Structures, guidance and direction of administration

The Ministry of Finance prepares the general principles for developing public administration, as required in political decision-making. The preparations concern not only central government but also extend to improving the general conditions for the functioning of municipalities. The purpose is to develop the functioning of public administration and to ensure comprehensive services of a high quality. At the same time, the Ministry of Finance aims to ensure the effectiveness and performance of public administration and public services.

Structure of Finland’s administration

In Finland, administration consists of the highest elected bodies, which are Parliament, the President of the Republic and the Government, and of independent courts of law, state administration and other public administration.

State administration consists of central, regional and local state administration. Central state administration is usually referred to as central government. It includes the ministries together with the national government and public bodies subordinate to them. The regional state administration authorities include six regional state administrative agencies and 15 centres for economic development, transport and the environment. The local state administration authorities consist of 11 police departments and 15 employment and economic development offices.

Public administration also includes local government (municipalities), church administration and indirect public administration. Indirect public administration consists of independent bodies governed by public law (such as the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, the Bank of Finland, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, the Finnish Forest Centre and universities) and corporations, institutions, foundations and private individuals (such as fishing and animal welfare supervisors) performing a public function in accordance with provisions in law or with provisions or rules issued on its basis.

Åland has provincial autonomy as separately provided in the Act on the Autonomy of Åland.

Exploreadministration.fi is a service maintained by the State Treasury, which collects information regarding municipal finances and central government to a single website.

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