Committees
The Parliament has 16 standing committees. Most committees have 17 permanent members, but the Grand Committee, the Finance Committee and the Audit Committee have 25, 21 and 11 permanent members respectively. In addition the committees have a number of substitute members. On average each MP is a member of two committees.
15 of the committees are special committees, while the Grand Committee deals with EU affairs, but also has a wider range of tasks (see the chapter below on legislation). The role of the Constitutional Law Committee is important, as Finland — unlike many other European countries — does not have a separate Constitutional Court. The Committee for the Future is also noteworthy, as it does not usually deal with bills, but instead assesses factors relating to future developments and gives statements to other committees on issues relating to the future outlooks of their respective fields of speciality.
The chairmanships of the committees are currently divided between the six largest parties: the National Coalition Party and the Social Democratic Party both chair four committees, the True Finns and the Centre Party both chair three committees, and the Left Alliance and the Green League both have the chairmanship of one committee.
| Committee | Chair | Chair's party |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Committee | fi:Miapetra Kumpula-Natri | Social Democratic Party of Finland |
| Constitutional Law Committee | Johannes Koskinen | Social Democratic Party of Finland |
| Foreign Affairs Committee | Timo Soini | True Finns |
| Finance Committee | fi:Kimmo Sasi | National Coalition Party |
| Audit Committee | Tuija Brax | Green League |
| Administration Committee | Pirkko Mattila | True Finns |
| Legal Affairs Committee | Anne Holmlund | National Coalition Party |
| Transport and Communications Committee | fi:Arto Satonen | National Coalition Party |
| Agriculture and Forestry Committee | fi:Jari Leppä | Centre Party |
| Defence Committee | Jussi Niinistö | True Finns |
| Education and Culture Committee | fi:Raija Vahasalo | National Coalition Party |
| Social Affairs and Health Committee | fi:Juha Rehula | Centre Party |
| Commerce Committee | Mauri Pekkarinen | Centre Party |
| Committee for the Future | fi:Päivi Lipponen | Social Democratic Party of Finland |
| Employment and Equality Committee | Tarja Filatov | Social Democratic Party of Finland |
| Environment Committee | Martti Korhonen | Left Alliance |
Read more about this topic: Parliament Of Finland
Famous quotes containing the word committees:
“A committee is organic rather than mechanical in its nature: it is not a structure but a plant. It takes root and grows, it flowers, wilts, and dies, scattering the seed from which other committees will bloom in their turn.”
—C. Northcote Parkinson (1909–1993)
“What lies behind facts like these: that so recently one could not have said Scott was not perfect without earning at least sorrowful disapproval; that a year after the Gang of Four were perfect, they were villains; that in the fifties in the United States a nothing-man called McCarthy was able to intimidate and terrorise sane and sensible people, but that in the sixties young people summoned before similar committees simply laughed.”
—Doris Lessing (b. 1919)
“Cry cry what shall I cry?
The first thing to do is to form the committees:
The consultative councils, the standing committees, select committees and sub-committees.
One secretary will do for several committees.”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)