The Chancellor of Justice of the Council of State has a constitutionally guaranteed position as an independent overseer of legality in Finland. It is his duty to monitor the legality of the operations of the Council of State and other authorities, as well as other public agencies. The Chancellor of Justice also monitors the activities of the members of the Finnish Bar Association. - The Chancellor of Justice is appointed by the President of the Republic.

The Finnish administrative machinery is also overseen by the Parliamentary Ombudsman. The duties of these senior authorities differ in practical terms only in that the overseeing of the legality of the activities of the Council of State is entrusted mainly to the Chancellor of Justice. Matters pertaining to conscripts and convicts are within the ambit of the Ombudsman.

The overseers of legality have no jurisdiction to alter the decisions of other authorities on the basis of complaints, nor to award damages. Their rulings are not subject to appeal.

In addition to the senior overseers of legality, there are certain specialised authorities that have similar duties in more limited fields. These include the Consumer Ombudsman, the the Ombudsman for Equality, the Data Protection Ombudsman, the Ombudsman for Minorities and the Bankruptcy Ombudsman.

Updated on January 13, 2006