in a session of
Finnish Parliament in 2007. The Government initiates the majority of
legislation. A proposed act (; ) is drafted in the respective ministry under the direction of its minister, after which it is reviewed by the Government and forwarded as a
government proposal (; ) to Parliament for processing and possible amendments. However, since
coalition governments have become the norm in Finland, the parties represented in the Government usually form the majority in the parliament, making the process somewhat more harmonious. Since 1957, all governments have been
majority governments. Before a proposal is enacted into law, it must be confirmed by the
President of Finland. As such, the president has the power of a delaying veto as a check against majority politics and potential violations of international agreements. Periods of
cohabitation, wherein the president and the government represent different political positions, can create strife. The president's veto can be overridden by the Parliament, although this is in practice not done. Parties can also agree not to vote along party lines but to leave the decision to individual MPs, although this is uncommon. , located in
Kaartinkaupunki,
Helsinki, is used as a
banquet hall of the Finnish Government. While the Parliament passes acts, the Government or an individual ministry issues decrees (; ) as
delegated legislation. Decrees clarify, specify, and guide the implementation of an act of Parliament, but cannot contradict it. They are similar to US standing
executive orders. A typical example is specifying the actual monetary sums for benefits described in general terms in an act. Decrees form an important body of law alongside acts of Parliament. == Budget ==