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called into session. In this he did not break the letter of the law, since calling the Estates together depended exclusively on the ruler's decision to do so, but without a doubt a government without the Estates participating at regular intervals was against the spirit of Finnish law. Since general interest in government was weak in Finland during the first half of the 19th century, however, the lack of a Diet did not seem oppressive, but as soon as a more liberal spirit began to blow through Europe, especially after the revolutionary movements of 1848, in Finland too the demand that the Diet be summoned grew more insistent.

The Czar of Russia held the title in Finland of Grand Duke, and although he was an absolute sovereign in his own land, in Finland he was a constitutional monarch, under whom the Finnish Estates had the privilege of making laws. The Grand Duke had to rule Finland in accordance with its special position, and as his administrative arm he was required to use officials who had to prove Finnish citizenship and had to belong to the Lutheran church. The Czar alone was responsible for foreign affairs, however, and one of the rights he enjoyed was to give statutes, and he was not personally responsible for his actions to anyone. It was his responsibility, on the other hand, to maintain justice, prepare proposals for the Diet, approve or veto laws passed by the Diet, prepare the budget, and act as commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces.

The Finnish citizen, in turn, was entitled to definite privileges personal freedom, the right to live within the country at a place of his own choice, enjoyment of the protection of the law, with the right to appeal, recourse against the arbitrariness of officialdom, and equal rights before the law. In addition, within the limits of the law the citizen had the right of free speech, assembly, and freedom of the press, although the government was entitled to determine the extent of these privileges.

A far-reaching consequence of Finland's new position was that from the beginning of its autonomous status it had its own, independent economy and that, in accordance with arrangements made by Alexander I, money received in Finland was to be used entirely for the benefit of Finland. Its treasury was entrusted to the Czar, who had the right to independently and without the Diet's approval dispense the so-called fixed income, which meant the income from crown property and monopolies plus those taxes which the Diet at various times had granted to meet the fixed requirements of the country. The ruler had to meet all fixed expenses out of these receipts, but a Diet committee was to be furnished an

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