BY-LAWS OF THE FINNISH EXPATRIATE PARLIAMENT

Article 1

The Finnish Expatriate Parliament consists of the representatives of Finnish communities abroad. Communities joining the Expatriate Parliament have to confirm the by-laws of the Expatriate Parliament and inform the Secretariat on the ratification of the by-laws, in writing.

Article 2

Each community is entitled to send one of its members as a representative to the plenary session of the Finnish Expatriate Parliament. A community with more than 500 members may send two representatives, and a community whose membership exceeds 1000, may send three representatives.

The community has to inform the Secretariat of its desire to participate in the plenary session within the time limits set in the standing order. The Parliament will make the final decisions on representation rights.

Article 3

The Expatriate Parliament convenes every second or third year. The Parliament may also convene at the expatriate communities' initiative, if the Speakers' Council so decides. A more extensive formal session will be arranged every fifth year, during anniversary years of the Republic of Finland.

Article 4

The Chairman of the Finland Society will act as the Speaker of the Finnish Expatriate Parliament. The plenary session will elect the Deputy Speakers and their alternates from among those candidates who have been nominated in the regional meetings preceding the plenary.

The Deputy Speakers and alternates should represent different geographical areas, which have been confirmed by the plenary of the Finnish Expatriate Parliament. They must live in the region they represent. The Speaker and the Deputy Speakers together form the
Speakers’ Council, which convenes also between sessions.

The Speakers’ Council should represent, in as wide a manner as possible, different groups of expatriate Finns.

Article 5

Each Finnish expatriate community, having ratified the by-laws, the Speakers' Council and and the Finland Society have the right to submit initiatives to the Finnish Expatriate Parliament. The initiatives must be submitted to the Secretariat by a set deadline. Respectively, the initiatives, and the expert opinions acquired by the Secretariat concerning them, must be sent to the parliament representatives well before the session.

Article 6

When the Finnish Expatriate Parliament is in session, the representatives convene in the plenary sessions and participate in committee work. The committees formulate draft resolutions, which will be presented to and discussed at the plenary session.

Article 7

The standing committees are: the Citizenship Committee, the Cultural Committee, the Youth Committee, the Study and Training Committee, the Committee for Political and Official Issues, the Social Committee, the Senior Committee, the Statutory Committee, the Finance Committee and the Information Committee. Other committees can be set up if needed.

Geographical representation should be guaranteed in the committees.

Article 8

The Speakers' Council will convene together with the committee chairmen in an extended Speakers' Council session, if needed.

Article 9

The languages used by the parliament are Finnish, Swedish, English and Russian.

Article 10

Minutes are kept at all Finnish Expatriate Parliament's sessions.

Article 11

The office of the Finland Society acts as the Secretariat of the Finnish Expatriate Parliament. It is committed to act according to the decisions made by the Finnish Expatriate Parliament and to promote their execution by approaching Finnish authorities and where possible foreign authorities, as well as other parties, and actively reporting the decisions.

Article 12

To amend these by-laws, a two-thirds majority is required at the Expatriate Parliament session. To amend the Parliament’s standing order, a simple majority is required at the Expatriate Parliament session.

Print version:
2017 By-laws and Standing Order (doc)

Tulostusversio:
2017 Säännöt ja työjärjestys (doc)

Utskriftsversion:
2017_StadgarArbetsor (doc)

(Updated 23.7.2015 - no changes to the By-Laws by the Session 2017. NB. Session 2017 changed FEP's Standing Order)

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