoralterm,theChancellorofJusticeoftheGovernmentshallexaminethecredentialsoftheRepresentatives.AlistshallbedrawnupontheRepresentativeswhohavepresentedvalidcredentials.Thefirstplenarysessionoftheelectoraltermshallbeginwitharollcallinaccordancewiththelist.

TheChancellorofJusticeshallexaminealsothecredentialspresentedlater.BeforeaRepresentativetakesoffice,heorsheshallpresenttheexaminedcredentialstotheSpeaker,whothenmakesanannouncementofthesameinplenarysession.

Section 3 — Interruption of the parliamentary session

TheParliamentmay,ontheproposaloftheSpeaker’sCouncil,decidetointerrupttheparliamentarysessionandsetthetimeofreconvocationandresumptionofparliamentarywork.Whiletheparliamentarysessionisinterrupted,parliamentaryactivitiesmaybecarriedoutonlyinsofarasthereisaspecificstatutoryauthorisationtothiseffect.

TheSpeakermaysummontheParliamenttoresumeaninterruptedparliamentarysession.

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Chapter 2 — Bodies elected by the Parliament

Section 4 — Election of the Speaker and the Deputy Speakers

Inthefirstplenarysessionofaparliamentarysession,theelectionsoftheSpeakerandtheDeputySpeakersshallbeheld,withtheoldestMemberoftheParliamentpresiding.Beforetakingoffice,theSpeakerandtheDeputySpeakersshallmakethefollowingsolemnaffirmationbeforetheParliament:

“I---affirmthatinmyofficeasSpeakerIshalltothebestofmyabilitydefendtherightsofthepeopleofFinlandandoftheParliamentinaccordancewiththeConstitution.”

TheterminofficeoftheSpeakerandtheDeputySpeakerselectedforthelastparliamentarysessionofanelectoraltermshallcontinueuntilafterthenextparliamentaryelectionhasbeenheld.

IftheSpeakeroraDeputySpeakerdiesorresignsfromofficeduringtheparliamentarysession,anewSpeakerorDeputySpeakershallbeelectedwithoutdelay.IftheSpeakeroraDeputySpeakeristemporarilypreventedfromattendingtohisorherduties,theParliamentmay,ontheproposaloftheSpeaker’sCouncil,decideontheelectionofatemporarySpeakerorDeputySpeaker.

Section 5 — Speaker and the Presidency

TheSpeaker,togetherwiththeSpeaker’sCouncil,shallleadparliamentaryactivityinaccordancewiththeConstitutionandtheseRulesofProcedure.TheSpeakerandtheDeputySpeakersformthePresidency.

IftheSpeakerandtheDeputySpeakersarepreventedfromattendingtothedutiesofSpeaker,plenarysessionsshallbepresidedoverbytheoldestmemberoftheSpeaker’sCouncilpresentinthesession.Inthisevent,thesessionshalldealwithannouncementsonly,includinganannouncementofthetimeofthenextplenarysession,butnodecisionsshallbemadeonothermatters,unlessthereisanespeciallypressingreasonforthecontrary.

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Section 6 — Duties of the Speaker’s Council

TheSpeaker’sCouncilshall:

1.makeproposalsandissueinstructionsonthearrangementofparliamentarywork;

2.makeaproposalontheCommitteetowhichtoreferamatterforpreparation,andontheCommitteewhichistoissueastatementonthematter;

3.Repealed(895/2012).

4.proposetheplenarysessionforwhichamatteristobedeferred;

5.adoptthescheduleofplenarysessions;

6.makeaproposaltotheplenarysessiononthefullorpartialforfeitureofaRepresentative’sremunerationbyvirtueoftheActontheRemunerationPayabletoRepresentatives(328/1947),andontheobtainmentofthestatementoftheConstitutionalLawCommitteebyvirtueofsection28(3)oftheConstitution;

7.putforwardinitiativesfortheenactmentoflegislationgoverningparliamentaryofficials,oftheParliament’sRulesofProcedureandoftheParliament’sElectionRules;

8.makeproposalsfortheadoptionofinstructionsfortheinternaladministrationoftheParliament,insofarastherighttomakesuchproposalshasnotbeenassignedtotheOfficeCommission;

9.makeproposalsforrulesofproceduregoverningtheorgansappointedbytheParliament;

10.issuegeneralguidelinesonthesectorsofcompetenceandtheactivitiesoftheCommittees;

11.wherenecessary,decideontheparticipationofRepresentativesininternationalco-operationotherthanthatreferredtoinsection10,andtoissuegeneralinstructionsonthesame;

11a)issueinstructionsondeclaringtheRepresentative'spersonalinterestsandonothercorrespondingpracticesrelatingtotheofficeasaRepresentative;(63/2015)

12.makeproposalsontheseatingarrangementsoftheparliamentarygroupsintheplenaryhall;

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13.makeproposalsontheestablishmentoftemporaryCommitteesandonthenumberofmembersandalternatememberstobeelectedinatemporaryCommittee;

14.makedecisionsandproposalsonothermatters,ashasbeenprovidedelsewhere;and

15.actasaconsultativebodyinmatterswithinthecompetenceoftheSpeaker.

IfthereisatiedvoteintheSpeaker’sCouncil,theSpeakershallhavethecastingvote.

IfamatterwithinthecompetenceoftheSpeaker’sCouncilcannotbepresentedtotheSpeaker’sCouncilbyreasonofurgency,theSpeakermaydecidethematteronaprovisionalbasisuponpresentationbyanofficialchargedwithpresentingmatterstotheSpeaker’sCouncilfordecision.TheprovisionaldecisionshallbepresentedtotheSpeaker’sCouncilforratificationassoonaspossible.(118/2003)

Section 7 — Committees

TheParliamentshallhavethefollowingstandingCommittees:TheGrandCommitteeand,asspecializedCommittees,theConstitutionalLawCommittee,theForeignAffairsCommittee,theFinanceCommittee,theAuditCommittee,theAdministrationCommittee,theLegalAffairsCommittee,theTransportandCommunicationsCommittee,theAgricultureandForestryCommittee,theDefenceCommittee,theEducationandCultureCommittee,theSocialAffairsandHealthCommittee,theCommerceCommittee,theCommitteefortheFuture,theEmploymentandEqualityCommittee,andtheEnvironmentCommittee.(609/2007)

TheParliamentmayestablishtemporaryCommittees.ThetermofatemporaryCommitteeshallcontinueuntilithascompleteditstask.

TheGrandCommitteeshalladoptitsownrulesofprocedure.

Section 8 — Membership in Committees

TheGrandCommitteeshallhave25membersand13alternatemembers.ThestandingspecialCommitteesshallhave17membersand9alternatemembers,savefortheFinanceCommittee,whichshallhave21membersand19alternatemembersandtheAuditCommittee,whichshallhave11membersand6alternatemembers(609/2007).

TheParliamentshalldecideonthenumberofmembersandalternatemembersinatemporaryCommittee.

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Wherenecessary,theParliamentmay,ontheproposaloftheCommitteeinquestion,decidetoincreasethenumberofalternatemembersintheGrandCommitteeorthenumberofmembersoralternatemembersinanotherCommittee.

Section 9 — Excuse from membership

ARepresentativewhohasalreadybeenelectedamemberoftwoCommitteesshallhavetherighttorefusemembershipinadditionalCommittees.

Foravalidreason,theParliamentmay,ontherequestofaRepresentative,excusehimorherfrommembershipinaCommittee.

Section 10 — Representation of the Parliament in international bodies

TheParliamentshallelectfromamongitsmembers:

1.foreachparliamentarysession,18membersandanequalnumberofalternatemembersfortheFinnishdelegationtotheNordicCouncil;

2.duringthefirstannualsessioninaparliamentaryterm,fivemembersoftheFinnishdelegationtotheCouncilofEuropeandthesamenumberofalternatemembers;aswellas(1190/2006)

3.foreachelectoralterm,sixdelegatesandanequalnumberofalternatedelegatesfortheParliamentaryAssemblyoftheOrganisationforSecurityandCooperationinEurope,saiddelegatesformingtheFinnishdelegationtotheParliamentaryAssembly.

If,underaninternationalagreement,theParliamentistoparticipateintheactivitiesofanotherbody,theParliamentshalldecideontheelectionofitsrepresentativestherein.

TherepresentativesoftheParliament,referredtoinparagraphs(1)and(2),shallsubmitannualreportstotheParliamentontheiractivities.TheSpeaker'sCouncilmayissuegeneralinstructionsonhowtherepresentativesreferredtoinparagraph2shallbeincontactwithParliamentanditsorgans.(1023/2009)

Section 11 — Parliamentary Ombudsman

AvacancyforthepositionofParliamentaryOmbudsmanorDeputyOmbudsmanshallbeannouncedinthemannerdecidedbytheSpeaker’sCouncil.TheelectionshalltakeplaceaftertheConstitutionalLawCommitteehasevaluatedthecandidates.

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TheParliamentaryOmbudsmanshallsubmitanannualreporttotheParliament,asreferredtoinsection109oftheConstitution;wherenecessary,theOmbudsmanmaysubmitalsospecialreportstotheParliament.

Section 12 —Repealed (9.5.2007/609)

Section 13 — Governors of the Bank of Finland and auditors of the Bank ofFinland (1190/2006)

Foreachelectoralterm,theParliamentshallelectninegovernorstosupervisetheoperationsoftheBankofFinlandandtheadministrationofthefundsforwhichtheParliamentisresponsible.ThegovernorsshallsubmitanannualreporttotheParliament;wherenecessary,theymaysubmitalsospecialreportstotheParliament.Everyyear,theParliamentshallelecttheauditorsoftheBankofFinland,inaccordancewiththespecificprovisionsthereon.TheauditorsshallserveatthesametimeastheauditorsresponsiblefortheParliament’sfunds.

Section 14 — Auditors of the Parliament

TheParliamentshallelectfromamongitsmembersthreeauditorsandadesignateddeputyforeachauditor.TheauditorselectedbytheParliamentshallthenselectafourthauditorandhisorherdeputy,asprovidedinmoredetailintheParliament’sFinanceRules.

TheauditorsoftheParliamentshallauditthefinancesandadministrationoftheParliament.TheauditorsshallsubmitanannualauditreporttotheParliament.

Section 15 — Board of the Library of Parliament

Foreachelectoralterm,theParliamentshallelecttheboardoftheLibraryofParliament,inaccordancewiththespecificprovisionsthereon.

TheboardshallsubmitanannualreporttotheParliament.

Section 16 — Elections

TheParliamentshallholdelectionsasprovidedinmoredetailintheParliament’sElectionRules.ApersonalelectionshallbeheldinthesamemannerastheelectionoftheSpeaker,unlessotherwiseprovidedelsewhere.Thereshallbenodebateduringanelection.

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TheParliamentshallelecttheSecretaryGeneralafterthevacancyhasbeenannouncedandtheOfficeCommissionhassubmitteditsopiniononthecandidates.Ifthereareseveralcandidates,anelectionoftheSecretaryGeneralshallbeheld.

TheParliamentshallelecttheDirectoroftheStateAuditOfficeafterthevacancyhasbeenannouncedandtheFinanceCommitteehasevaluatedthecandidates.Ifthereareseveralcandidates,anelectionoftheDirectoroftheStateAuditOfficeshallbeheld.

Section 17 — Appointment and organisation of committees (1190/2006)

TheParliamentshallappointthepermanentcommitteeswithoutdelayafterithasassembledforthefirstannualsessionofaparliamentaryterm.OntheproposaloftheSpeaker’sCouncil,acommitteemaybere-appointedaftertheCouncilofStatehasbeenappointedfollowingageneralelection.(1190/2006)

Committeesshallconstitutethemselveswithoutdelayaftertheyhavebeenappointed.

Foritsterm,eachCommitteeshallelectfromamongitsmembersachairpersonandadeputychairperson.UnlesstheCommitteeunanimouslydecidesotherwise,theprovisionsontheelectionoftheSpeakerapply,insofarasappropriate,totheelection.TheoutcomeoftheelectionofthechairpersonandthedeputychairpersonshallbeannouncedtotheParliament.

ThefirstmeetingofaCommitteeshallbeconvenedbyitsoldestmember.Thatmembershallpresideuntilthechairpersonhasbeenelected.

IfthechairpersonandthedeputychairpersonoftheCommitteearedisqualifiedfromtheconsiderationofamatterorpreventedfromattendingameetingoftheCommittee,atemporarychairpersonshallbeelectedfortheCommittee.Theelectionshallbeheldinthesamemannerastheelectionofthechairperson.

Theprovisionsofthissectionapply,insofarasappropriate,alsototheorganisationoftheotherparliamentaryorgans.

Section 18 — Rules of procedure of the parliamentary organs (609/2007)

TheParliamentshalladopt,ontheproposaloftheSpeaker’sCouncil,therulesofprocedureoftheParliamentaryOmbudsman,thegovernorsoftheBankofFinlandandthetrusteesoftheSocialInsuranceInstitution.Inaddition,theParliamentmayadoptothernecessaryrulesofprocedure.

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Chapter 3 —The initiation of matters in the Parliament

Section 19 — Announcement of matters

TheSpeakershallannounce,inaplenarysession,thearrivalofagovernmentproposal,acommunication,astatement,areport,anannualreport,adecreeoranothersubordinateactordecisionandcitizens’initiativeforconsiderationbytheParliament.(1272/2011)

TheSpeakershallalsoannouncethewithdrawalofagovernmentproposaloraparliamentarymotion.Ifagovernmentproposalormotioniswithdrawn,itsconsiderationshallcease.

Section 20 — Parliamentary motions

ParliamentarymotionsshallbesubmittedtotheCentralOffice.Themotionshallincludebriefjustifications.Asinglemotionmaynotincludeunconnectedmatters,normayabudgetmotionproposemorethanonebudgetitemorotherdecision.(71/2011)

AparliamentarymotionmaybesubmittedwhentheParliamentisinsession.AbudgetarymotionmaybeputforwardonlyonthebasisofabudgetproposalsubmittedtotheParliament;themotionmustbeputforwardatthelatestatnoononthetenthdayaftertheannouncementofthearrivaloftheproposal.Abudgetarymotiononthebasisofasupplementarybudgetproposaloraproposalcomplementingabudgetproposalshallbeputforwardatthelatestatnoononthefourthdayaftertheannouncementofthearrivaloftheproposal.(118/2003)

Thefirstsignatoryofaparliamentarymotionmaywithdrawthemotioninwriting.

Section 21 — Proposals on parliamentary work (71/2011)

ARepresentativeshallhavetherighttoproposetheamendmentoftheParliament’sRulesofProcedure,theestablishmentofatemporaryCommitteeandothermatterswithinthecompetenceoftheParliament,unlesstherearespecificprovisionsontheinitiationofsuchmatters.TheproposalshallbesubmittedtotheCentralOffice.Wherenecessary,theSpeaker’sCouncilmayissueastatementontheproposal.

Section 22 — Interpellations (71/2011)

AninterpellationshallbesubmittedtotheCentralOffice.Theinterpellationshallthenbepresentedinplenarysessionandsent,withoutdebate,totheGovernmentforareply.

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Thereplytotheinterpellationshallbegiven,atatimeagreedwiththeSpeaker,within15daysoftheinterpellationhavingbeenmadeknowntotheGovernment.

AvoteonconfidenceintheGovernmentoraMinistershallbeconductedif,inthecourseofthedebateonaninterpellation,avoteofnoconfidenceintheGovernmentoraMinisterhasbeenproposed.TheParliamentmaydecidetoreferthemattertoaCommittee,whichshallmakeaproposalconcerningthedecisiontobemadebytheParliament.

Section 23 — Government statements and government reports (71/2011)

AGovernmentstatementandaGovernmentreportshallbepresentedtotheParliament,afterwhichitshallbetakenupfordeliberationinaplenarysession.

AvoteonconfidenceintheGovernmentoraMinistershallbeconductedif,inthecourseofthedebateonaGovernmentstatement,avoteofnoconfidenceintheGovernmentoraMinisterhasbeenproposed.TheParliamentmaydecidetoreferthemattertoaCommittee,whichshallmakeaproposalconcerningthedecisiontobemadebytheParliament.

WhenadebateonaGovernmentreporthasbeenconcluded,theParliamentshalldecidetowhichCommitteethematteristobereferredaswellaswhetheroneormoreCommitteesshallsubmittheirstatement(s)onthemattertotheCommitteepreparingthematter.TheCommitteeshallproposethewordingofstatementofopinionontheGovernmentreport.However,ParliamentmaydecidenottoreferthemattertoaCommittee,inwhichcasetheParliamentdoesnotadoptanopinionontheGovernmentreport.

Section 24 — Prime Minister’s announcements

AnannouncementbythePrimeMinister,oraMinisterdesignatedbythePrimeMinister,onatopicalissueshallbepresentedtoParliamentatatimeagreedwiththeSpeaker.(71/2011)

TheSpeakershalldecidewhethertoallowdebateontheannouncement.Thefloormaybegivennotwithstandingtheprovisionsinsection50.WhentheSpeakerdeemsthattherehasbeensufficientdebate,heorsheshallclosethedebate.(895/2012)

Section 25 — Question time (895/2012)

TheSpeaker’sCouncilmaydecidethatadebatebeheldinplenarysessiontoallowfortheRepresentativestoputquestionstoMinisters(questiontime).

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Inthedebateduringaquestiontime,thefloormaybegivennotwithstandingtheprovisionsinsection50.TheSpeakershallgivethefloortoRepresentativesforbriefquestionsandtoMinistersforresponsesasheorsheseesfit.WhentheSpeakerdeemsthattherehasbeensufficientdebate,heorsheshallclosethedebate.

TheSpeaker’sCouncilshallissuemoredetailedinstructionsonthematter.

Section 26 — Topical debates

ARepresentativemayproposetotheSpeaker’sCouncilthatadebatebeheldinplenarysessiononagiventopicalissue.(71/2011)

TheSpeaker’sCouncilshalldecideonwhethertoholdatopicaldebate.Thefloormaybegivennotwithstandingtheprovisionsinsection50.WhentheSpeakerdeemsthattherehasbeensufficientdebate,heorsheshallclosethedebate.(895/2012)

TheSpeaker’sCouncilshallissuemoredetailedinstructionsonthematter.

Section 27 — Written questions

ARepresentativemayposeawrittenquestiontoaMinisteronamatterwithinthecompetenceoftheMinister.Thequestion,whichmusthaveadefinedcontent,shallbesubmittedtotheSpeaker,whoshallthensendittotheGovernment.Aquestioncanbeposedalsoduringaninterruptionoftheparliamentarysession.

Theanswertoawrittenquestionshallbegivenwithin21daysofthequestionbeingsenttotheGovernment.Thereceiptofrepliestowrittenquestionsshallberecordedintheminutesoftheplenarysession.(71/2011)

Thefirstsignatoryofaquestionmaywithdrawthequestioninwriting.

Foraspecialreason,theParliamentmay,ontheproposaloftheSpeaker’sCouncil,decidethateachRepresentativemayposeonlyalimitednumberofwrittenquestionsduringaparliamentarysessionorapartofasession.

Section 28 — Certain matters of criminal liability

Theinitiation,intheConstitutionalLawCommittee,ofamatterconcerningthelegalresponsibilityofaMinister,asreferredtoinsection115oftheConstitution,shallbeannouncedinplenarysession.

AcommunicationpertainingtothePresidentoftheRepublic,asreferredtoinsection113oftheConstitution,shallbepresentedtotheParliamentandreferred,withoutdebate,totheConstitutionalLawCommitteeforanopinion.

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Section 29 — Declarations of personal interests (63/2015)

AcommunicationoftheGovernment,containinganaccountofthepersonalinterestsofaMinister,asreferredtoinsection63(2)oftheConstitution,shallbepresentedtotheParliament.Adebateonthemattershallbeheldinplenarysession.TheParliamentshallnotmakeadecisiononthebasisofthecommunication.ThesameprovisionsapplywhensomeoneelsethanaMinistermakesastatutorydeclarationofpersonalintereststotheParliament.ProvisionsondeclarationofpersonalinterestsofaRepresentativeisprovidedinSection76a.

Section 30 —European Union matters. (1023/2009)

TheSpeakershallreferacommunicationoftheGovernment,referredtoinsection96(2)oftheConstitutiontotheGrandCommitteeortheForeignAffairsCommittee,dependingonthenatureofthematter.Atthesametime,theSpeakershalldesignatetheCommitteethatistoprovideastatementtotheGrandCommitteeortheForeignAffairsCommittee.TheGrandCommitteeortheForeignAffairsCommitteemaysetadeadlineforthestatementofthatCommittee.

ThereferralofthecommunicationoftheGovernmenttotheCommitteesshallbeannouncedinplenarysession.

DocumentssuppliedtoParliamentbytheEuropeanUnion'sinstitutionsaccordingtotheTreatyonEuropeanUnionthatwasconcludedinLisbonon13December2007(EUTreaty),thatcontainaproposalforalegislativeactshallberecordedasreceivedbytheGrandCommittee,whichshallsendthemtotheappropriatespecialcommitteesaswellastheLegislativeAssemblyofÅlandsothattheymayexpresstotheGrandCommitteetheiropiniononthelegislativeproposalfromtheviewpointoftheprincipleofsubsidiarityasdefinedinArticle5oftheEUTreaty.(1023/2009)

Parliamentmay,ontheproposaloftheGrandCommittee,decidetosendareasonedopinionasreferredtoinArticle6oftheprotocolontheapplicationoftheprinciplesofsubsidiarityandproportionalityattachedtotheEUTreatyanddecideonParliament'spositionregardinganactionasreferredtoinArticle8oftheprotocol.IncasesreferredtoinArticle6oftheprotocol,Parliament'sdecisionandthereportoftheGrandCommitteeshallbeforwardedtotheEuropeanUnion'sinstitutions.(1023/2009)

TheexaminationofaninitiativetakenbytheEuropeanCouncilonthebasisofArticle48(7)oftheEUTreatyshallbesubjecttotheprovisionsinsection32.(1023/2009)

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Section 30 a — Information received by a Committee (895/2012)

OnthemotionofaCommittee,theSpeaker’sCouncilmaydecidethatinformationreferredtoinsection47(2)oftheConstitutionbedebatedinplenarysession;inthisevent,theParliamentshallnotmakeadecisiononthematter.Thefloormaybegivennotwithstandingtheprovisionsinsection50.WhentheSpeakerdeemsthattherehasbeensufficientdebate,heorsheshallclosethedebate.

Section 31 — Supplementary government proposals

AproposalthatsupplementsanearliergovernmentproposalshallbereferredtotheCommitteewhichisdealingwiththeoriginalproposal.ThatCommitteeshalldealwiththeoriginalgovernmentproposalandthesupplementaryproposaljointly.

Section 31a — Audit Committee´s right of initiative (609/2007)

Theauditcommitteemayonitsowninitiativeraiseissuesthatarewithinthecommittee'sremitaccordingtosection90,paragraph1oftheConstitutionandmayissuereportsonthemfortheplenarysession.

Chapter 4 — Preparation of matters for plenary session

Section 32 — Referral to Committee

Governmentproposals,parliamentarymotions,legislativeproposalsleftinabeyance,Actsnotconfirmed,citizens’initiatives,reportssubmittedtotheParliament,decreesandothersubordinateactsanddecisionssubjectedtoparliamentaryscrutiny,andproposalsfortheParliament’sRulesofProcedure,proposalsforactsgoverningparliamentaryofficials,Parliament’sElectionRulesandotherinstructionsandrulesofprocedure,InitiativestakenbytheEuropeanCouncilonthebasisofArticle48(7)oftheEUTreatyaswellastheothermatterssoordained,shallbepreparedinCommitteebeforetheyaretakenupforadecisioninplenarysession.Inaddition,othermattersshallbereferredtoCommitteeforpreparationwhentheParliamentsodecides.(1272/2011)

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Adebate(introductorydebate)shallbeheldinplenarysessionforthepurposeofreferringthesematterstoCommittee.Attheconclusionoftheintroductorydebate,theParliamentshalldecide,ontheproposaloftheSpeaker’sCouncil,towhichCommitteethematterisreferred.TheSpeaker’sCouncilmaydecideonthereferralofasupplementarygovernmentproposaltoCommitteewithoutanintroductorydebate;suchadecisionshallbeannouncedinplenarysession.Section33containsprovisionsonthereferralofpetitionarymotionstoCommittee.

Atthesametime,theParliamentmaydecidethatoneormoreotherCommitteesshallissueastatementtotheCommitteepreparingthematter.

Aproposalontheenactment,amendmentorrepealoftheConstitutionshallbereferredforpreparationtotheConstitutionalLawCommittee.TheannualreportoftheGovernmentshallbereferredforpreparationtotheAuditCommittee.AninitiativetakenbytheEuropeanCouncilasreferredtoinparagraph1shallbesenttotheGrandCommitteeortheForeignAffairsCommitteeforpreparatoryexamination.(1022/2013)

TheParliamentmayissueinstructionstotheCommitteesonthepreparationofthematter.

Section 33 — Referral of petitionary motions to Committee

TheSpeaker’sCouncilshalldecideonthereferralofapetitionarymotiontoCommittee.AnannouncementofthereferralofapetitionarymotiontoCommitteeshallbemadeinplenarysession.

TheSpeaker’sCouncilmayassignthedecisiononthereferralofapetitionarymotiontoCommitteetobemadebytheParliament;inthisevent,anintroductorydebateonthemattershallbeheldinplenarysession.

Section 34 — Order of business (10/2006)

ACommitteeshallwithoutdelaydealwiththemattersreferredtheretoand,asthecasemaybe,issueitsreporttotheplenarysessionoritsstatementtoanotherCommittee.

MattersrelatingtotheconfidenceintheGovernmentoraMinistershallbedealtwithasurgent.Ingeneral,aCommitteeshalldealfirstwithgovernmentproposalsandgovernmentcommunicationsonEuropeanUnionaffairs.(71/2011)

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Governmentproposalsandparliamentarymotionsconcerningthesamemattershallbedealtwithinconjunctionwitheachothershallbethesubjectofajointreport,unlessspecialreasonsrequireadifferentproceduretobefollowed.Committeesshall,however,ensurethatreportsonGovernmentproposalsarenotdelayedbymattersbeingjoined.(10/2006)

TheSpeaker’sCouncilmayissuemoredetailedinstructionsontheorderofbusinesstobefollowedintheCommittees.

Section 35 — Meetings of the Committees

TheCommitteesshallmeetaccordingtotheirworkload.WhentheParliamentisinsession,theCommitteesshallmeetprimarilyonweekdaysotherthanMondayorSaturday.ThechairpersonofaCommitteeshallcalltheCommitteetoameeting.

WhentheparliamentarysessionisinterruptedorwhentheParliamenthasconcludeditswork,aCommitteeshallmeetontheinitiativeofthechairpersonorifatleastonethirdofthemembersoftheCommitteesorequestfromthechairperson.ThechairpersonshallcalltheCommitteetoameetingalsoontherequestoftheGovernment.(71/2011)

WhenthechairpersonofaCommitteeispreventedfromattendingtohisorherduties,theprovisionsinparagraphs(1)and(2)aboveapplytothedeputychairpersonoftheCommittee.IfamemberofaCommitteeispreventedfromattendingameetingoftheCommitteeordisqualifiedfromdealingwiththematterathand,analternatemembershalltakehisorherplace.

Section 36 — Right to be present in Committee meetings

TheSpeakerandtheDeputySpeakershavetherighttobepresentinCommitteemeetings.

WhentheGrandCommitteeisconsideringalegislativematter,everyRepresentativehastherighttobepresentinthemeeting.However,theRepresentativeelectedfromtheconstituencyoftheÅlandIslandshasalwaystherighttobepresentinthemeetingsoftheGrandCommittee.

Section 37 — Hearing of experts

ACommitteemayhearexpertopinions.

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Whenacitizens'initiativeisbeingconsidered,theCommitteeshallreservetherepresentativesoftheinitiative'sauthorsanopportunitytobeheard.WhenalegislativeproposaloranothermatterspecificallyinvolvingtheSámiisbeingconsidered,theCommitteeshallreservetherepresentativesoftheSámianopportunitytobeheard,unlesstherearespecialreasonsforthecontrary.(1272/2011)

Section 38 — Statement of another Committee

ACommitteemayrequestthestatementofanotherCommitteeonamatterunderitspreparationoroninformationreferredtoinsection47(2)oftheConstitution.Inaddition,theGrandCommitteeandtheForeignAffairsCommitteemayrequestthestatementofanotherCommitteeonaproposalorreportreferredtoinsections96and97oftheConstitution.(118/2003)

If,inrespectofalegislativeproposaloranothermatterunderpreparationinaCommittee,aquestionarisesastoitsconstitutionalityorrelationtohumanrightstreaties,theCommitteeshallrequestastatementonthematterfromtheConstitutionalLawCommittee.

Asregardsitsownfieldofcompetence,aCommitteemay,onitsowninitiative,issueastatementontheStatebudgetproposaltotheFinanceCommitteewithin30daysofthereferraloftheproposaltotheFinanceCommittee.

Section 39 — Consideration in Committee (10/2006)

Havingreceivedtheinformationnecessaryforadecisioninthematter,Committeesshallconductapreparatorydiscussion,atwhichitsmembershavetheopportunitytoexpresstheirviewsonthematterinallrespectsandonthebasisofwhichthesecretaryoftheCommitteepreparesadraftofareportorstatement.Ageneraldiscussionshallbeconductedonthebasisofthedraftandthemattergivenadetailedreading,atwhichadecisionismadeontheCommittee’sproposalsaswellasonthereasonstobepresentedinsupportofthereportorstatement.

TheCommitteemaydecideunanimouslytoregardthedetailedreadingastheoneinwhichthefinaldecisioninthematterismade.Inothercases,themattershallbegivenaseparatedecisivereading,basedonthereportorstatementadoptedbytheCommittee.Inthatcase,themembersoftheCommitteeshallbeaccordedtheopportunitytoconductageneraldiscussionandadetailedreadingshallbeconducted.

Aproposalforrejectionshallbedecidedonafterproposalsconcerningthecontentsofthematterhavebeendealtwith.

Uponsecondedproposal,amattershallbedeferredoncetoasubsequentmeetingoftheCommittee.Afterthis,themattershallbedeferrediftheCommitteesodecides.(71/2011)

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ACommitteemaychoosearepresentativefromamongitsownnumbertosubstituteforitschairpersoninpresentingareportorstatementataplenarysessionorattheGrandCommitteewhenastatementismadetoit.

Section 40 — Voting in a Committee (10/2006)

TheCommitteeshalldecideonthevotingproceduretobeusedinagivenmatter.However,anopenvote,inaccordancewiththerollcall,shallbetakenifthechairpersondeemsthisnecessaryoramemberoftheCommitteesodemands.

Intheeventofatiedvote,thedecisionshallbemadebydrawinglots.However,iftheConstitutionalLawCommitteevotesinamatterreferredtoinsection28andthereisatie,themorelenientpositionshallbethedecisionoftheCommittee.

Section 41 — Committee sections

ACommitteemayassignasection,fromamongitsmembers,toprepareamatterunderconsiderationandtodrawupadraftreportorstatement.

TheprovisionsontheconsiderationofmattersinaCommitteeapply,insofarasappropriate,totheconsiderationofmattersinaCommitteesection.

Section 42 — Committee reports and statements (10/2006)

ThereportsandstatementsofaCommitteeshallbeconcise.TheproposalsoftheCommitteeshallbeformulatedasresolutions.Thesameappliestoreservationsanddissentingopinions,unlessthesearelimitedtotheexpressionofapositiondifferentfromthatoftheCommittee.

Areportandastatementshallbearthenamesofthemembersparticipatinginthedecisivereadingofthematter.Ifamemberhasparticipatedonlypartially,thisshallalsobeindicated.

AreservationconcerningareportandadissentingopinionrelatingtoastatementshallbesubmittedgtothesecretaryoftheCommitteewithinthetimedeterminedbytheCommittee.Aprotestandadissentingopinionshallcorrespondtothestanceofthesignatorieswhenthematterwasdecided.(71/2011)

Areport,astatementandtheappendedreservationsanddissentingopinionsshallbescrutinisedbythesecretaryoftheCommittee,unlesstheCommitteedecidesotherwise.

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Section 43 — Committee minutes (10/2006)

MinutesshallbekeptatCommitteemeetings,indicatingthememberspresentandtheexpertsheardaswellastheproposalsanddecisionsmade,withvotes.ThesecretaryoftheCommitteeshallvalidatetheminuteswithhisorhersignature.

CommitteeminutesandotherdocumentsshallbearchivedinaccordancewithseparateinstructionsconfirmedbytheSpeaker’sCouncil.

Section 43a — Publicity of Committee documents (10/2006)

Committeeminutesshallbestoredinaninformationnetworkaccessiblebythepublic.PreparatorydocumentsconcerningamattershallbecomepublicwhenconsiderationofthematterbytheCommitteehasbeenconcluded.However,aparliamentarygroupnotrepresentedonaCommitteeorasectionofaCommitteeshallhavetherighttoreceivecopiesofthedocumentsrelatingtoapendingmatter,unlesstheyaresecret.

ACommittee’sdocumentsshallbekeptsecretifdivulginginformationaboutthemwouldcausesignificantharmtoFinland’sinternationalrelationsortocapitalorfinancialmarkets.Documentscontainingconfidentialcommercialorprofessionalinformationordetailsofaperson’sstateofhealthorfinancialsituationshallbekeptsecretifdivulginginformationonthemwouldcausesignificantharmordamage,unlessacompellingpublicinterestrequirestheirpublication.ACommitteemay,foracomparablecompellingreason,decidethatadocumentistobekeptsecret.

DocumentsdeclaredconfidentialbyaCommitteeinaccordancewithSection50.3oftheConstitutionshallalsobekeptsecret.ArequestbytheGovernmentthataCommitteeobserveconfidentialityinamatterrelatingtoFinland'sinternationalrelationsorEuropeanUnionmattersshallbecompliedwithuntiltheCommitteeinquestionhasmadeadecisionconcerningtherequest.

TheprovisionsofSection31oftheActonOpennessofGovernmentActivities(621/1999)shallapply,whereappropriate,tothelengthoftheperiodforwhichaCommittee’sdocumentsshallbekeptsecret,unlesstheCommitteedecidesonashorterperiod.

TheSpeaker’sCouncilmayissuemoredetailedinstructionsconcerningthepublicityofcommitteedocuments.

Section 44 — Grand Committee (10/2006)

UnlessotherwiseprovidedintheRulesofProcedureoftheGrandCommittee,theprovisionsinsections34,35,37and39—43and43aapply,insofarasappropriate,totheconsiderationofmattersintheGrandCommittee.

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Chapter 5 — Consideration of matters in plenary session

Section 45 — Plenary sessions

PlenarysessionsshallbeheldaccordingtotheworkloadoftheParliament.TheSpeakershallconvenetheplenarysessions,wherepossibleinaccordancewithascheduleofplenarysessionsadoptedbytheSpeaker’sCouncil.PlenarysessionsshallprimarilybeheldonweekdaysotherthanMondayorSaturday.

Section 46 — Agendas of plenary sessions

Theagendasofplenarysessionsshallcontainalistofthematterstobeconsidered,theirstageofconsiderationandthepertinentdocuments.

TheSpeakershalldeterminetheagendasofplenarysessions.Whenmattersarebeingincludedintheagenda,theearlierdecisionsoftheParliamentandthescheduleofplenarysessionsadoptedbytheSpeaker’sCouncilshallbetakenintoaccount.

TheSpeakerhastherighttoalterapostedagendaandtointerrupttheconsiderationofamatter.

Section 47 — Presence

Therollshallbecalledinthebeginningofeachplenarysession.Inaplenarysessionheldlateronthesameday,therollneednotbecalled,atthediscretionoftheSpeaker;inthisevent,theRepresentativespresentintheearlierplenarysessionshallbedeemedpresent.

Arepresentativewhoappearsinplenarysessionwithin15minutesoftherollcall,shallbedeemedtohavebeenpresentintherollcall.ARepresentativeappearinglaterthanthisshallbedeemedtohavebeenpresentasfromthetimewhenheorsheannounceshimselforherselftotheSpeaker.

Subsection3repealed(895/2012)

Section 48 — Recording absence (219/2007)

Arecordofanabsencefromaplenarysessionbecauseofataskassociatedwithparliamentaryworkorduetoillness,maternity,paternityorparentalleaveshallbeenteredintheminutesoftheplenarysession.

TheSpeaker’sCouncilshallissueguidelinesconcerningthetaskstobedeemedasassociatedwithparliamentaryworkaswellasconcerningtherecordingofattendancesandabsences.

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Section 49 — Speaker's duties in plenary sessions

TheSpeakershallchairtheplenarysessionandmaintainordertherein,aswellasmaketheproposalsfordecisionsandforvoting.TheSpeakershallmakeproposalsonlyasisrequiredfortheimplementationoftheConstitution,theParliament’sRulesofProcedureandthedecisionsoftheParliament.

TheSpeakershallseetoitthatthosewhohavethefloorkeeptotheissueunderconsideration.Ifapersonwhohasthefloordigresses,theSpeakershallexhorthimorhertokeeptotheissue.Iftheexhortationisnotheeded,theSpeakermaydenythefloortothepersoninquestion.

Section 50 — Giving the floor

Inplenarysession,theRepresentativesshallbegiventhefloorintheorderofrequests.

Beforethefloorisgiventootherswhorequestit,itshallbegrantedtothespokespersonofaCommitteeand,inthecaseofaparliamentarymotionduringanintroductorydebate,tothefirstsignatoryofthemotion,ortothechairpersonofaParliament-appointedbodythathasgivenitsreport,ifthispersonisaRepresentative,ortoaRepresentativedesignatedbythebody.TheSpeakermaygivetheflooralsotoaspokespersonofaCommitteethathaspresenteditsstatementand,whenaspecialgroundexists,tothefirstsignatoryofareservation,aftertheotherpresentationshavebeenmade.Afteraninterpellationhasbeenrepliedto,thefloorshallbegivenfirsttothefirstsignatoryoftheinterpellation.(10/2006)

TheSpeakermay,athisorherdiscretion,givethefloortoaMinister,theChancellorofJusticeoftheGovernmentortheParliamentaryOmbudsmanbeforeothersrequestingthefloor.

TheSpeaker’sCouncilmayreserveapartofadebateinadvanceforspeeches,whichshallhaveamaximumdurationfixedbytheSpeaker’sCouncil.

Sections24–26and30aapplytothegivingofthefloorduringtopicaldebates,questiontimesandthedebatesarisingfromthePrimeMinister’sannouncements.(895/2012)

TheSpeaker’sCouncilshallissuemoredetailedinstructionsonrequestingthefloorandonspeaking.

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Section 51 — Group speeches

WhenthedebateconcernstheStatebudget,agovernmentstatementorreportoraninterpellation,thefloorshallbegivenforgroupspeeches,unlesstheSpeaker’sCouncildecidesotherwise.TheSpeaker’sCouncilmaydecidethattheflooristobegivenforgroupspeechesalsowhenothersignificantmattersarebeingconsidered.However,theprovisionsinsection50(2)and(3)applytothegivingofthefloorforgroupspeeches.

Theorderofthegroupspeechesshallcorrespondtothesizeoftheparliamentarygroupsconstitutedinthebeginningofanelectoralterm,fromthelargesttothesmallest.TheorderofgroupsofthesamesizeshallbedeterminedbytheSpeaker'sCouncilbydrawinglots.TheSpeaker’sCouncilmayaltertheorderofgroupspeechesif,duringtheelectoralterm,aparliamentarygroupofatleastthreeRepresentativeshasbeenconstitutedorifthereisanotherpersuasivereasonforthealterationoftheorder.

TheSpeaker’sCouncilmaydecidethat,afterthegroupspeeches,otherrequestsforthefloormadebeforethesessioncanbegrantedintheorderreferredtoinparagraph(2).

TheSpeaker’sCouncilshalldecidethestageofthedebateatwhichtheRepresentativesinparliamentarygroupsnotincludedintheorderreferredtoinparagraph(2)canmaketheirspeeches.

TheSpeaker’sCouncilmayissuemoredetailedinstructionsontheapplicationofparagraphs(1)–(4).

Section 52 — Responses

Notwithstandingtheprovisionsinsections50and51,theSpeakermaygivethefloorforbriefresponsesathisorherdiscretion.(895/2012)

TheSpeaker’sCouncilshallissuemoredetailedinstructionsonresponses.

Section 53 — Consideration of a legislative proposal (895/2012)

AmattercontainingalegislativeproposalshallbeconsideredintheplenarysessionintworeadingsonthebasisofthereportofaCommittee.

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Inthefirstreading,thereportoftheCommitteeshallbepresentedandageneraldebateheld.Thecontentofthelegislativeproposalshallthenbeconsideredindetailanddecided.Duringtheconsiderationindetail,thecontentsofthelegislativeproposalmaybeadoptedonthebasisoftheCommitteereportwithoutgoingintothetextoftheactualsections,insofarasthedocumentsonthematterdonotcontainproposalsforalterationsdivergingfromthereportandnosuchproposalshavebeenmadeinaccordancewiththeprocedureprovidedinsection58,either.Inthefirstreading,noproposalshallbemadefortherejectionofthelegislativeproposal.

IfthecontentofthelegislativeproposalisadoptedaccordingtotheCommitteereport,thefirstreadingofthemattershallbeconcluded.Ifthisisnotthecase,themattershallbereferredtotheGrandCommitteeintheformcontainedinthedecisionoftheParliament.TheGrandCommitteemayconcurwiththedecisionoftheParliamentorproposealterationstoit.IftheGrandCommitteeproposesalterations,theParliamentshalldecideonwhethertheseareadoptedornot.Thereafter,thefirstreadingofthemattershallbeconcluded.

Inthesecondreading,whichshalltakeplacenotearlierthanonthethirddayaftertheconclusionofthefirstreading,theParliamentshalldecidetoadoptorrejectthelegislativeproposalaswellasonanystatementsitmaywishtomake.

Aproposalfordeclaringalegislativeproposalurgent,unlessmadeintheCommitteereport,shallbemadeinthesecondreadingofthematterbeforetheconclusionofthedebate.

Duringthefirstreading,theParliamentmayre-referthemattertotheCommitteewhichprepareditortoanotherspecialCommittee,orduringthegeneraldebatetotheGrandCommittee.Thereadingshallresumeonthebasisofthenewreportonceithasbeencompleted.

Section 54 — Consideration of a legislative proposal left in abeyance and anunconfirmed Act

AlegislativeproposalleftinabeyanceandanunconfirmedActshallbeconsideredinplenarysessioninonereading.Inthebeginningofthereading,thereportoftheCommitteeshallbepresentedandadebateonthematterheld.Thereafter,adecisionshallbemadeontheadoptionofthelegislativeproposalortheActwithoutmaterialalterations,oronitsrejection.

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Section 55 — Single reading

Mattersontheagendaoftheplenarysession,otherthanthosereferredtoinsections53and54,tobedecidedonbytheParliamentandnotsubjecttodifferentprovisionselsewhere,shallbeconsideredintheplenarysessioninasinglereading.(895/2012)

Section59containsprovisionsontheconsiderationofaStatebudgetproposal.

Section 56 — Acceptance of international obligations and their denouncement

AmatteroftheacceptanceofinternationalobligationsortheirdenouncementshallbeconsideredinasinglereadingonthebasisofaCommitteereport.

IftheCommitteereportcomprisesproposalsonboththeacceptanceofaninternationalobligationanditsimplementingAct,theproposalontheobligationshallbepresentedforthesinglereadingatthesametimeasthelegislativeproposalispresentedforthesecondreading.TheParliamentshallfirstdecideontheproposalontheobligation.

Section 57 — Deferral (71/2011)

Amattershallbedeferredfromanintroductorydebatetooneoftheclosestfollowingplenarysessions,ifaRepresentativesorequests.Thereafter,themattermaynotbedeferredfromtheintroductorydebate.

ACommitteereportshallfirstbepresentedfordeferraltoasessionthatisheldonthenextdayattheearliest.However,foraspecialreasonParliamentmaydecidetodeferthemattertoaplenarysessionheldlateronthesameday.

Inafirstreadingandinthereadingreferredtoinsections54and55,themattershalluponsecondedproposalbedeferredonce.OtherwisethemattershallbedeferredifParliamentsodecides.

Oncethedebateonagovernmentstatementorreportoraninterpellationhasbegun,themattershallnotbedeferred.TheprovisionsondeferraldonotapplytothePrimeMinister’sannouncementsortotopicaldebates.

Section 58 — Proposals for amendment

AproposalmadebyaRepresentativeinplenarysessionandnotincludedinthedocumentsshallbehandedintotheSpeakerinwriting,iftheSpeakersorequests.

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Aproposalforamendmenttobemadeinthefirstreadingofalegislativematterandnotincludedinthedocumentsshall,ifpossible,beprovidedtotheCentralOfficewithoutastatementofreasons,atleasttwohoursbeforetheplenarysession.TheproposalshallbedistributedtotheRepresentativesbeforeadecisionismadeonthematter.Foraspecialreason,theSpeakermaypresentaproposalforvotingevenifitisproposedlater.(71/2011)

Theprovisionsinparagraph(2)applytoaproposalmadeinthesecondreadingofalegislativematter,aswellastoaproposalmadeinareadingreferredtoinsections54and55,wherenotconcerningrejection.

Section59(2)containsprovisionsonthemakingofproposalsforamendmentduringtheconsiderationoftheStatebudgetproposal.

Section 59 — Consideration of a budget proposal

TheStatebudgetproposalshallbeconsideredinasinglereadinginaplenarysessiononthebasisofareportoftheFinanceCommitteeaccordingtotheprocedureapprovedbytheParliament.Aclassorsectioninthebudgetproposalorachapterthereofshallbenotedtohavebeenadoptedasitappearsinthereport,ifnoproposalsforamendmenttheretohavebeenmadeasprovidedforlaterinthisparagraph.(895/2012)

AproposaltoamendthereportoftheFinanceCommitteeshallbesubmittedtotheCentralOfficewithinthetimedeterminedbytheParliament,evenifitisincludedinthedocuments.Aproposalmadelatershallnotbetakenupforconsideration,unlesstheSpeakerforaspecialreasondeemsitsconsiderationnecessary.(71/2011)

Aproposalconcerningtheinclusionofanewappropriationorotherdecisioninthebudget,notincludedintheGovernmentproposal,canbetakenintoaccountwhenadecisiononthebudgetisbeingmade,onlyifithasbeeninitiatedbywayofabudgetarymotion.(71/2011)

IftheParliamenthasnotadoptedthereportoftheFinanceCommitteewithoutalterations,themattershallbere-referredtotheFinanceCommittee.TheCommitteemayconcurwiththepositionoftheParliamentorproposeamendmentsthereto.IftheCommitteeproposesamendments,theParliamentshalldecidewhethertoadoptorrejectthem.

IfthepublicationoftheStatebudgetisdelayedintothenewbudgetaryyear,theFinanceCommitteeshallproposetotheParliamenthowtheStatebudgetproposalbeappliedasaprovisionalbudget.TheproposaloftheCommitteeshallbeconsidered,insofarasappropriate,inaccordancewiththesameprocedureasthebudgetproposal.

Theprovisionsontheconsiderationofthebudgetproposalapply,insofarasappropriate,totheconsiderationofthesupplementarybudgetproposal.

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Section 60 — Proposals for decision and for voting

Whenthedebateonthematterathandhasbeenconcluded,theSpeakershallpresentasummaryontheproposalsmade.IfanobjectionismadeagainstthesummaryoftheSpeaker,andtheSpeakerconsiderstheobjectionjustified,heorsheshallrectifythesummary.IftheSpeakerconsidersthattheobjectiondoesnotwarrantachangeinthesummary,theParliamentshalldecideonthesummary.(895/2012)

Afterpresentingthesummary,theSpeakershallmakeaproposalfortheorderofvotingontheproposals.IfthereisacallforthealterationoftheSpeaker’sproposalfortheorderofvoting,buttheSpeakerconsidersthecallunwarranted,theParliamentshalldecideontheorderofvoting.

Oncetheorderofvotinghasbeendecided,theSpeakershallpresentthematterforvotingsothatthereply“Yes”or“No”expressesthedecisionoftheParliament.Ifthereareseveralproposalsfordecision,theyshallbevotedononeagainstanother,untilavotehasbeentakenonallofthem.

AproposalmadebyaRepresentative,butnotseconded,shallnotbetakenupforavote.

Thereshallbenootherdebateonthematterscoveredbythissection.Thereshalllikewisebenovotetakenonwhetheravoteshouldbetaken.

Section 61 — Mode of voting

Avoteshallbetakenbythevotingapparatus,bystandinguporbyopenballot.TheSpeakershallannouncethemodeofvoting.Thereshallbenodebateonthemodeofvoting.

Avoteshallbetakenbythevotingapparatus,regardlessofwhetheravotehasalreadybeentakenbystandingup,iftheSpeakerdeemsthisnecessary,ifthevotebystandinguphasintheopinionoftheSpeakernotyieldedaclearresultorifaRepresentativesorequests.

Avoteshallbetakenbyopenballotifthevotingapparatusisoutoforder,ifthevotebyusingthevotingapparatushasintheopinionoftheSpeakernotyieldedaclearresultorifthereisatie.However,ifthereisatieinavotenotpertainingtothefinaldecisionoftheParliamentatthecurrentstageofconsideration,thevoteshallberetakenbythevotingapparatus,andavotebyopenballotshallbetakenonlyifthereisatiealsointhissecondvotebyusingthevotingapparatus.

TheParliament’sElectionRulescontainmoredetailedprovisionsonthevotingprocedureinelections.

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Section 62 — Vote by open ballot

Avotebyopenballotshallbetakeninaccordancewiththerollcall,byusingballotsofvariouscolours.Aballotshallbearthepre-printednameoftheRepresentativeandtheword"Yes","No"or"Abstention”.Aballotnotconformingtothisprovisionshallbevoid.TheRepresentativesshallputtheirballotsintotheballot-boxintheorderthattheirnamesarecalled.Theballotsshallbereadoutaloudandcounted.

Section 63 — Result of a vote

TheSpeakershalldeclaretheresultofavote.

Theresultsofallvotesshallbearchivedandpublished.(895/2012)

Thereshallbenodebateonthismatter.(895/2012)

Section 64 — Reasons in a Committee report

ThereasonscontainedinaCommitteereportshallbedeemedtohavebeenadopted,unlesstheParliamentdecidesotherwise.

Section 65 — Election of the Prime Minister

ThenotificationofthePresidentoftheRepublictotheParliamentconcerningthenomineeforPrimeMinistershallbeintroducedintheParliamentanddeferredtooneofthefollowingsessions.AvoteontheelectionofthenomineeasPrimeMinistershallbetakenbythevotingapparatusorbyopenballot.TheSpeakershallannouncethemodeofvoting.

AnelectionofthePrimeMinister,asreferredtoinsection61(3)oftheConstitution,shallbeheldinaccordancewiththerollcall,byusingballotsbearingonlythepreprintednameoftheRepresentative.TheRepresentativeshallwriteintheballotthenameofthepersonvotedfor,soclearlythatthereisnodoubtastowhothatpersonis,orcastablankballot.Aballotnotconformingtothisprovisionshallbevoid.Theballotsshallbereadoutaloudandcounted.

Theminutesshallcontainanoteonhoweveryonehasvoted.

Thereshallbenodebateonmattersreferredtointhissection.

Section 66 — Maintenance of order in plenary sessions

ThereshallbenoopenexpressionsofapprovalordisapprovalinplenarysessionsoftheParliament.

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ThepersonsfollowingtheplenarysessioninthegalleryshallabidebytheinstructionsissuedbytheOfficeCommissionandtheotherrulesforthemaintenanceoforder.Ifnecessaryforareturntoorder,theSpeakermayhavethegallerycleared.

Section 67 — Closed sessions

IftheSpeakerdeemsthatamatterisbynaturesuchthatitcannotbeconsideredinopensession,orif25Representativesmovethatamatterbeconsideredinclosedsession,theSpeakershallhavethegalleryclearedandproposethattheParliamentdecide,inaccordancewithsection50(1)oftheConstitution,whetherthematteristobeconsideredinclosedsession.

TheParliamentshalldecideontheaccessto,orsecrecyof,theminutesofaclosedsessionandthedocumentsdealtwithduringthesession.

Chapter 6 — Parliamentary documents

Section 68 — Parliamentary replies and communications

ThedecisionoftheParliamentonagovernmentproposalshallbenotifiedtotheGovernmentbywayofaparliamentaryreply.However,theStatebudget,asadoptedbytheParliament,andtheotherdecisionsandnotificationsbytheParliamentshallbenotifiedbywayofaparliamentarycommunication.

Alistshallbedrawnup,forthefinalparliamentarysessionofanelectoralterm,onthegovernmentproposals,decreesandothersubordinateactsanddecisions,andreports,whoseconsiderationhasnotbeenconcludedandwhichhavethereforelapsed.ThelapsedmattersinthelistshallbenotifiedbywayofacommunicationtotheGovernmentor,ifareportwasnotsubmittedbytheGovernment,tothepartywhichsubmittedthereport.

TheSpeakerandtheSecretaryGeneraloftheParliamentshallsigntheparliamentaryrepliesandcommunications.

Wherenecessary,theSpeaker’sCouncilshalldecideontherevisionofthewordingofaparliamentaryreplyorcommunication.

Section 69 — Minutes of plenary sessions (895/2012)

Minutesshallbekeptonplenarysessions,containingnotesontheconsiderationofmattersanddebatesheldinplenarysession.Notesonthedecisionsmadeinplenaryshallbepublishedwithoutdelayinaninformationnetwork.

Aspeechtobenotedintheminutesshallbesubjectedtothescrutinyofthespeaker.Nomaterialalterationsshallbemadeinthespeech.

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IfaRepresentativehasnotconcurredwiththedecisionoftheplenarysession,heorshehastherighttohaveadissentingopinionnotedintheminutes.

TheminutesshallbesignedbytheSecretaryGeneral.Theminutesshallbemadeavailabletothepublicwithoutdelayinaninformationnetwork.

Section 70 — Protocols of plenary sessions

Aprotocolshallbedrawnupofeachplenarysessionwithoutdelay;theprotocolshallcontainnotesonthedecisionsmade.

TheprotocolshallbepubliconcetheSecretaryGeneralhassignedit.

Section 71 — Publication of parliamentary documents (71/2011)

Parliamentarydocumentsshallbemadeavailabletothepublicinaninformationnetwork.TheparliamentarydocumentsshallcontaintheminutesoftheplenarysessionsoftheParliamentandtheabridgedSwedisheditionsoftheminutes,thegovernmentproposals,thecommunicationsonthewithdrawalofgovernmentproposals,theGovernmentcommunicationstotheParliament,thedecreesandothersubordinateactsanddecisionssubjectedtoparliamentaryscrutiny,citizens’initiatives,reports,governmentstatementsandreports,thelistoflegislativeproposalsleftinabeyance,thereportsandstatementsoftheCommittees,theparliamentaryrepliesandcommunications,theparliamentarymotions,interpellationsandwrittenquestionswithreplies.(1272/2011)

Thedocumentsreferredtoinparagraph(1)canadditionallybepublishedinprintorinotherform.

TheSpeaker’sCouncilshallissuemoredetailedguidelinesonpublicationofparliamentarydocuments.

Chapter 7 — Administration of the Parliament

Section 72 — Office Commission

TheOfficeCommissionshallseetotheadministrationoftheParliament.TheOfficeCommissionshallbecomposedoftheSpeaker,theDeputySpeakersandfourmemberselectedbytheParliamentfromamongitsmembers,andfouralternatesforthememberselectedbytheParliament.

TheOfficeCommissionshallhaveaquorumwithfivememberspresent.Intheeventofatiedvote,theSpeakershallhavethecastingvote.TheOfficeCommissionmaymakedecisionsalsowithfourmemberspresent,iftheseareunanimous.

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MattersshallbepresentedtotheOfficeCommissionbytheSecretaryGeneraloftheParliament,bytheDirectorofAdministrationintheParliament,aswellasbytheotherofficialsintheParliamentaryOfficedesignatedbytheOfficeCommissionaspresentingofficials.

Wherenecessary,theOfficeCommissionmayconvenealsowhentheparliamentarysessionisinterruptedandwhentheParliamenthasconcludeditswork.

IfamatterwithinthecompetenceoftheOfficeCommissionissourgentthatthereisnotimetopresentittotheOfficeCommission,theSpeakershallmakeaprovisionaldecisiononthematteruponthepresentationofapresentingofficial.TheprovisionaldecisionshallbepresentedfortheapprovaloftheOfficeCommissionassoonaspossible.

Section 73 — Duties of the Office Commission

TheOfficeCommissionshall:

1.manage,superviseanddeveloptheadministrationandfinancesoftheParliament,andconsiderpertinentplansanddevelopmentproposals;

2.makeproposalsontheadministrationandfinancesoftheParliament;

3.decide,insofarasspecificallysoprovided,ontheappointmentstoapositionoratemporarypositionintheParliamentaryOffice,aswellasonthedismissalofofficialsortheterminationoftheirposition;

4.decide,insofarasspecificallysoprovided,onleaveofabsenceforofficialsintheParliamentaryOfficeandontheirtemporaryreplacements;

5.afterhavingheardtheCommitteesinquestion,appointthesecretariesoftheCommittees;

6.decidetheothermatterspertainingtotheadministrationandfinancesoftheParliament,wherethesehavenotbeenassignedtotheSpeakeroranofficialintheParliamentaryOffice;

7.putforwardinitiativesfortheadoptionoftheParliament’sFinanceRules;

8.decideontheArchiveRulesoftheParliament;and

9.decideontheothermattersthatareassignedtoitbyanAct,theseRulesofProcedure,otherinstructions,orotherrulesofprocedure.

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Section 74 — The Parliamentary Office

TheParliamentaryOfficeshallcreateandmaintaintheconditionsinwhichtheParliamentcanperformitstasksasanorganoftheState.

TheParliamentaryOfficeshalloperateunderthesupervisionoftheOfficeCommission.

Section 75 — Secretary General of the Parliament

TheSecretaryGeneral,electedbytheParliament,shallactasthesecretaryoftheParliamentandastheheadoftheParliamentaryOffice.

IftheofficeofSecretaryGeneralisvacantortheSecretaryGeneralispreventedfromattendingtohisorherduties,theDeputySecretaryGeneralshallperformthedutiesofSecretaryGeneral.IfalsotheDeputySecretaryGeneralisprevented,theSpeakershallinviteasuitablepersontoperformthedutiesofSecretaryGeneral.

Chapter 8 — Miscellaneous provisions

Section 76 — Languages used in parliamentary work

TheconsiderationofamatterintheParliamentshallbebasedonitsFinnishtext;theSwedishtextshallbedrawnupbytheParliamentaryOffice.

Acitizens'initiativesubmittedforParliament'sconsiderationshallbetranslatedintoFinnishorSwedishattheParliamentaryOffice.(1272/2011)

TheproposalsoftheOfficeCommissiontotheplenarysessionshallbetranslatedintoSwedish.

TheSpeaker’ssummaryofproposalsmade,aswellasthenotificationreferredtoinsection42(2)oftheConstitution,shallbemadebothinFinnishandinSwedish.AlsotheothernotificationsoftheSpeakershallbemadeinSwedish,ifheorshedeemsthisnecessary.ThecontentsofaspeechmadeinplenarysessioninSwedishshallbesummarisedinFinnish.

ThecontentsofspeechesmadeinFinnish,theSpeaker’sproposalsforvotingandthenotificationsmadebytheSpeakeronlyinFinnish,shallbeprivatelyinterpretedtoSwedish-speakingRepresentatives,iftheysowish.

TheCommitteesshalldecideontheinterpretationneededintheirmeetings.However,thecourseofameetingshallbeprivatelyinterpretedtoamemberoftheCommittee,ifheorshesowishes.

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Section 76 a — Representative's personal interests (63/2015)

ARepresentativeshall,withintwomonthsfromwhenhisorhercredentialshavebeenexamined,provideParliamentwithanaccountofanyoutsideduties,commercialactivities,interestsasanownerinbusinessesandothersignificantassetswhichmaybeofrelevanceinevaluatinghisorherperformanceasaRepresentative.Significantchangesinthepersonalinterestsduringtheelectoraltermshallbedeclaredwithintwomonthsfromwhenthechangeoccurred.

ARepresentativeshallalsoprovideParliamentwithanaccountofsuchincomereceivedfromoutsidedutiesandcommercialactivitieswhichmaybeofrelevanceinevaluatinghisorherperformanceasaRepresentative.SuchincomeshallbedeclaredeachcalendaryearbytheendofJuneoftheyearfollowingtheyearwhentheincomewasaccrued.

TheaccountsofpersonalinterestsaresubmittedtotheCentralOffice.IfaRepresentative,despitearequesttodoso,failstosubmitanaccountofhisorherpersonalinterests,theSpeakershallannouncethisattheplenarysessionoftheParliament.

Section 76 b —Register of personal interests (63/2015)

TheCentralOfficemaintainsaregisterofpersonalinterestsdeclaredbytheRepresentatives.Theinformationispublicandmadeaccessibletothepubliconapublicinformationnetwork.OnceapersonnolongerholdsofficeasaRepresentative,theinformationisremovedfromtheregisterandtheinformationnetwork

Section 77 — Suspension of the office of Representative

ARepresentativewhohasbeenelectedasaMemberoftheEuropeanParliamentshallnotifytheSpeakerwhetherheorshewillchoosetoserveasaRepresentativeorwhetherheorshewillserveasaMemberoftheEuropeanParliament.AfteranelectiontotheEuropeanParliament,thenotificationshallbemadebeforetheEuropeanParliamentconvenesinitsfirstplenarysession.Afterparliamentaryelections,thenotificationshallbemadeatthelatestatnoononthethirddayafterthescrutinyoftheRepresentative’scredentials.IftheRepresentativehaschosentoserveasaMemberoftheEuropeanParliament,hisorherofficeofRepresentativeshallbesuspendedasfromthedatewhenthecredentialsofthesubstituteRepresentativehavebeenexamined.

Section 78 — Notifications to constituency electoral boards

IfaRepresentativediesorceasestoexercisetheofficeofaRepresentative,theSecretaryGeneralshallwithoutdelaynotifythesametotheelectoralboardoftheappropriateconstituency.

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IfaRepresentativeservesasaMemberoftheEuropeanParliament,theSecretaryGeneralshallwithoutdelaynotifythesametotheelectoralboardoftheappropriateconstituency.

Section 79 — Calculation of time limits in parliamentary work

Ifastatutoryfixeddateorthedateofexpirationofastatutorydeadlinefallsonaholiday,IndependenceDay,theFirstofMay,ChristmasEve,MidsummerEveoraSaturday,thefollowingweekdayshallbedeemedtobethefixeddateorthedateofexpiration.

Thetimelimitforameasuretobetakenduringaparliamentarysessionshallnotrunwhilethesessionisinterrupted.TheremainderofthetimelimitshallbegintorunonthedaywhentheParliamentreconvenesinsession.

Theprovisioninparagraph(2)doesnotapplytothetimelimitforthereplytoawrittenquestion.

Section 80 — Notices of plenary sessions and Committee meetings (71/2011)

Anoticeofaplenarysessionandoftheagendathereofshallbemadeaswellinadvanceoftheplenarysessionaspossible.TheSpeaker’sCouncilshalldecidethemodeofnotice.

AnoticeofaCommitteemeetingshallbeannouncedingoodtimebeforethemeeting

Chapter 9 — Entry into force

Section 81

TheseRulesofProcedureenterintoforceon1March2000.

TheseRulesofProcedurerepealtheParliamentaryRulesofProcedureof19

December1927,aslateramended.

***

Theamendment118/2003entersintoforceon1March2003.

Theamendment10/2006entersintoforceon1February2006.

Theamendment1190/2006entersintoforceon22March2007.

Theamendment219/2007entersintoforceon22March2007.

Theamendment609/2007entersintoforceon1June2007.

32

Theamendment1023/2009entersintoforceon15December2009.

Theamendment71/2011entersintoforceon1May2011.

Theamendment1272/2011entersintoforceon1March2012.

Theamendment895/2012entersintoforceon1January2013.

Theamendment1022/2013entersintoforceon1January2014.

Theamendment63/2015entersintoforceon22April2015.Theprovisionsin76a(2)arenotappliedtoincomeaccruedbeforetheentryintoforceofthisDecision.