Article 1
The Expatriate Parliament consists
of the representatives of Finnish communities abroad.
Article 2
The representatives are elected with
each community being entitled to send one representative to the
parliament. A community with more than 500 members may send two
representatives and a community whose membership exceeds 1000
can send three representatives. The community must inform the
Finland Society about its willingness to participate. The parliament
will make the final decisions on representation rights.
Article 3
The Expatriate Parliament will convene
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 Expatriate Parliament. For each
term, the parliament will elect deputy speakers who are to represent
different geographical areas. The speaker and the deputy speakers
will together form a Speaker's Council which will also convene
between sessions.
Article 5
Every Finnish expatriate community,
as well as the Finland Society, are entitled to present initiatives
for the Expatriate Parliament to consider. Initiatives and expert
opinions concerning them, acquired by the secretariat if needed,
should be furnished to the parliamentary representatives well
before the session.
Article 6
When the Expatriate Parliament is
assembled, the representatives will convene in full sessions and
participate in committee work. Draft resolutions should be presented
in the full session and bills voted on only after committee discussion.
Article 7
The standing committees include a
nationality committee, a cultural committee, a youth committee,
an education and training committee, a social committee, a senior
committee, a rules committee, a finance committee and an information
committee. Other committees are to be set up as needed. Representation
from various geographical areas must be ensured in the committees.
Article 8
If needed, the Speakers' Council
will convene together with the committee chairmen in an extended
Speakers' Council session.
Article 9
The languages used by the parliament
are Finnish, Swedish, English and Russian.
Article 10
Minutes are to be kept at the sessions.
Article 11
The Finland Society is committed
to act on behalf of the Expatriate Parliament's decision-making
process and to further its execution by approaching Finnish officials,
officials of other countries when possible, as well as other parties;
and by actively informing the public about its decisions.
Article 12
To amend these by-laws, a two-thirds
majority is required in an Expatriate Parliament session.
Article 13
The Expatriate Parliament's by-laws
are to be ratified by each community and the Finland Society informed
of the decision.