M eetings of the parties' own parliamentary groups are also important working forums for MPs. P arliament has three main functions through which it represents the people and makes basic decisions on Finnish policy. It passes laws, it debates and approves the Budget, and it supervises the government of the country. P assing laws is a complicated process that usually begins with the Government placing a bill before Parliament. MPs may, and often do, propose legislation, but Government bills take preference and are better prepared.
Parliament has no official machinery for making and preparing proposals.
To be passed, a bill must have the support of a majority in Parliament and it must be signed by the President of the Republic. T he annual Budget put before Parliament is also prepared by the Government, and much of the autumn session is devoted to debating it. Any changes made to the Budget in Parliament tend to be marginal. P arliament supervises the Government in many ways, both juridically and, in particular, politically. Every year Parliament presents the Government or its members with hundreds of written or oral inquiries.