Youth Parliament

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Youth Parliament

• Päivi Erkkilä 31.10.2006

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Youth Parliament

• Is intended for pupils on class levels 8-9 (aged
  15-16) of the comprehensive school
• to activite them in the matters of the society
• is also a possibility to lawmakers to hear, what
  kind of things young ones have in their minds.
• Is organized by Eduskunta and Kerhokeskus and
  supported by Ministry of Education

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Youth Parliament is

• Parliamentary Clubs working in schools
• Youth Parliament plenary session
• An oral Question Hour in the Session Hall of
  Parliament House

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Parliamentary Clubs

• Clubs operate on a voluntary basis
• both pupils and club leaders
• Parliamentary Clubs in schools study
• Representative democracy
• Parliaments work
• Possibilities for young people to influence
• and how to be proactive as citizens

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Parliamentary Clubs

• Prepare questions for the oral Question Hour in
  the Session Hall of Parliament House
• Elect the clubs or schools representative to
  the Youth Parliament session

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Parliamentary Clubs

• To promote club work there are some materials
  produced
• It can be printed material, web-pages, leaflets,
  on-line courses etc.
• Themes
• Constitution, European Union, How young person
  can exert influence, First Unicameral Parliament
  1907-1908
• From own web site clubs get information about
  the Youth Parliament
• Nuorten parlamentti / Kerhokeskus

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Number of Parliamentary Clubs in electoral
districts 2000-2006
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Plenary Session
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Plenary Session

• Every second year Youth Parliament holds a
  plenary session at the Parliament House
• Plenary session is an question hour
• The representatives of Parliament Clubs pose
  questions to Cabinet Ministers
• The Speaker of Parliament is chairing the session
• a vote is allowed
• a protocol is drawn up
• is notified to the Government by way of a
  parliamentary communication
• is sent in live by YLEs TV1

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Plenary session

• 199 Youth Parliament Representatives from
  Parliament Clubs
• They are seated by school in the Session Hall
• Between Parliament Clubs seats in the Youth
  Parliament Representatives are divided by
  electoral district according to the Election Act

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Youth Parliament 2006 Seats
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Plenary Session

• To Youth Parliament Session 2006 Parliamentary
  Clubs prepared 182 questions to be posed to
  Cabinet Ministers
• During this Question Hour 26 questions were posed
  and answered
• Cabinet Ministers dont know beforehand the
  content of the questions but they do know the
  titles of the questions from the agenda of the
  session

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Plenary Session

• Besides 199 Youth Parliament representatives,
  the session is attended by
• The Speaker of Parliament
• Ministers
• Members of Parliament
• From Parliamentary Clubs club leaders and pupils
  acting as journalists
• other guests
• representatives of the press
• and parliament officials
• about 500 persons total

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Youth Parliament Session Day

• Youth Parliament Session Day begins before 8 am
  when first representatives, club leaders and
  pupils as journalists enter Parliament House
• breakfast
• guided tours in Parliament House
• rehearsal of the session
• an event to club leaders
• an event to pupils as journalists
• Speakers reception
• meetings with the members of the Parliament

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Youth Parliament Day 2006
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Youth Parliament Day 2006
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History

• Initiative of the President of the French
  National Assembly Laurent Fabius in June 1997
• Five Youth Parliaments 1998-2006
• First Youth Parliament gathered in the Session
  Hall on 15 May 1998
• Second Youth Parliament on 19 May 2000
• Third Youth Parliament on 12 April 2002
• Fourth Youth Parliament on 16 April 2004
• Fifth Youth Parliament on 17 March 2006
• Next Youth Parliament 2008