The Democratic Way 4: The Senate, later the Council of State

SuomenEduskunta

5 Sept 201301:52

Summary

TLDRIn 1812, Finland's capital was relocated from Turku to Helsinki under the emperor's decree, influenced by Russian Empire architecture. A grand palace, now known as the Government Palace, was constructed to house the Senate of Finland and central administration. For a century, it was the sole seat of government until independence led to the expansion into other buildings. Today, it hosts the Prime Minister's office and key ministries, with the Council of State formed by parliamentary election and reliant on parliamentary confidence, overseen by the Prime Minister.

Takeaways

🏛️ In 1812, the capital of Finland was relocated from Turku to Helsinki by the emperor's order to be closer to Saint Petersburg.
🏙️ Helsinki's Senate Square saw the rise of a palace inspired by Russian architecture, which now serves as the Government Palace.
🏢 The palace, adorned with classical arches and columns, was the central hub for Finland's administration and government activities.
🏛️ The Senate of Finland, including the government and central administration with its ministries and offices, was housed in this palace for a century.
🇫🇮 After Finnish independence, the government expanded to other buildings, which were renamed to reflect their new functions.
📚 The former Senate now only houses the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Finance, and the Office of the Chancellor of Justice.
🏆 The Council of State, or the Government of Finland, is formed through parliamentary elections and must maintain the confidence of the parliament.
👨‍💼 The Prime Minister has the role of directing the work of the government and coordinating the preparation and handling of government business.
🏢 The central administration's work was essential for the country's development before regular parliamentary activity was established.
📈 The concentration of government in one area for 100 years indicates a historical period of centralized governance in Finland.
🔄 The renaming of buildings post-independence signifies the transition and reorganization of the Finnish government structure.

Q & A

Why was the capital of Finland moved from Turku to Helsinki in 1812?
-The capital was moved to bring it closer to Saint Petersburg, reflecting the influence of the Russian Empire at the time.
What architectural style influenced the construction of the great palace on Helsinki Senate Square?
-The architecture of the Russian Empire inspired the design of the palace, which features classical arches and columns.
What is the current name of the palace that was built to house the Senate of Finland?
-The palace is now known as the Government Palace.
What was the role of the palace adorned with classical arches and columns?
-It housed Finland's central administration, which was crucial for the country's development before regular parliamentary activity.
How long did the Government Palace serve as the sole location for the Finnish government?
-The Government Palace served as the concentrated location for the government for 100 years.
What changes occurred to the government buildings and their names following Finnish independence?
-After independence, other buildings were taken into use and were renamed accordingly to accommodate the expanding government functions.
Which government offices currently reside in the former Senate building?
-The former Senate now houses the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Finance, and the Office of the Chancellor of Justice.
What is the Council of State, and how is it formed in Finland?
-The Council of State, or the Government of Finland, is formed by parliamentary election and must enjoy the confidence of Parliament.
Who is responsible for directing the work of the Finnish government?
-The Prime Minister directs the work of the government and coordinates the preparation and handling of government business.
What was the significance of the central administration in the early years of Finland's development?
-The central administration was a prerequisite for the development of the country, managing the government's affairs before the establishment of regular parliamentary activity.
How has the government's distribution across buildings evolved since the time of the Senate of Finland?
-The government has expanded beyond the original palace, with various ministries and offices now located in different buildings, reflecting the growth and complexity of the state's administration.

Outlines

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🏛️ Helsinki's Architectural Heritage

The script discusses the historical relocation of Finland's capital from Turku to Helsinki in 1812 under the emperor's orders, aiming to align it closer to Saint Petersburg. This move was accompanied by the construction of the Helsinki Senate Square's Great Palace, which later became the Government Palace. The palace, characterized by classical architectural features such as arches and columns, served as the central hub for Finland's administration and Senate for a century. It was instrumental in the country's development before the establishment of regular parliamentary activity.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Emperor

The term 'Emperor' refers to the highest ruler of an empire, typically with absolute power. In the context of the video, it is the Russian Emperor who ordered the capital of Finland to be moved from Turku to Helsinki, illustrating the influence and authority of the emperor in shaping the political landscape of the time.

💡Capital

A 'Capital' is the city that houses the administrative and political center of a country or region. In the script, the capital of Finland was relocated from Turku to Helsinki, showing the strategic importance of a capital's location for political and administrative purposes.

💡Helsinki

Helsinki is the current capital of Finland. The video script discusses its establishment as the capital in 1812, highlighting its significance as a center for government and administration, and its architectural development inspired by the Russian Empire.

💡Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is a major city in Russia, known for its historical and cultural significance. The script mentions Helsinki being moved closer to Saint Petersburg, indicating the strategic and political relationship between Finland and Russia during that period.

💡Architecture

Architecture refers to the design and planning of buildings and structures. The script describes the architectural influence of the Russian Empire on the Senate Palace in Helsinki, which is an example of how political power can shape the physical environment.

💡Senate Palace

The 'Senate Palace' is a significant building in Helsinki, originally built to house the Senate of Finland. The script explains that it was adorned with classical arches and columns, symbolizing the central administration and government activities within.

💡Central Administration

Central Administration refers to the main body responsible for governing and managing a country or region. The script mentions that the Senate Palace housed Finland's central administration, which was essential for the country's development before parliamentary activities were regularized.

💡Parliamentary Activity

Parliamentary Activity involves the legislative and deliberative processes within a parliament. The script indicates that before the establishment of regular parliamentary activity, the central administration in the Senate Palace was crucial for governance.

💡Government Palace

The 'Government Palace' is the current name for the former Senate Palace, as mentioned in the script. It signifies the evolution of the building's function from the Senate to the current seat of the Finnish government.

💡Prime Minister's Office

The 'Prime Minister's Office' is where the head of government operates in many countries. In the context of the video, it is one of the offices housed in the former Senate, reflecting the building's continued importance in the Finnish government structure.

💡Council of State

The 'Council of State' is the highest administrative body in Finland, as mentioned in the script. It is formed by parliamentary election and must enjoy the confidence of the parliament, illustrating the democratic process and the role of the council in the government.

Highlights

In 1812, the capital of Finland was relocated from Turku to Helsinki by imperial decree.

The move was to bring the capital closer to Saint Petersburg.

Helsinki's Senate Square saw the rise of a grand palace inspired by Russian architecture.

The palace is now recognized as the Government Palace.

Classical arches and columns characterize the palace's design.

The palace served as the central hub for Finland's administration.

The central administration was essential for the country's development prior to parliamentary activity.

The Senate of Finland, including the government and central administration, was based in the palace for a century.

After Finnish independence, additional buildings were utilized and renamed.

The former Senate now houses the Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Finance, and the Office of the Chancellor of Justice.

The Council of State or the Government of Finland is formed through parliamentary elections.

The Government of Finland must have the confidence of Parliament.

The Prime Minister leads the government's work and oversees the preparation and handling of government business.

The Senate's concentration of government was a historical feature for 100 years.

The architectural style of the Government Palace reflects the influence of the Russian Empire.

The palace's location on the east side of Helsinki Senate Square is significant.

The palace's role evolved from a central administration to housing specific government offices post-independence.