The Democratic Way 1: 150 years of representative democracy
Summary
TLDRIn 2013, Finland celebrated 150 years since its four estates convened after a long political absence. Since 1809, Finland had been an autonomous grand duchy under Russia, governed by its senate with inherited Swedish laws. In 1863, Emperor Alexander II initiated a reform program, leading to significant legislative development. Finland became the first European country to elect its parliament by popular vote in 1907, declared independence in 1917, and established its constitution in 1919. The Finnish Parliament, directly elected by the people, plays a central role in legislation and government formation, ensuring representative democracy and EU directive compliance.
Takeaways
- 🎉 Finland celebrated 150 years of representative democracy in 2013, marking a significant milestone in its political history.
- 🏛️ Since 1809, Finland had been an autonomous grand duchy within the Russian Empire, governed by its own senate under laws inherited from Swedish rule.
- 📜 More extensive reforms in Finland required the approval of both the emperor and the country's representatives, leading to the opening of the Council of the Estates in 1863.
- 👑 Emperor Alexander II initiated the assembly of the Council of the Estates in Helsinki, tasking it with a diverse reform program in 1863.
- 📝 The reform program resulted in the drafting of numerous new laws and decrees, contributing to Finland's rapid development as an independent nation.
- 🗳️ In 1907, Finland became the first European country to elect its parliament by popular vote, a pioneering step in democratic representation.
- 🏛️ In 1917, the Finnish Parliament proclaimed the country's official independence, and two years later, the constitution was ratified.
- 👥 Authority in Finland is vested in the people, who are represented by the assembled parliament, emphasizing the principle of representative democracy.
- 📊 The parliament is composed of 200 members directly elected by the people, ensuring a democratic and representative legislative body.
- 🤝 Parliamentarians maintain contact with the voting public and interest groups, playing a central role in shaping Finnish society through legislation.
- 🏢 Since 2000, the Parliament has also been central to the formation of the government, scrutinizing and implementing EU directives in line with Finnish law.
- 🏢 The Parliament House, built specifically for the parliament, was inaugurated in 1931, providing a permanent and purpose-built venue for legislative sessions.
Q & A
What significant event occurred in 2013 for Finnish representative democracy?
-In 2013, there was a cause for celebration as it marked the 150th anniversary of the Diet session in which representatives of Finland's four estates attended after a long hiatus.
What was the status of Finland between 1809 and 1863?
-Between 1809 and 1863, Finland had the status of an autonomous grand duchy within the Russian Empire, governed by its own senate according to laws inherited from the period of Swedish rule.
Why was the Diet session opened in Helsinki on September 18th, 1863?
-The Diet session was opened by Emperor Alexander II to embark on a diverse program of reform, which required the emperor's and the country's approval for more extensive reforms and funding.
What was the result of the reforms initiated in 1863?
-The results of the reforms were the drafting of many new laws and decrees, leading to the country's rapid development as an independent nation.
In what year did Finland become the first country in Europe to elect its parliament by popular vote?
-Finland became the first country in Europe to elect its parliament by popular vote in 1907.
How did Finland officially proclaim its independence?
-Finland's independence was officially proclaimed by its parliament in late 1917 and ratified through its constitution two years later.
According to the Finnish constitution, where is the authority in Finland vested?
-According to the Finnish constitution, authority in Finland is vested in the people, represented in session by the assembled parliament.
What is the role of the parliamentarians between elections?
-Between elections, the role of the parliamentarians is to keep in contact with the voting public and various interest groups, playing a central role in shaping Finnish society through legislation.
How does the Finnish Parliament interact with the European Union directives?
-The Finnish Parliament scrutinizes European Union directives and transposes or implements them in compliance with the Finnish legislative process.
Where did the assembly initially convene in Helsinki?
-Initially, the assembly convened in Helsinki at the House of Nobility and thereafter the House of Estates.
When was the purpose-built Parliament House inaugurated?
-The purpose-built Parliament House was inaugurated in March 1931.
Outlines
🎉 Finnish Representative Democracy's Milestone
The script begins by celebrating 150 years of Finnish representative democracy since the Diet session in 1863. Finland, an autonomous grand duchy within the Russian Empire, had its own senate but required the emperor's approval for extensive reforms. Emperor Alexander II opened the Council of the Estates in Helsinki, initiating a reform program that led to new laws and the country's rapid development as an independent nation. In 1907, Finland made history as the first European country to elect its parliament by popular vote, which eventually led to official independence in 1917 and the ratification of its constitution two years later.
🏛️ The Evolution of Finnish Parliament and Its Role
This paragraph delves into the workings of the Finnish Parliament, emphasizing its central role in shaping society through legislation. The Parliament, directly elected by the people, consists of 200 members who maintain contact with the public and various interest groups. It is responsible for enacting laws proposed by the government, which must have the Parliament's confidence according to the constitution. Since 2000, the Parliament has also played a key role in government formation. Additionally, it scrutinizes and implements EU directives in accordance with Finnish law. The script also touches on the history of the Parliament's meeting places, from the House of Nobility to the House of Estates, and the eventual inauguration of the purpose-built Parliament House in 1931.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Representative Democracy
💡Diet Session
💡Autonomous Grand Duchy
💡Emperor Alexander II
💡Reform
💡Popular Vote
💡Independence
💡Constitution
💡Elections
💡Legislation
💡Parliament House
Highlights
Finnish representative democracy celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2013.
150 years since representatives of Finland's four estates attended the Diet session after a long hiatus.
Finland had the status of autonomous grand duchy within the Russian Empire from 1809.
Finland's senate governed according to laws inherited from the Swedish rule period.
Reforms and their funding required approval from the emperor and the country.
Emperor Alexander II opened the assembly of the Council of the Estates in Helsinki on September 18th, 1863.
The Diet was tasked with a diverse reform program resulting in new laws and decrees.
Finland's rapid development as an independent nation was a result of these reforms.
In 1907, Finland was the first European country to elect its parliament by popular vote.
Parliament proclaimed Finland's official independence in late 1917.
The constitution was ratified two years after independence, vesting authority in the people.
Representative democracy in Finland is supported by regular elections and direct parliamentary representation.
Parliamentarians maintain contact with the public and interest groups between elections.
The Finnish Parliament plays a central role in shaping society through legislation.
The government enacts laws with the confidence of the Parliament, as per the constitution.
Since 2000, Parliament has a central role in the formation of the government.
Parliament scrutinizes and implements EU directives in compliance with Finnish legislative processes.
The assembly initially convened in Helsinki at the House of Nobility and later the House of Estates.
The Parliament House was inaugurated in March 1931, specifically built to accommodate the parliament.
Transcripts
[Music]
finnish representative democracy has
cause for celebration in 2013.
it's precisely 150 years since
representatives of finland's four
estates attended the diet session
following a long hiatus with no
political representation
since 1809 finland had had the status of
autonomous grand duchy within the
russian imperial fold which her own
senate had governed according to laws
inherited from the period of swedish
rule
but more extensive reforms and indeed
the funding of those reforms
needed both the emperors and the
country's seal of approval
so it was that on september the 18th
1863
emperor alexander ii opened the assembly
of the council of the estates or diet in
helsinki
and gave it the task of embarking on a
diverse programme of reform
the results of which were the drafting
of a great many entirely new laws and
decrees and the country's rapid
development as an independent nation
in 1907
finland was the first country in europe
to elect its parliament by popular vote
in late 1917 parliament proclaimed the
country officially independent and two
years later ratified its constitution
according to which
authority in finland is vested in the
people represented in session by the
assembled parliament
representative democracy is underpinned
by the regular holding of elections
in which citizens vote freely for
candidates put forward by the political
parties
and thus the two hundred members of
parliament are directly elected by the
people
between elections the parliamentarians
job is to keep in contact with the
voting public together with a range of
interest groups
in this way our parliament has played a
central role in shaping finnish society
through legislation
the laws are enacted by the government
of the day
which in accordance with the
constitution should enjoy the confidence
of parliament
since the year 2000 parliament has also
had a central role in the formation of
the government
parliament scrutinizes the european
union directives and transposes or
implements them in compliance with
finnish legislative process
initially the assembly convened in
helsinki at the house of nobility and
thereafter the house of estates
however parliament was too large for the
house of estates and during the first
two decades of its existence it met in
rented premises
it was only in march 1931 that the
purpose-built parliament house on
acardian mackie was inaugurated
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