Bicentennial of the Council of State

The civilian chancery of the Russian commander, established during the Finnish War after separation from Sweden, could not provide the final solution to the organization of Finland’s administration. Plans for a central administration were already being prepared while the war was still going on.

Finland’s position, in conjunction with Russia, was determined by the plan adopted by Alexander I on 1 December 1808. It laid the foundations for the country’s special position as a Grand Duchy, defining the roles of the Governor-General, a national ‘government’ and State Secretary (subsequently Minister State Secretary). Finland secured its own central administration when the Standing Orders of the Governing Council were adopted on 18 August 1809.

After the Governing Council (as of 1816 the Imperial Finnish Senate) commenced its work on 2 October 1809, all the administrative duties were concentrated in the hands of the Senate’s two divisions and their plenary session, the ‘plenum’. The Economic Division and its administrative departments were subordinated to the same general administration while the Judicial Division served as the court of the highest instance.

After Finland gained its independence, the workings of the government continued as in the past, only the name tags were changed: the Economic Division was renamed the Council of State; the Judicial Department became the Supreme Court; the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Economic Division the Prime Minister; the Senators became ministers; the Procurator the Chancellor of Justice; and the administrative departments became ministries.