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Country Background

Finland is located in Northern Europe. It is bounded by the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, and is between Sweden and Russia. The capital of Finland is Helsinki. The official languages are Finnish and Swedish. The country’s population in 2016 was approximately 5.5 million. Finland is a predominantly Christian country, with about 74% of the population Lutheran.

Constitution & Legal Structure

Finland is a parliamentary republic. It is a civil law country (based on the Swedish model) with judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court. The system of government is based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Its current Constitution was ratified in 1999, and was most recently amended in 2011. Finland is a member state of the European Union.

Constitutional Status of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no constitutional status in Finland.

Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Finland.

Dominant School of Islamic Law

Finland has no official school of Islamic law. 

Sources of Law for Legal Research

Official Publications

• Legislative
  
  • Soumen Eduskunta [Parliament] - in English
  • Virallinen lehti (official gazette)
• Executive
  • Tasavallan presidentti [President of the Republic] - in English
  • Valtioneuvoston Kanslia [Prime Minister] - in English
• Judicial
  • Korkein Oikeus [Supreme Court] - in English

 Unofficial Databases

• FINLEX: Statens Författningsdata laws in Finnish and Swedish; includes an option of English and German translation.
• FAOLEX: Finland (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) database of national laws and regulations on food, agriculture, and renewable natural resources.
• NATLEX: Finland (International Labour Organization) database of national laws on labor, social security, and related human rights.
• RefWorld Legal Information: Finland (UNHCR)
• WIPO Lex: Finland (World Intellectual Property Organization)

References:

For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English translation. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].