STANDING ORDER OF THE FINNISH EXPATRIATE PARLIAMENT

1 §

The Expatriate Parliament will assemble in session every second or third year.

2 §

The Finland Society will send an invitation to all registered Finnish organizations primarily by e-mail no later than six months before the session.

3 §

The Finnish organizations are to inform the Finland Society of their participation no later than three months before the session. The motions which each organization wishes to be considered are also to be submitted at the same time. The Finland Society should also be given the names of the representatives, their substitutes and observers as well as any other persons wishing to follow the work of the Parliament, no later than six weeks before the session.

4 §

The Finland Society will send the registered representatives and observers the agenda for the session, including all motions, primarily by e-mail, no later than one month before the session. A report on the procedures carried out to execute the decisions of the previous session is to be issued at the same time. A summary of the motions and the report of activities shall be published on the website of the Finnish Expatriate Parliament.

5 §

At the beginning of the session, all the registered organizations, a list of representatives and an agenda including all the issues discussed during the session will be approved. Observers present are to be noted as well.

6 §

Parliamentary sessions are led by the speaker. If he or she is unable to attend, the session shall be led by a vice chair of the Finland Society, or,
if they are unable to attend, a deputy speaker elected by the Speakers’ Council.

7 §

At the beginning of each session, the Parliament will decide on the proposal by the Speakers’ Council on the committees in accordance with article 7 in the by-laws. The speaker will appoint summoners for the committees. The committees will elect the necessary officials by themselves. The committee sessions are closed to outside persons.

8 §

After coming to order, the Parliament's work will proceed with a general debate on the Finland Society's report. At the same time, the discussion will act as the preliminary debate on the motions. During the general debate, every representative is entitled to state his or her opinion on any issue related to Finnish expatriates or expatriatism, regardless of whether there has been a motion made on the matter. Permissions to speak are to be requested in writing and allotted in the order received. By the Parliament's permission, the speaker can limit the length of the allotted speaking times, digress from the agenda or declare the discussion finished. Short counter-statements or rebuttals are allowed in connection with each statement. In regard to the general debate, a decision can be made on including an urgent matter in the agenda and its referral to the appropriate committee.

9 §

Standing and temporary committees will draw up a report on each referred bill which will include a draft resolution. This can be either a stand on the matter or a decision not to take a stand on the issues mentioned in the bill. Committees may consult experts if they wish.

10 §

In the final session, the committees' representatives will present the committees' bills for the Parliament's approval. The motions are to be issued to all of the representatives in writing before the final decision. Possible counter-statements presented in the session, except for those related to a rejection, are also to be issued in writing before the resolution.

11 §

The Parliament will make its resolutions either by consensus or by voting. Votes are to be carried out by a show of hands. As to the election of individuals, a closed ballot is to be carried out if required. At least half of the representatives are to be present when taking a vote. The Parliament's deputy speakers will act as vote-counters.

12 §

The secretariat of the Finnish Expatriate Parliament will draw up the minutes of the parliamentary session, to be inspected by the deputy speakers. No later than two months after the session, the minutes are to be sent by e-mail to all member communities of the Finnish Expatriate Parliament and to all representatives and observers who participated in the session. The minutes shall be published on the website of the Finnish Expatriate Parliament.

13 §

In other respects, the Parliament will follow the Finnish law governing associations.

Updated 31.8.2017 with changes from Session 2017:
2017 By-laws and Standing Order (doc)

2015_By-laws_and_Standing_order

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