{ Adopted: 25 Oct 1992 / Status: 25 Oct 1992 }
[Preamble]
The Lithuanian Nation
- having established the State of Lithuania many centuries
ago,
- having based its legal foundations on the Lithuanian Statutes
and the Constitutions of the Republic of Lithuania,
- having for centuries defended its freedom and
independence,
- having preserved its spirit, native language, writing, and
customs,
- embodying the inborn right of each person and the People to
live and create freely in the land of their fathers and
forefathers, the independent State of Lithuania,
- fostering national concord in the land of Lithuania,
- striving for an open, just, and harmonious civil society and
law-governed State, by the will of the citizens of the reborn
State of Lithuania,
approves and declares this Constitution.
Article 1
The State of Lithuania shall be an independent and democratic
republic.
Article 2
The State of Lithuania shall be created by the People.
Sovereignty shall be vested in the People.
Article 3
(1) No one may limit or restrict the sovereignty of the People
or make claims to the sovereign powers of the People.
(2) The People and each citizen shall have the right to oppose
anyone who encroaches on the independence, territorial
integrity, or constitutional order of the State of Lithuania by
force.
Article 4
The People shall exercise the supreme sovereign power vested
in them either directly or through their democratically elected
representatives.
Article 5
(1) In Lithuania, the powers of the State shall be exercised by
the Parliament, the President of the Republic and Government,
and the Judiciary.
(2) The scope of powers shall be defined by the Constitution.
(3) Institutions of power shall serve the people.
Article 6
(1) The Constitution shall be an integral and directly applicable
statute.
(2) Every person may defend his or her rights on the basis of
the Constitution.
Article 7
(1) Any law or other statute which contradicts the Constitution
shall be invalid.
(2) Only laws which are promulgated shall be valid.
(3) Ignorance of the law shall not exempt a person from
responsibility.
Article 8
The forced seizure of State power or any of its institutions shall
be considered an anti-constitutional action, which is illegal and
invalid.
Article 9
(1) The most significant issues concerning the life of the State
and the People shall be decided by referendum.
(2) In the cases established by law, referendums shall be
announced by the Parliament.
(3) Referendums shall also be announced if no less than
300,000 of the electorate so request.
(4) The procedure for the announcement and execution of a
referendum shall be established by law.
Article 10
(1) The territory of the State of Lithuania shall be integral and
shall not be divided into any state derivatives.
(2) The State borders may only be realigned by an international
treaty of the Republic of Lithuania which has been ratified by
four-fifths of all the Parliament members.
Article 11
The administrative divisions of the territory of the State of
Lithuania and their boundaries shall be determined by law.
Article 12
(1) Citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania shall be acquired
by birth or on other bases established by law.
(2) With the exception of cases established by law, no person
may be a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania and another state
at the same time.
(3) The procedure for the acquisition and loss of citizenship of
the Republic of Lithuania shall be established by law.
Article 13
(1) The State of Lithuania shall protect its citizens abroad.
(2) It shall be prohibited to extradite a citizen of the Republic of
Lithuania to another state unless an international agreement
whereto the Republic of Lithuania is a party establishes
otherwise.
Article 14
Lithuanian shall be the State language.
Article 15
(1) The colors of the State flag shall be yellow, green, and red.
(2) The State emblem shall be a white Vytis on a red
background.
(3) The State flag and emblem and their use shall be established
by law.
Article 16
The national anthem shall be Vincas Kudirka's "Tautiska
Giesmes".
Article 17
The capital of the Republic of Lithuania shall be the city of
Vilnius, the long-standing historical capital of Lithuania.
Article 18
The rights and freedoms
Article 19
The right to life of individuals shall be protected by law.
Article 20
(1) Personal freedom shall be inviolable.
(2) No person may be arbitrarily arrested or detained. No
person may be deprived of freedom except on the bases, and
according to the procedures, which have been established in
laws.
(3) A person detained in flagrante delicto must, within 48
hours, be brought to court for the purpose of determining, in
the presence of the detainee, the validity of the detention. In
the event that the court does not pass a decision to arrest the
person, the detained individual shall be released immediately.
Article 21
(1) The person shall be inviolable.
(2) Human dignity
(3) It shall be prohibited to torture, injure, degrade, or maltreat
a person, as well as to establish such punishments.
(4) No person may be subjected to scientific or medical testing
without his or her knowledge thereof and consent thereto.
Article 22
(1) The private life of an individual shall be inviolable.
(2) Personal correspondence, telephone conversations, telegraph
messages, and other intercommunications shall be inviolable.
(3) Information concerning the private life of an individual may
be collected only upon a justified court order and in accordance
with the law.
(4) The law and the court shall protect individuals from
arbitrary or unlawful interference in their private or family life,
and from encroachment upon their honor and dignity.
Article 23
(1) Property
(2) The rights of ownership shall be protected by law.
(3) Property may only be seized for the needs of society
according to the procedure established by law and must be
adequately compensated for.
Article 24
(1) A person's dwelling place shall be inviolable.
(2) Without the consent of the resident(s), entrance into a
dwelling place shall only be permitted upon a corresponding
court order, or according to the procedure established by law
when the objective of such an action is to protect public order,
apprehend a criminal, or save a person's life, health, or
property.
Article 25
(1) Individuals shall have the right to have their own
convictions and freely express
(2) Individuals must not be hindered from seeking, obtaining, or
disseminating information or ideas.
(3) Freedom to express convictions, as well as to obtain and
disseminate information, may not be restricted in any way other
than as established by law, when it is necessary for the
safeguard of the health, honor and dignity, private life, or
morals of a person, or for the protection of constitutional order.
(4) Freedom to express convictions or impart information shall
be incompatible with criminal actions - the instigation of
national, racial, religious, or social hatred, violence, or
discrimination, the dissemination of slander, or misinformation.
(5) Citizens shall have the right to obtain any available
information which concerns them from State agencies in the
manner established by law.
Article 26
(1) Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion
(2) Every person shall have the right to freely choose any
religion or faith and, either individually or with others, in
public or in private, to manifest his or her religion or faith in
worship, observance, practice or teaching.
(3) No person may coerce another person or be subject to
coercion to adopt or profess any religion or faith.
(4) A person's freedom to profess and propagate his or her
religion or faith may be subject only to those limitations
prescribed by law and only when such restrictions are necessary
to protect the safety of society, public order, a person's health
or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
(5) Parents and legal guardians shall have the liberty to ensure
the religious and moral education of their children in
conformity with their own convictions.
Article 27
A person's convictions, professed religion or faith may justify
neither the commission of a crime nor the violation of law.
Article 28
While exercising their rights and freedoms, persons must
observe the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of
Lithuania, and must not impair the rights and interests of other
people.
Article 29
(1) All people shall be equal
(2) A person may not have his rights restricted in any way, or
be granted any privileges, on the basis of his or her sex, race,
nationality, language, origin, social status, religion, convictions,
or opinions.
Article 30
(1) Any person whose constitutional rights or freedoms are
violated shall have the right to appeal to court.
(2) The law shall establish the procedure for compensating
material and moral damage inflicted on a person.
Article 31
(1) Every person shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty
according to the procedure established by law and until declared
guilty by an effective court sentence.
(2) Every indicted person shall have the right to a fair and
public hearing by an independent and impartial court. Persons
cannot be compelled to give evidence against themselves or
against their family members or close relatives.
(3) Punishments may only be administered or applied on the
basis of law.
(4) No person may be punished for the same offence twice.
(5) From the moment of arrest or first interrogation, persons
suspected or accused of a crime shall be guaranteed the right to
defence and legal counsel.
Article 32
(1) Citizens may move and choose their place of residence in
Lithuania freely, and may leave Lithuania at their own will.
(2) This right may not be restricted except as provided by law
and if it is necessary for the protection of State security or the
health of the people, or to administer justice.
(3) A citizen may not be prohibited from returning to Lithuania.
(4) Every Lithuanian person may settle in Lithuania.
Article 33
(1) Citizens shall have the right to participate in the government
of their State both directly and through their freely elected
representatives, and shall have the equal opportunity to serve in
a State office of the Republic of Lithuania.
(2) Each citizen shall be guaranteed the right to criticize the
work of State institutions and their officers, and to appeal
against their decisions. It shall be prohibited to persecute
people for criticism.
(3) Citizens shall be guaranteed the right to petition; the
procedure for implementing this right shall be established by
law.
Article 34
(1) Citizens who, on the day of election, are 18 years of age or
over, shall have the right to vote
(2) The right to be elected shall be established by the
Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania and by the election
laws.
(3) Citizens who are declared legally incapable by court shall
not participate in elections.
Article 35
(1) Citizens shall be guaranteed the right to freely form
societies, political parties, and associations, provided that the
aims and activities thereof do not contradict the Constitution
and laws.
(2) No person may be forced to belong to any society, political
party, or association.
(3) The founding and functioning of political parties and other
political and public organization shall be regulated by law.
Article 36
(1) Citizens may not be prohibited or hindered from assembling
in unarmed peaceful meetings.
(2) This right may not be subjected to any restrictions except
those which are provided by law and are necessary to protect
the security of the State or the community, public order,
people's health or morals, or the rights and freedoms of other
persons.
Article 37
Citizens who belong to ethnic communities shall have the right
to foster their language, culture, and customs.
Article 38
(1) The family shall be the basis of society and the State.
(2) Family, motherhood, fatherhood, and childhood shall be
under the care and protection of the State.
(3) Marriage shall be entered into upon the free consent of man
and woman.
(4) The State shall register marriages, births, and deaths. The
State shall also recognize marriages registered in church.
(5) In the family, spouses shall have equal rights.
(6) The right and duty of parents is to bring up their children to
be honest individuals and loyal citizens, as well as to support
them until they come of age.
(7) The duty of children is to respect their parents, to care for
them in old age, and to preserve their heritage.
Article 39
(1) The State shall take care of families bringing up children at
home, and shall render them support in the manner established
by law.
(2) The law shall provide for paid maternity leave before and
after childbirth, as well as for favorable working conditions and
other privileges.
(3) Children who are under age shall be protected by law.
Article 40
(1) State and local government establishments of teaching and
education shall be secular. At the request of parents, they shall
offer classes in religious instruction.
(2) Non-governmental teaching and educational institutions may
be established according to the procedure established by law.
(3) Institutions of higher learning shall be granted autonomy.
(4) The State shall supervise the activities of establishments of
teaching and education.
Article 41
(1) Education shall be compulsory for persons under the age of
16.
(2) Education at State and local government secondary,
vocational, and higher schools shall be free of charge.
(3) Everyone shall have an equal opportunity to attain higher
education according to their individual abilities. Citizens who
demonstrate suitable academic progress shall be guaranteed
education at establishments of higher education free of charge.
Article 42
(1) Culture, science, research and teaching shall be unrestricted.
(2) The State shall support culture and science, and shall be
concerned with the protection of Lithuanian history, art, and
other cultural monuments and valuables.
(3) The law shall protect and defend the spiritual and material
interests of authors which are related to scientific, technical,
cultural, and artistic work.
Article 43
(1) The State shall recognize traditional Lithuanian churches
and religious organizations, as well as other churches and
religious organizations provided that they have a basis in society
and their teaching and rituals do not contradict morality or the
law.
(2) Churches and religious organizations recognized by the State
shall have the rights of legal persons.
(3) Churches and religious organizations shall freely proclaim
the teaching of their faith, perform the rituals of their belief,
and have houses of prayer, charity institutions, and educational
institutions for the training of priests of their faith.
(4) Churches and religious organizations shall function freely
according to their canons and statutes.
(5) The status of churches and other religious organizations in
the State shall be established by agreement or by law.
(6) The teachings proclaimed by churches and other religious
organizations, other religious activities, and houses of prayer
may not be used for purposes which contradict the Constitution
and the law.
(7) There shall not be a State religion in Lithuania.
Article 44
(1) Censorship of mass media shall be prohibited.
(2) The State, political parties, political and public
organizations, and other institutions or persons may not
monopolize means of mass media.
Article 45
Ethnic communities of citizens shall independently administer
the affairs of their ethnic culture, education, organizations,
charity, and mutual assistance. The State shall support ethnic
communities.
Article 46
(1) Lithuania's economy shall be based on the right to private
ownership, freedom of individual economic activity, and
initiative.
(2) The State shall support economic efforts and initiative which
are useful to the community.
(3) The State shall regulate economic activity so that it serves
the general welfare of the people.
(4) The law shall prohibit monopolization of production and the
market, and shall protect freedom of fair competition.
(5) The State shall defend the interests of the consumers.
Article 47
(1) Land, internal waters, forests, and parks may only belong to
the citizens and the State of the Republic of Lithuania by the
right of ownership.
(2) Plots of land may belong to a foreign state by the right of
ownership for the establishment of its diplomatic and consular
missions in accordance with the procedure and conditions
established by law.
(3) The right of ownership of entrails of the earth, as well as
nationally significant internal waters, forests, parks, roads, and
historical, archaeological and cultural facilities shall exclusively
belong to the Republic of Lithuania
(4) The Republic of Lithuania shall have the exclusive
ownership right to the air-space over its territory, its continental
shelf, and the economic zone in the Baltic Sea.
Article 48
(1) Every person may freely choose an occupation or business,
and shall have the right to adequate, safe and healthy working
conditions, adequate compensation for work, and social security
in the event of unemployment.
(2) The employment of foreigners in the Republic of Lithuania
shall be regulated by law.
(3) Forced labor shall be prohibited.
(4) Military service or alternative service, as well as labor
which is executed during war, natural calamity, epidemic, or
other urgent circumstances, shall not be deemed as forced
labor.
(5) Labor which is performed by convicts in places of
confinement and which is regulated by law shall not be deemed
as forced labor either.
Article 49
(1) Every person shall have the right to rest and leisure, as well
as to annual paid holidays.
(2) Working hours shall be established by law.
Article 50
(1) Trade unions shall be freely established and shall function
independently. They shall defend the professional, economic,
and social rights and interests of employees.
(2) All trade unions shall have equal rights.
Article 51
(1) Employees shall have the right to strike in order to protect
their economic and social interests.
(2) The restrictions of this right, and the conditions and
procedures for the implementation thereof shall be established
by law.
Article 52
The State shall guarantee the right of citizens to old age and
disability pension, as well as to social assistance in the event of
unemployment, sickness, widowhood, loss of breadwinner, and
other cases provided by law.
Article 53
(1) The State shall take care of people's health and shall
guarantee medical aid and services in the event of sickness.
The procedure for providing medical aid to citizens free of
charge at State medical facilities shall be established by law.
(2) The State shall promote physical culture of the society and
shall support sports.
(3) The State and each individual must protect the environment
from harmful influences.
Article 54
(1) The State shall concern itself with the protection of the
natural environment, its fauna and flora, separate objects of
nature and particularly valuable districts, and shall supervise the
moderate utilization of natural resources as well as their
restoration and augmentation.
(2) The exhaustion of land and entrails of the earth, the
pollution of waters and air, the production of radioactive
impact, as well as the impoverishment of fauna and flora, shall
be prohibited by law.
Article 55
(1) The Parliament
- representatives of the People, who shall be elected for a
four-year term on the basis of universal, equal, and direct
suffrage by secret ballot.
(2) The Parliament shall be deemed elected when at least
three-fifths of the Parliament members have been elected.
(3) The electoral procedure shall be established by law.
Article 56
(1) Any citizen of the Republic of Lithuania who is not bound
by an oath or pledge to a foreign state, and who, on the
election day, is 25 years of age or over and has permanently
been residing in Lithuania, may be elected a Parliament
member.
(2) Persons who have not served their court-imposed sentence,
as well as persons declared legally incapable by court, may not
be elected members of the Parliament.
Article 57
Regular elections to the Parliament shall be held no earlier than
2 months, and no later than 1 month, prior to the expiration of
the powers of the Parliament members.
Article 58
(1) Pre-term elections to the Parliament may be held on the
decision of the Parliament adopted by three-fifths majority vote
of all the Parliament members.
(2) The President of the Republic of Lithuania may also
announce pre-term elections to the Parliament:
1) if the Parliament fails to adopt a decision on the new
program of the Government within 30 days of its presentation,
or if the Parliament twice in succession disapproves of the
Government program within 60 days of its initial presentation;
or
2) on the proposal of the Government, if the Parliament
expresses direct non-confidence in the Government.
(3) The President of the Republic may not announce pre-term
elections to the Parliament if the term of office of the President
of the Republic expires within less than six months, or if six
months have not passed since the pre-term elections to the
Parliament.
(4) The day of elections to the new Parliament shall be
specified in the resolution of the Parliament or in the decree of
the President of the Republic concerning the pre-term elections
to the Parliament. The election to the new Parliament must be
organized within three months from the adoption of the decision
on the pre-term elections.
Article 59
(1) The term of office of Parliament members shall commence
from the day that the newly-elected Parliament convenes for the
first sitting. The powers of the previously elected Parliament
members shall expire as from the opening of the sitting.
(2) Newly-elected Parliament members shall acquire all the
rights of a People's representative only after swearing in the
Parliament to be loyal to the Republic of Lithuania.
(3) Parliament members who either do not take an oath in the
manner prescribed by law, or who take a conditional oath, shall
lose the mandate of a Parliament member. The Parliament shall
adopt a corresponding resolution thereon.
(4) In office, Parliament members shall act in accordance with
the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, the interests of
the State, as well as their own consciences, and may not be
restricted by any mandates.
Article 60
(1) The duties of Parliament members, with the exception of
their duties in the Parliament, shall be incompatible with any
other duties in State institutions or organizations, as well as
with work in trade, commercial and other private institutions or
enterprises. For term of office, Parliament members shall be
exempt from the duty to perform national defence service.
(2) A Parliament member may be appointed only as Prime
Minister or Minister.
(3) The service of a Parliament member shall be remunerated,
and all expenses incurred from parliamentary activities shall be
reimbursed with funds from the State Budget. A Parliament
member may not receive any other salary, with the exception of
payment for creative activities.
(4) The duties, rights and guarantees of the activities of
Parliament members shall be established by law.
Article 61
(1) Parliament members shall have the right to submit inquiries
to the Prime Minister, the individual Ministers, and the heads
of other State institutions formed or elected by the Parliament.
Said persons or bodies must respond orally or in writing at the
Parliaments session in the manner established by the
Parliament.
(2) At sessions of the Parliament, a group of no less than
one-fifth of the Parliament members may interpellate the Prime
Minister or a Minister.
(3) Upon considering the response of the Prime Minister or
Minister to the interpellation, the Parliament may decide that
the response is not satisfactory, and, by a majority vote of half
of all the Parliament members, express non-confidence in the
Prime Minister or a Minister.
(4) The voting procedure shall be established by law.
Article 62
(1) The person of a Parliament member shall be inviolable.
(2) Parliament members may not be found criminally
responsible, may not be arrested, and may not be subjected to
any other restriction of personal freedom without the consent of
the Parliament.
(3) Parliament members may not be persecuted for voting or
speeches in the Parliament. However, legal actions may be
instituted against Parliament members according to the general
procedure if they are guilty of personal insult or slander.
Article 63
The powers of a Parliament member shall be
terminated:
1) on the expiration of the term of his or her powers, or when
the Parliament, elected in pre-term elections, convenes for the
first sitting;
2) upon his or her death;
3) upon his or her resignation;
4) when he or she is declared legally incapable by the
court;
5) when the Parliament revokes his or her mandate in
accordance with impeachment proceedings;
6) when the election is recognized as invalid, or if the law on
election is grossly violated;
7) if he or she takes up, or does not resign from, employment
which is incompatible with the duties of a Parliament member;
and
8) if he or she loses citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 64
(1) Every year, the Parliament shall convene for two regular
sessions - one in spring and one in fall. The spring session
shall commence on March 10th and shall end on June 30th.
The fall session shall commence on September 10th and shall
end on December 23rd. The Parliament may resolve to prolong
a session.
(2) Extraordinary sessions shall be convened by the Parliament
Chairperson upon the proposal of at least one-third of all the
Parliament members, and, in cases provided for in the
Constitution, by the President of the Republic.
Article 65
The President of the Republic shall convene the first sitting of
the newly-elected Parliament which must be held within 15 days
of the Parliament election. If the President of the Republic fails
to convene the sitting of the Parliament, the members of the
Parliament shall assemble the day following the expiration of
the 15-day period.
Article 66
(1) The Chairperson or Assistant Chairperson of the Parliament
shall preside over sittings of the Parliament.
(2) The sitting directly following elections of the Parliament
shall be opened by the eldest member of the Parliament.
Article 67
The Parliament shall
1) consider and enact amendments to the Constitution;
2) enact laws;
3) adopt resolutions for the organization of
referendums;
4) announce presidential elections of the Republic of
Lithuania;
5) form State institutions provided by law, and shall appoint and
dismiss their chief officers;
6) approve or reject the candidature of the Prime Minister
proposed by the President of the Republic;
7) consider the program of the Government submitted by the
Prime Minister, and decide whether to approve it or
not;
8) upon the recommendation of the Government, establish or
abolish ministries of the Republic of Lithuania;
9) supervise the activities of the Government, and may express
non-confidence in the Prime Minister or individual
Ministers;
10) appoint judges to, and Chairpersons of, the Constitutional
Court and the Supreme Court;
11) appoint to, and dismiss from, office the State Controller as
well as the Chairperson of the Board of the Bank of
Lithuania;
12) announce local government Council election;
13) form the Central Electoral Committee and change its
composition;
14) approve the State Budget
15) establish State taxes and other obligatory payments;
16) ratify or denounce international treaties whereto the
Republic of Lithuania is a party, and consider other issues of
foreign policy;
17) establish administrative divisions of the Republic;
18) establish State awards of the Republic of Lithuania;
19) issue acts of amnesty; and
20) impose direct administration and martial law, declare states
of emergency, announce mobilization, and adopt decisions to
use the Armed Forces.
Article 68
(1) The right of legislative initiative in the Parliament shall
belong to the members of the Parliament, the President of the
Republic, and the Government.
(2) Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania shall also have the
right of legislative initiative. A draft law may be submitted to
the Parliament by 50,000 citizens of the Republic of Lithuania
who have the right to vote. The Parliament must consider this
draft law.
Article 69
(1) Laws shall be enacted in the Parliament in accordance with
the procedure established by law.
(2) Laws shall be deemed adopted if the majority of the
Parliament members participating in the sitting vote in favor
thereof.
(3) Constitutional laws of the Republic of Lithuania shall be
deemed adopted if more than half of all the members of the
Parliament vote in the affirmative. Constitutional laws shall be
amended by at least a three-fifths majority vote of all the
Parliament members. The Parliament shall establish a list of
constitutional laws by a three-fifths majority vote of the
Parliament members.
(4) Provisions of the laws of the Republic of Lithuania may also
be adopted by referendum.
Article 70
(1) The laws enacted by the Parliament shall be enforced after
the signing and official promulgation thereof by the President of
the Republic, unless the laws themselves establish a later
enforcement date.
(2) Other acts adopted by the Parliament and the Statute of the
Parliament shall be signed by the Chairperson of the
Parliament. Said acts shall become effective the day following
the promulgation thereof, unless the acts themselves provide for
another procedure of enforcement.
Article 71
(1) Within ten days of receiving a law passed by the
Parliament, the President of the Republic shall either sign and
officially promulgate said law, or shall refer it back to the
Parliament together with relevant reasons for reconsideration.
(2) In the event that the law enacted by the Parliament is not
referred back or signed by the President of the Republic within
the established period, the law shall become effective upon the
signing and official promulgation thereof by the Chairperson of
the Parliament.
(3) The President of the Republic must, within five days, sign
and officially promulgate laws and other acts adopted by
referendum.
(4) In the event that the President of the Republic does not sign
and promulgate such laws within the established period. said
laws shall become effective upon being signed and officially
promulgated by the Chairperson of the Parliament.
Article 72
(1) The Parliament may reconsider and enact laws which have
been referred back by the President of the Republic.
(2) After reconsideration by the Parliament, a law shall be
deemed enacted if the amendments and supplements submitted
by the President of the Republic were adopted, or if more than
half of all the Parliament members vote in the affirmative, and
if it is a constitutional law - if at least three-fifths of all the
Parliament members vote in the affirmative.
(3) The President of the Republic must, within three days, sign
and forthwith officially promulgate laws re-enacted by the
Parliament.
Article 73
(1) Parliament controllers shall examine complaints of citizens
concerning the abuse of powers by, and bureaucracy of, State
and local government officers (with the exception of judges).
Controllers shall have the right to submit proposals to the court
to dismiss guilty officers from their posts.
(2) The powers of the Parliament controllers shall be established
by law.
(3) As necessary, the Parliament shall also establish other
institutions of control. The system and powers of said
institutions shall be established by law.
Article 74
For gross violation of the Constitution, breach of oath, or upon
the disclosure of the commitment of felony, the Parliament
may, by three-fifths majority vote of all the Parliament
members, remove from office the President of the Republic, the
Chairperson and judges of the Constitutional Court, the
Chairperson and judges of the Supreme Court, the Chairperson
and judges of the Court of Appeals, as well as Parliament
members, or may revoke their mandate of a Parliament
member. Such actions shall be carried out in accordance with
impeachment proceedings which shall be established by the
Statute of the Parliament.
Article 75
Officers appointed or chosen by the Parliament (with the
exception of persons specified in Article 74) shall be
removed from office when the Parliament, by majority vote of
all the members, expresses non-confidence in the officer in
question.
Article 76
The structure and procedure of activities of the Parliament shall
be determined by the Statute of the Parliament. The Statute of
the Parliament shall have the power of law.
Article 77
(1) The President of the Republic is the Head of State
(2) The President shall represent the State of Lithuania and shall
perform all the duties which he or she is charged with by the
Constitution and laws.
Article 78
(1) Any person who is a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania by
birth, who has lived in Lithuania for at least the past three
years, who has reached the age of 40 prior to the election day,
and who is eligible for election to a Parliament member may be
elected President of the Republic.
(2) The President of the Republic shall be elected by the
citizens of the Republic of Lithuania on the basis of universal,
equal, and direct suffrage by secret ballot for a term of five
years.
(3) The same person may not be elected President of the
Republic of Lithuania for more than two consecutive terms.
Article 79
(1) Any citizen who meets the requirements set forth in Article
78 (1) and has collected the signatures of at least 20,000
voters shall be registered as a presidential candidate.
(2) The number of presidential candidates shall not be limited.
Article 80
Regular presidential elections shall be held on the last Sunday
two months before the expiration of the term of office of the
President of the Republic.
Article 81
(1) The candidate for the post of President of the Republic who,
during the first election round in which at least a half of the
voters participate, receives the votes of more than half of all the
voters who voted in the election, shall be deemed the elected
candidate. If less than a half of the registered voters participate
in the election, the candidate who receives the greatest number
of votes, but no less than one-third of votes of all the voters,
shall be deemed the elected candidate. If, during the first
election round, no single candidate gets the requisite number of
votes, a repeat election shall be organized after two weeks
between the two candidates who received the greatest number of
votes. The candidate who receives more votes thereafter shall
be deemed elected.
(2) If no more than two candidates take part in the first election
round, and not one of them receives the requisite number of
votes, a repeat election shall be held.
Article 82
(1) The elected President of the Republic shall begin his duties
on the day following the expiration of the term of office of the
President of the Republic, after, in Vilnius and in the presence
of the representatives of the People - members of the
Parliament, taking an oath to the People, swearing to be loyal
to the Republic of Lithuania and the Constitution, to
conscientiously fulfill the duties of President, and to be equally
just to all. The President of the Republic, upon being
re-elected, shall take the oath as well.
(2) The act of oath of the President of the Republic shall be
signed by the President and by the Chairperson of the
Constitutional Court, or, in the absence of the Chairperson, by
a judge of the Constitutional Court.
Article 83
(1) The President of the Republic may not be a member of the
Parliament or hold any other office, and may not receive any
remuneration other than the salary established for the President
as well as compensation for creative activities.
(2) A person elected President of the Republic must suspend his
or her activities in political parties and political organizations
until a new presidential election campaign begins.
Article 84
The President of the Republic shall:
1) settle basic foreign policy issues and, together with the
Government, implement foreign policy;
2) sign international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania and
submit them to the Parliament for ratification;
3) appoint or recall, upon the recommendation of the
Government, diplomatic representatives of the Republic of
Lithuania in foreign states and international organizations;
receive letters of credence and recall of diplomatic
representatives of foreign states; confer highest diplomatic ranks
and special titles;
4) appoint, upon approval of the Parliament, the Prime
Minister, charge him or her to form the Government, and
approve its composition;
5) remove, upon approval of the Parliament, the Prime Minister
from office;
6) accept the powers returned by the Government upon the
election of a new Parliament, and charge it to continue
exercising its functions until a new Government is
formed;
7) accept resignations of the Government and, as necessary,
charge it to continue exercising its functions or charge one of
the Ministers to exercise the functions of the Prime Minister
until a new Government is formed; accept resignations of
individual Ministers and commission them to continue in office
until a new Minister is appointed;
8) submit to the Parliament, upon the resignation of the
Government or after it returns its powers and no later than
within 15 days, the candidature of a new Prime Minister for
consideration;
9) appoint or dismiss individual Ministers upon the
recommendation of the Prime Minister;
10) appoint or dismiss, according to the established procedure,
state officers provided by law;
11) propose Supreme Court judge candidates to the Parliament,
and, upon the appointment of all the Supreme Court judges,
recommend from among them a Supreme Court Chairperson to
the Parliament; appoint, with the approval of the Parliament,
Court of Appeal judges, and from among them - the Court of
Appeal Chairperson; appoint judges and chairpersons of district
and local district courts, and change their places of office; in
cases provided by Law, propose the dismissal of judges to the
Parliament;
12) propose to the Parliament the candidatures of three
Constitutional Court judges, and, upon appointing all the judges
of the Constitutional Court, propose, from among them, a
candidate for Constitutional Court Chairperson to the
Parliament;
13) propose to the Parliament candidates for State Controller
and Chairperson of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania; if
necessary, propose to the Parliament to express non-confidence
in said officials;
14) appoint or dismiss, upon the approval of the Parliament, the
chief commander of the Army and the head of the Security
Service;
15) confer highest military ranks;
16) adopt, in the event of an armed attack which threatens State
sovereignty or territorial integrity, decisions concerning defence
against such armed aggression, the imposition of martial law,
and mobilization, and submit these decisions to the next sitting
of the Parliament for approval;
17) declare states of emergency according to the procedures and
situations established by law, and submit these decisions to the
next sitting of the Parliament for approval;
18) make annual reports in the Parliament about the situation in
Lithuania and the domestic and foreign policies of the Republic
of Lithuania;
19) call, in cases provided in the Constitution, extraordinary
sessions of the Parliament;
20) announce regular elections to the Parliament, and, in cases
set forth in Article 58 (2), announce pre-term elections
to the Parliament;
21) grant citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania according to
the procedure established by law;
22) confer State awards;
23) grant pardons to sentenced persons; and
24) sign and promulgate laws enacted by the Parliament or refer
them back to the Parliament according to the procedure
provided for in Article 71.
Article 85
The President of the Republic, implementing the powers vested
in him or her, shall issue acts-decrees. Decrees of the
President, specified in Article 84 Nr. 3 & 15 & 17 & 21,
shall be valid only if they bear the signature of the Prime
Minister or an appropriate Minister. Responsibility for such
decrees shall lie with the Prime Minister or the Minister who
signed it.
Article 86
(1) The person of the President of the Republic shall be
inviolable: while in office, the President may neither be arrested
nor charged with criminal or administrative proceedings.
(2) The President of the Republic may be prematurely removed
from office only for gross violation of the Constitution, breach
of the oath of office, or conviction of an offence. The
Parliament shall resolve issues concerning the dismissal of the
President of the Republic from office according to impeachment
proceedings.
Article 87
(1) When, in cases specified in Article 58 (2), the
President of the Republic announces pre-term elections to the
Parliament, the newly-elected Parliament may, by three-fifths
majority vote of all the Parliament members and within 30 days
of the first sitting, announce a pre-term election of the President
of the Republic.
(2) If the President of the Republic wishes to compete in the
election, he or she shall immediately be registered as a
candidate.
(3) If the President of the Republic is re-elected in such an
election, he or she shall be deemed elected for a second term,
provided that more than three years of the first term had
expired prior to the election. If the expired period of the first
term is less than three years, the President of the Republic shall
only be elected for the remainder of the first term, which shall
not be considered a second term.
(4) If a pre-term election for the President of the Republic is
announced during the President's second term, the current
President of the Republic may only be elected for the remainder
of the second term.
Article 88
The powers of the President of the Republic shall be
terminated:
1) upon the expiration of the term of office;
2) upon holding a pre-term presidential election;
3) upon resignation from office;
4) upon the death of the President of the Republic;
5) when the Parliament removes the President from office
according to impeachment proceedings; and
6) when the Parliament, taking into consideration the conclusion
of the Constitutional Court and by three-fifths majority vote of
all the Parliament members, adopts a resolution stating that the
President of the Republic is unable to fulfill the duties of office
for reasons of health.
Article 89
(1) In the event that the President dies or is removed from
office according to impeachment proceedings, or if the
Parliament resolves that the President of the Republic is unable
to fulfill the duties of office for reasons of health, the duties of
President shall temporarily be passed over to the Parliament
Chairperson. In such a case, the Chairperson of the Parliament
shall lose his or her powers in the Parliament, and at the behest
of the Parliament, the duties of Chairperson shall temporarily
be carried out by the Assistant Chairperson. In said cases, the
Parliament shall announce, within 10 days, an election for the
President of the Republic which must be held within two
months. If the Parliament cannot convene and announce the
election for the President of the Republic, the election shall be
announced by the Government.
(2) The Chairperson of the Parliament shall act for the
President of the Republic when the President is temporarily
absent beyond the boundaries of the country or has fallen ill
and by reason thereof is temporarily unable to fulfill the duties
of office.
(3) While temporarily acting for the President of the Republic,
the Chairperson of the Parliament may neither announce
pre-term elections of the Parliament nor dismiss or appoint
Ministers without the agreement of the Parliament. During the
said period, the Parliament may not consider the issue of lack
of confidence in the Chairperson of the Parliament.
(4) The powers of the President of the Republic may not be
executed in any other cases, or by any other persons or
institutions.
Article 90
The President of the Republic shall have residence. The
financing of the President of the Republic and of the President's
residence shall be established by law.
Article 91
The Government
Article 92
(1) The Prime Minister shall, with the approval of the
Parliament, be appointed or dismissed by the President of the
Republic. The Ministers shall be appointed by the President of
the Republic on the nomination of the Prime Minister.
(2) The Prime Minister, within 15 days of being appointed,
shall present the Government which he or she has formed and
which has been approved by the President of the Republic to
the Parliament and shall submit the program of its activities to
the Parliament for consideration.
(3) The Government shall return its powers to the President of
the Republic after the Parliament elections or upon electing the
President of the Republic.
(4) A new Government shall be empowered to act after the
Parliament approves its program by majority vote of the
Parliament members participating in the sitting.
Article 93
On entering upon their duties, the Prime Minister and the
individual Ministers shall, in the Parliament, take an oath to be
loyal to the Republic of Lithuania and to observe the
Constitution and laws. The text of the oath shall be established
by the Law on the Government.
Article 94
The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall:
1) administer the affairs of the country, protect the inviolability
of the territory of the Republic of Lithuania, and ensure State
security and public order;
2) implement laws and resolutions of the Parliament concerning
the implementation of laws, as well as the decrees of the
President;
3) Coordinate the activities of the ministries and other
governmental institutions;
4) prepare the draft Budget of the State and submit it to the
Parliament; execute the State Budget and report on the
fulfillment of the Budget to the Parliament;
5) draft bills and submit them to the Parliament for
consideration;
6) establish diplomatic relations and maintain relations with
foreign countries and international organizations; and
7) discharge other duties prescribed to the Government by the
Constitution and other laws.
Article 95
(1) The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall resolve
the affairs of State administration at its sittings by issuing
directives which must be passed by a majority vote of all
members of the Government. The State Controller may also
participate in the sittings of the Government.
(2) Government directives shall be signed by the Prime Minister
and the appropriate Minister.
Article 96
(1) The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall be
jointly responsible to the Parliament for the general activities of
the Government.
(2) The Ministers, in directing the spheres of administration
entrusted to them, shall be responsible to the Parliament, the
President of the Republic, and directly subordinate to the Prime
Minister.
Article 97
(1) The Prime Minister shall represent the Government of the
Republic of Lithuania and shall direct its activities.
(2) In the absence of the Prime Minister, or when the Prime
Minister is unable to fulfill his or her duties, the President of
the Republic of Lithuania, upon the recommendation of the
Prime Minister, shall charge one of the Ministers to substitute
for the Prime Minister during a period not exceeding 60 days;
when there is no recommendation, the President of the Republic
shall charge one of the Ministers to substitute for the Prime
Minister.
Article 98
(1) Ministers shall head their respective ministries, shall resolve
issues assigned to the competence of their ministries, and shall
also discharge other functions prescribed by laws.
(2) A Minister may be temporarily substituted only by another
member of the Government appointed by the Prime Minister.
Article 99
The Prime Minister and Ministers may not hold any other office
subject to nomination or election, may not be employed in
business, commercial or other private institutions or companies,
and may not receive any remuneration other than the salary
established for their respective Government offices and
compensation for creative activities.
Article 100
The Prime Minister and Ministers may not be prosecuted,
arrested or have their freedoms restricted in any other way
without the preliminary consent of the Parliament, or, if the
Parliament is not in session, of the President of the Republic.
Article 101
(1) Upon the request of the Parliament, the Government or
individual Ministers must give an account of their activities to
the Parliament.
(2) When more than half of the Ministers are changed, the
Government must be re-invested with authority by the
Parliament. Otherwise, the Government must resign.
(3) The Government must also resign if:
1) the Parliament disapproves two times in succession of the
program of the newly-formed Government;
2) the majority of all the Parliament deputies express a lack of
confidence in the Government or in the Prime Minister in a
secret ballot vote;
3) the Prime Minister resigns or dies; or
4) after Parliament elections, when a new Government is
formed.
(4) A Minister must resign if more than a half of all the
Parliament members express, in a secret ballot vote, a lack of
confidence in him or her.
(5) The President of the Republic shall accept resignations of
the Government or individual Ministers.
Article 102
(1) The Constitutional Court
(2) The status of the Constitutional Court and the procedure for
the execution of powers thereof shall be established by the Law
on the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 103
(1) The Constitutional Court shall consist of 9 judges appointed
for an non-renewable term of 9 years. Every three years,
one-third of the Constitutional Court shall be reconstituted. The
Parliament shall choose 3 candidates for Constitutional Court
judges from the candidates nominated by the President of the
Republic of Lithuania, 3 candidates from those nominated by
the Chairperson of the Parliament, and 3 candidates from those
nominated by the Chairperson of the Supreme Court; the
Parliament shall appoint the candidates that they choose as
judges.
(2) The Parliament shall appoint the Chairperson of the
Constitutional Court from among the judges thereof and on the
nomination of the President of the Republic of Lithuania.
(3) Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who have an
impeccable reputation, who are trained in law, and who have
served, for at least 10 years, in the legal profession or in an
area of education related to his or her qualifications as a
lawyer, shall be eligible for appointment as judges of the
Constitutional Court.
Article 104
(1) In fulfilling their duties, judges of the Constitutional Court
shall act independently of any other State institution, person or
organization and shall observe only the Constitution of the
Republic of Lithuania.
(2) Before entering office, judges of the Constitutional Court
shall, in the Parliament, swear to be faithful to the Republic of
Lithuania and the Constitution.
(3) The restrictions on work and political activities which are
imposed on court judges shall also apply to judges of the
Constitutional Court.
(4) Judges of the Constitutional Court shall have the same rights
concerning the inviolability of their person as shall members of
the Parliament.
Article 105
(1) The Constitutional Court shall consider and adopt decisions
concerning the conformity of laws of the Republic of Lithuania
and legal acts adopted by the Parliament with the Constitution
of the Republic of Lithuania.
(2) The Constitutional Court shall also consider the conformity
with the Constitution of:
1) legal acts of the President; and
2) legal acts of the Government.
(3) The Constitutional Court shall present conclusions
concerning:
1) the violation of election laws during presidential elections or
elections to the Parliament;
2) whether the President of the Republic of Lithuania's health is
not limiting his or her capacity to continue in office;
3) the conformity of international agreements of the Republic of
Lithuania with the Constitution; and
4) the compliance with the Constitution of concrete actions of
Parliament members or other State officers against whom
impeachment proceedings have been instituted.
Article 106
(1) The Government, no less than 1/5 of the members of the
Parliament, and the courts shall have the right to address the
Constitutional Court concerning legal acts specified in Article
105 (1).
(2) No less than 1/5 of the members of the Parliament and the
courts shall have the right to address the Constitutional Court
concerning the conformity of acts of the President with the
Constitution and the laws.
(3) No less than 1/5 of the members of the Parliament, the
courts, and the President of the Republic of Lithuania shall have
the right to address the Constitutional Court concerning the
conformity of an act of the Government with the Constitution
and the laws.
(4) Upon the proposal of the President or the decision of the
Parliament to investigate the conformity of an act with the
Constitution, the applicability of the act shall be suspended.
(5) The Parliament may request a conclusion from the
Constitutional Court, and in cases concerning Parliament
elections and international agreements, the President of the
Republic of Lithuania may also request a conclusion.
(6) The Constitutional Court shall have the right to refuse to
accept cases for investigation or to prepare conclusions if the
appeal is not based on legal motives.
Article 107
(1) Laws (or parts thereof) of the Republic of Lithuania or any
other acts (or parts thereof) of the Parliament, acts of the
President of the Republic of Lithuania, and acts (or parts
thereof) of the Government may not be applied from the day of
official promulgation of the decision of the Constitutional Court
that the act in question (or part thereof) is inconsistent with the
Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania.
(2) The decisions of the Constitutional Court on issues assigned
to its jurisdiction by the Constitution shall be final and may not
be appealed.
(3) On the basis of the conclusions of the Constitutional Court,
the Parliament shall have a final decision on the issues set forth
in Article 105 (3).
Article 108
The powers of a judge of the Constitutional Court shall be
terminated:
1) on the expiration of the term of office;
2) upon the death of the judge;
3) upon voluntary resignation;
4) when the judge is incapable to fulfill his or her duties for
health reasons; and
5) upon being removed from office by the Parliament according
to the impeachment proceedings.
Article 109
(1) In the Republic of Lithuania, the courts
(2) While administering justice, judges, and courts shall be
independent
(3) While investigating cases, judges shall obey only the law.
(4) The court shall adopt decisions on behalf of the Republic of
Lithuania.
Article 110
(1) Judges may not apply laws which contradict the
Constitution.
(2) In cases, when there are grounds to believe that the law or
other legal act applicable in a certain case contradicts the
Constitution, the judge shall suspend the investigation and shall
appeal to the Constitutional Court to decide whether the law or
other legal act in question complies with the Constitution.
Article 111
(1) The court system of the Republic of Lithuania shall consist
of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, district courts, and
local courts.
(2) For the investigation of administrative, labor, family and
other litigations, specialized courts may be established pursuant
to law.
(3) Courts with special powers may not be established in the
Republic of Lithuania in times of peace.
(4) The formation and competence of courts shall be determined
by the Law on Courts of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 112
(1) In Lithuania only citizens of the Republic of Lithuania may
be judges.
(2) Supreme Court judges, as well as the Chairperson of the
Supreme Court, who shall be chosen from among them, shall
be appointed and dismissed by the Parliament upon the
recommendation of the President of the Republic of Lithuania.
(3) Judges of the Court of Appeals, as well as the Chairperson,
who shall be chosen from among them, shall be appointed by
the President of the Republic of Lithuania upon the approval of
the Parliament.
(4) Judges and chairpersons of district courts, local courts, and
other specialized courts shall be appointed, and if necessary,
transferred to other places of office, by the President of the
Republic of Lithuania.
(5) A special institution of judges provided by law shall submit
recommendations to the President concerning the appointment
of judges, as well as their promotion, transference, or dismissal
from office.
(6) A person appointed as judge shall swear, according to the
procedure established by law, to be faithful to the Republic of
Lithuania and to administer justice only pursuant to law.
Article 113
(1) Judges may not hold any other elected or appointed posts,
and may not be employed in any business, commercial, or other
private institution or company. They are also not permitted to
receive any remuneration other than the salary established for
judges as well as payments for educational, scientific, or
creative activities.
(2) Judges may not participate in the activities of political
parties and other political organizations.
Article 114
(1) Institutions of State power and administration, members of
the Parliament and other officers, political parties, public
organizations, and citizens shall be prohibited from interfering
with the activities of a judge or the court, and violation of this
shall incur liability.
(2) Judges may not have legal actions instituted against them,
nor may they be arrested or restricted of personal freedom
without the consent of the Parliament, or in the period between
sessions of the Parliament, of the President of the Republic of
Lithuania.
Article 115
Court judges of the Republic of Lithuania shall be dismissed
from office according to the procedure established by law in the
following cases:
1) at their own will;
2) upon expiration of their powers or upon reaching pensionable
age as determined by law;
3) for reasons of health;
4) upon appointment to another office or upon voluntary
transference to another place of office;
5) if their behavior discredits their position as judge;
and
6) when judgment imposed on them by court comes into force.
Article 116
If the Chairperson or judges of the Supreme Court or of the
Court of Appeals grossly violate the Constitution, break their
oath, or are found guilty of an offence, the Parliament may
remove them from office according to impeachment
proceedings.
Article 117
(1) In all courts the investigation of cases shall be open to the
public. Closed court sittings may be held in order to protect
the secrecy of a citizen's or the citizen's family's private life,
or to prevent the disclosure of State, professional, or
commercial secrets.
(2) In the Republic of Lithuania court trials shall be conducted
in the State language.
(3) Persons who do not speak Lithuanian shall be guaranteed
the right to participate in investigation and court proceedings
through an interpreter.
Article 118
(1) Public prosecutors shall prosecute criminal cases on behalf
of the State, shall carry out criminal prosecutions, and shall
supervise the activities of the interrogative bodies.
(2) Pretrial interrogation shall be carried out by investigators.
(3) The procedure for the appointment of public prosecutors and
judges and their status shall be established by law.
Article 119
(1) Administrative units provided by law on State territory shall
be entitled to the right of self-government
(2) Members of local government Councils shall be elected for
a two-year term on the basis of universal, equal and direct
suffrage by secret ballot by the residents of their administrative
unit who are citizens of the Republic of Lithuania.
(3) The procedure for the organization and activities of
self-government institutions shall be established by law.
(4) Local government Councils shall form executive bodies
which are accountable to them for the direct implementation of
the laws of the Republic of Lithuania and the decisions of the
Government and the local government Council.
Article 120
(1) The State shall support local governments.
(2) Local governments shall act freely and independently within
the limits of their competence which shall be established by the
Constitution and laws.
Article 121
(1) Local governments shall draft and approve their own
Budget.
(2) Local government Councils shall have the right within the
established limits and according to the procedure provided by
law to establish local dues, and to provide for the leverage of
taxes and duties at the expense of their own Budget.
Article 122
Local government Councils shall have the right to appeal to
court regarding the violation of their rights.
Article 123
(1) In higher level administrative units, the administration shall
be organized by the Government according to the procedure
established by law.
(2) Representatives shall be appointed by the Government to
supervise that the Constitution and the laws are observed, and
that the decisions of the Government are implemented.
(3) The powers of Government representatives and the
procedures of their implementation shall be established by law.
(4) In cases and according to procedures provided by law, the
Parliament may introduce direct administration on local
government territory.
Article 124
Deeds and actions of local government Councils as well as of
their executive bodies and officers which violate the rights of
citizens and organizations may be appealed against in court.
Article 125
(1) In the Republic of Lithuania the central bank shall be the
Bank of Lithuania, which is owned by the State.
(2) The Bank of Lithuania shall have the exclusive right to issue
bank notes.
(3) The procedures for the organization and activities of the
Bank of Lithuania as well as its powers shall be established by
law.
Article 126
(1) The Bank of Lithuania shall be directed by the Bank Board,
which shall consist of the Board Chairperson, the deputies to
the Chairperson, and the Board members.
(2) The Board Chairperson of the Bank of Lithuania shall be
appointed for a five-year term by the Parliament on the
nomination of the President of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 127
(1) The Budgetary system of the Republic of Lithuania shall
consist of the independent State Budget of the Republic of
Lithuania and the independent local governments Budgets.
(2) State Budget revenues shall be accrued from taxes,
compulsory payments, dues, receipts from State property, and
other income.
(3) Taxes, other Budgetary payments, and dues shall be
established by the laws of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 128
(1) Decisions concerning State loans and other basic property
liabilities of the State shall be adopted by the Parliament on the
recommendation of the Government.
(2) Procedures concerning the management, utilization, and
disposal of State property shall be established by law.
Article 129
The Budget year shall begin on the first of January and shall
end on the thirty-first of December.
Article 130
The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall prepare a
draft Budget of the State, and shall submit it to the Parliament
no later than 75 days before the end of the Budget year.
Article 131
(1) The draft Budget of the State shall be considered by the
Parliament, and shall be approved by law by the beginning of
the new Budget year.
(2) Upon considering the draft Budget, the Parliament may only
increase expenditures upon specifying financial sources for said
expenditures. Expenditures established by law may not be
reduced as long as said laws are not amended.
Article 132
(1) If the State Budget is not approved by the prescribed date,
monthly Budget expenditures at the beginning of the Budget
year may not exceed one-twelfth of the State Budget
expenditures of the previous Budget year.
(2) During the Budget year the Parliament may change the
Budget. It shall be changed according to the same procedure
by which it was drafted, adopted and approved. As necessary,
the Parliament may approve an additional Budget.
Article 133
(1) The system and powers of State Control shall be established
by law.
(2) State control shall be directed by the State Controller who
shall be appointed for a five-year term by the Parliament upon
the nomination of the President of the Republic of Lithuania.
(3) Before taking office, the State Controller shall take an oath.
The oath shall be established by law.
Article 134
(1) State control shall supervise the legality of the management
and utilization of State property and the realization of the State
Budget.
(2) The State Controller shall give an account to the Parliament
on the annual execution of the State Budget.
Article 135
(1) In conducting foreign policy, the Republic of Lithuania shall
pursue the universally recognized principles and norms of
international law, shall strive to safeguard national security and
independence as well as the basic rights, freedoms and welfare
of its citizens, and shall take part in the creation of sound
international order based on law and justice.
(2) In the Republic of Lithuania, war propaganda shall be
prohibited.
Article 136
The Republic of Lithuania shall participate in international
organizations provided that they do not contradict the interests
and independence of the State.
Article 137
Weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases may
not be stationed on the territory of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 138
(1) The Parliament shall either ratify or denounce international
treaties of the Republic of Lithuania which concern:
1) the realignment of the State borders of the Republic of
Lithuania;
2) political cooperation with foreign countries, mutual
assistance, or treaties related to national defence;
3) the renunciation of the utilization of, or threatening by,
force, as well as peace treaties;
4) the stationing and status of the Armed Forces of the Republic
of Lithuania on the territory of a foreign state;
5) the participation of Lithuania in universal or regional
international organizations; and
6) multilateral or long-term economic agreements.
(2) Laws and international treaties may provide for other cases
in which the Parliament shall ratify international treaties of the
Republic of Lithuania.
(3) International agreements which are ratified by the
Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania shall be the constituent
part of the legal system of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 139
(1) The defence of the state of Lithuania from foreign armed
attack shall be the right and duty of every citizen of the
Republic of Lithuania.
(2) Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania are obliged to serve in
the national defence service or to perform alternative service in
the manner established by law.
(3) The organization of national defence shall be established by
laws.
Article 140
(1) The main issues of national defence shall be considered and
coordinated by the State Defence Council which consists of the
President of the Republic of Lithuania, the Prime Minister, the
Parliament Chairperson, the Minister of National Defence, and
the Chief Commander of the Army. The State Defence Council
shall be headed by the President of the Republic of Lithuania.
Procedures for its formation, activities and powers shall be
established by law.
(2) The Chief Commander of the Armed Forces shall be the
President of the Republic of Lithuania.
(3) The Government, the Minister of National Defence, and the
Chief Commander of the Army shall be responsible to the
Parliament for the provision and command of State Armed
Forces. The Minister of National Defence may not be a
serviceman who has not yet retired from active service.
Article 141
Soldiers in active military service or alternative service, officers
of the national defence, the police and the internal service,
non-commissioned officers, re-enlistees who have not retired
from service, and other paid officers of military and security
services may not be members of the Parliament or of local
government Councils. They may not hold elected or appointed
posts in State civil service, and may not take part in the
activities of political parties and political organizations.
Article 142
(1) The Parliament shall impose martial law, shall announce
mobilization or demobilization, and shall adopt decisions to use
the Armed Forces
(2) In the event of an armed attack which threatens the
sovereignty of the State or territorial integrity, the President of
the Republic of Lithuania shall immediately pass a decision
concerning defence against such armed aggression, shall impose
martial law throughout the country or in separate parts thereof,
shall declare mobilization, and shall submit these decisions to
the next sitting of the Parliament; in the period between
sessions, the President shall immediately convene an
unscheduled session of the Parliament. The Parliament shall
approve or abolish the decision of the President of the Republic
of Lithuania.
Article 143
In the event that a regular election must be held in time of
military actions, either the Parliament or the President shall
adopt a decision to extend the terms of the Parliament, the
President, and local government Councils. In such cases,
elections must be held within three months of the end of the
war.
Article 144
(1) In the event that the constitutional system or public order of
the State is threatened, the Parliament may declare a state of
emergency throughout the country, or in separate parts thereof,
for a period not exceeding six months.
(2) In the event of emergency, and if the Parliament is not in
session, the President of the Republic shall have the right to
pass such a decision, and shall, at the same time, convene an
unscheduled session of the Parliament for the consideration of
this issue. The Parliament shall approve or abolish the decision
of the President of the Republic of Lithuania.
(3) States of emergency shall be regulated by law.
Article 145
During martial law or a state of emergency, the rights and
freedoms specified in Articles 22, 24, 25,
32, 35, and 36 may be temporarily restricted.
Article 146
(1) The State shall provide and care for soldiers whose health is
damaged during military service, as well as for the families of
soldiers who lose their lives during military service.
(2) The State shall also provide for citizens whose health is
damaged while defending the homeland, and for the families of
citizens who lose their lives in defence of the State.
Article 147
(1) In order to amend or append the Constitution of the
Republic of Lithuania, a proposal must be submitted to the
Parliament by either no less than one-fourth of the members of
the Parliament, or by at least 300,000 voters.
(2) During a state of emergency or martial law, amendments to
the Constitution may not be made.
Article 148
(1) The provision of Article 1 that the State of
Lithuania is an independent democratic republic may only be
amended by a referendum in which at least three-fourths of the
electorate of Lithuania vote in favor thereof.
(2) The provisions of Chapter 1 and Chapter
14 may be amended only by referendum.
(3) Amendments of other chapters of the Constitution must be
considered and voted upon in the Parliament twice. There must
be a lapse of at least three months between each vote. Bills for
constitutional amendments shall be deemed adopted by the
Parliament if, in each of the votes, at least two-thirds of all the
members of the Parliament vote in favor of the enactment.
(4) An amendment to the Constitution which is rejected by the
Parliament may not be submitted to the Parliament for
reconsideration for the period of one year.
Article 149
(1) The adopted law on an amendment to the Constitution shall
be signed by the President of the Republic of Lithuania and
officially promulgated within 5 days.
(2) If the President of the Republic of Lithuania does not sign
and promulgate such a law in due time, this law shall become
effective when the Chairperson of the Parliament signs and
promulgates it.
(3) The law on an amendment to the Constitution shall become
effective no earlier than one month after the adoption thereof.
Article 150
(1) The constituent parts of the Constitution of the Republic of
Lithuania shall be:
(2) The 11 Feb 1991 Constitutional Law "On the State of
Lithuania";
(3) The 8 June 1992 Constitutional Act "On the Non-Alignment
of the Republic of Lithuania with Post-Soviet Eastern
Alliances".
Article 151
This Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania shall become
effective the day following the official promulgation of the
results of the Referendum, provided that in the Referendum
more than half of the electorate of Lithuania voted in favor
thereof.
Article 152
The procedure for the enforcement of this Constitution and
separate provisions thereof shall be regulated by Law of the
Republic of Lithuania "On the Procedure for the Enforcement
of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania", which,
together with this Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania,
shall be adopted by referendum.
Article 153
Upon the adoption of this Constitution in the Referendum, the
Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania may, by 25 Oct 1993,
amend by three-fifths majority vote of all the Parliament
members the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of
Lithuania set forth in Articles 47, 55, 56,
58 (2) Nr. 2, 65, 68, 69, 84 Nr.
11 & 12, 87 (1), 96, 103,
118 and 119 (4).
Article 154
Upon their adoption by referendum, the Constitution of the
Republic of Lithuania and the Law of the Republic of Lithuania
"On the Procedure for the Enforcement of the Constitution of
the Republic of Lithuania" shall be signed and promulgated
within 15 days by the President of the Supreme Council of the
Republic of Lithuania.