Finland is a parliamentary republic, with a head of state in the form of a president and a government headed by a prime minister. The president is responsible for foreign policy, is commander-in-chief of the defence forces, and has some powers of decision in extraordinary circumstances. However, most executive power lies with the prime minister and the government.

The Finnish government is formed by a prime minister and up to 17 ministers. The prime minister is appointed by the president, who usually chooses the leader of the largest party or coalition from the parliamentary elections. The ministers, who can come from outside the parliament, are chosen by the prime minister and then formally appointed by the president. The government is responsible for the execution of laws, foreign policy (in cooperation with the president), and day-to-day administration of the country.

The legislative power in Finland is vested in the parliament, or Eduskunta, which consists of 200 members elected for a four-year term. The Eduskunta is unicameral and has the power to pass legislation, decide on the budget, and oversee the government’s work. The judiciary in Finland is independent of the executive and legislative branches and is made up of both civil and criminal courts, including the Supreme Court as the highest authority.