CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
(Approved by the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania
in the Referendum on 25 October 1992)

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 -- in 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

CHAPTER 1  
THE STATE OF LITHUANIA

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
No one   may  limit   or restrict   the  sovereignty  of the People or make claims to the sovereign powers of the People. 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
In Lithuania,   the  powers  of the State shall be exercised by the  Seimas, the   President of  the Republic  and Government, and the Judiciary.
The scope  of powers  shall be  defined by the Constitution. Institutions of power shall serve the people.

Article 6
The Constitution    shall  be  an  integral    and  directly applicable statute.
Every person   may  defend  his or  her rights  on the basis of the Constitution.

Article 7  
Any law  or other statute which contradicts the Constitution shall be invalid.
Only laws which are promulgated shall be valid.
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
The most   significant  issues concerning  the life  of  the State and the People shall be decided by referendum.
In the   cases  established   by law,  referendums shall  be announced by the Seimas.
Referendums shall   also  be   announced if   no  less  than 300,000 of the electorate so request.
The procedure   for  the announcement  and  execution  of  a referendum shall be established by law.

Article 10
The   territory  of   the State    of  Lithuania  shall  be integral and shall not be divided into any state derivatives.
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 Seimas members.

Article 11
The administrative  divisions of the territory of the  State of Lithuania and their boundaries shall be determined by law.

Article 12
Citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania  shall be  acquired by birth or on other bases established by law.
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.
The procedure   for  the acquisition and loss of citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania shall be established by law.

Article 13
The State of Lithuania shall protect its citizens abroad.
It shall   be  prohibited to  extradite  a  citizen  of  the Republic of Lithuania to another state  unless  an  international agreement  where   to  the  Republic  of  Lithuania  is  a  party establishes otherwise.

Article 14
Lithuanian shall be the State language.

Article 15
The colours  of the  State flag  shall be yellow, green, and red.
The State emblem shall be a white Vytis on a red background.
The State flag and emblem and their use shall be established by law.

Article 16
The national  anthem shall  be  Vincas  Kudirka's  "Tauti•ka Giesm“".

Article 17
The capital   of  the   Republic of  Lithuania shall  be the city  of   Vilnius,  the  long  standing  historical  capital  of Lithuania.  

CHAPTER 2  
THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE STATE

Article 18
The rights and freedoms of individuals shall be inborn.

Article 19
The right to life of individuals shall be protected by law.

Article 20
Personal freedom shall be inviolable.
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.
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
The person shall be inviolable.
Human dignity shall be protected by law.
It shall  be prohibited  to  torture,  injure,  degrade,  or maltreat a person, as well as to establish such punishments.
No person   may  be   subjected to   scientific  or  medical testing without his or her knowledge thereof and consent thereto.

Article 22
The private life of an individual shall be inviolable.
Personal    correspondence,     telephone     conversations, telegraph  messages,   and  other  intercommunications  shall  be inviolable.
Information concerning   the  private  life of an individual may be  collected only   upon  a   justified court  order and  in accordance with the law.
The  law  and  the  court  shall  protect  individuals  from arbitrary or  unlawful interference   in their  private or family life, and from encroachment upon their honour and dignity.

Article 23
Property shall be inviolable.
The rights of ownership shall be protected by law.ts  
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
A person's dwelling place shall be inviolable.
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
Individuals  shall    have  the  right  to  have  their  own convictions and freely express them.
Individuals must  not be  hindered from seeking,  obtaining, or disseminating information or ideas.
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,  honour and dignity, private  life, or morals  of a  person, or  for the protection of constitutional order.
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.
Citizens shall  have  the  right  to  obtain  any  available information which concerns them from State agencies in the manner established by law.

Article 26
Freedom of  thought, conscience,  and religion  shall not be restricted.
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.
No person   may  coerce another  person  or  be  subject  to coercion to adopt or profess any religion or faith.
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.
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
All   people shall  be equal before the law, the court, and other State institutions and officers.
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
Any person   whose  constitutional rights  or  freedoms  are violated shall have the right to appeal to court.
The law   shall  establish the  procedure  for  compensating material and moral damage inflicted on a person.

Article 31
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.
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.
Punishments may   only  be   administered or  applied on the basis of law.
No person may be punished for the same offence twice.
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
Citizens may  move and  choose their  place of  residence in Lithuania freely, and may leave Lithuania at their own will.
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.
A citizen may not be prohibited from returning to Lithuania.
Every Lithuanian person may settle in Lithuania.

Article 33
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.
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.
Citizens shall  be guaranteed  the right  to  petition;  the procedure for  implementing this  right shall  be established  by law.

Article 34
Citizens who,   on the day of election, are  18 years of age or over, shall have the right to vote in the election.
The right   to  be  elected  shall  be  established  by  the Constitution of  the Republic  of Lithuania  and by  the election laws.
Citizens who   are  declared   legally incapable   by  court shall not participate in elections.

Article 35
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. No  person   may be  forced to  belong to any  society,  political party, or association.
The founding   and  functioning  of  political  parties  and other political  and public  organisation shall  be regulated  by law.

Article 36
Citizens may  not be prohibited or hindered from  assembling in unarmed peaceful meetings.
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.  

CHAPTER 3  
SOCIETY AND THE STATE

Article 38
The family shall be the basis of society and the State.
Family, motherhood,   fatherhood,  and  childhood  shall  be under the care and protection of the State.
Marriage shall   be  entered   into upon the free consent of man and woman.
The State  shall register marriages, births, and deaths. The State shall also recognise marriages registered in church.
In the family, spouses shall have equal rights.
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.
The duty   of  children   is to   respect their  parents, to care for them in old age, and to preserve their heritage.

Article 39    
The State   shall  take   care of   families  bringing    up children at  home, and   shall  render them support in the manner established by law.
The law   shall provide  for paid maternity leave before and after  childbirth,   as    well  as    for  favourable    working conditions  and other privileges.
Children who are under age shall be protected by law.

Article 40
State  and   local  government  establishments  of  teaching and education  shall be  secular. At the request of parents, they shall offer classes in religious instruction.
Non-governmental teaching   and  educational    institutions may   be established  according to  the procedure  established by law.
Institutions of higher learning shall be granted autonomy.
The  State     shall   supervise     the  activities      of establishments  of teaching and education.

Article 41
Education shall  be compulsory  for persons under the age of 16.
Education at   State  and    local  government    secondary, vocational, and higher schools shall be free of charge.
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
Culture,   science,   research   and   teaching   shall   be unrestricted.
The State   shall   support   culture   and   science,   and shall  be concerned with  the protection  of Lithuanian  history, art,  and other cultural monuments and valuables.
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
The State  shall recognise  traditional Lithuanian  churches and religious  organisations,   as well  as  other  churches  and religious organisations  provided   that they   have  a  basis in society   and  their  teaching  and  rituals  do  not  contradict morality or  the  law.  Churches  and    religious  organisations   recognised   by   the   State shall  have  the  rights  of  legal persons.
Churches  and     religious   organisations    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.
Churches   and    religious   organisations  shall  function freely according  to their  canons and  statutes. The  status  of churches  and other religious organisations in the State shall be established by agreement or by law.
The   teachings    proclaimed   by     churches   and  other religious organisations, other  religious activities,  and houses of prayer  may not   be  used  for purposes  which contradict the Constitution and the law.
There shall not be a State religion in Lithuania.

Article 44
Censorship of mass media shall be prohibited.
The  State,   political  parties,   political   and   public organisations, and  other   institutions  or  persons  may    not monopolise  means of mass media.

Article 45
Ethnic   communities   of   citizens   shall   independently administer the  affairs  of   their  ethnic  culture,  education, organisations, charity, and  mutual assistance.  The State  shall support ethnic communities.  

CHAPTER 4  
NATIONAL ECONOMY AND LABOUR

Article 46
Lithuania's economy   shall  be   based   on  the  right  to private ownership, freedom  of  individual   economic   activity, and initiative.
The State  shall support  economic  efforts  and  initiative which are useful to the community.
The State   shall  regulate economic  activity  so  that  it serves the general welfare of the people.
The law  shall prohibit  monopolisation  of  production  and the market, and shall protect freedom of fair competition.
The State shall defend the interests of the consumers.

Article 47
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.
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.
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.
The  Republic   of  Lithuania   shall  have   the  exclusive ownership  right   to  the   airspace  over  its  territory,  its continental shelf, and the economic zone in the Baltic Sea.

Article 48
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.
The employment   of foreigners  in the Republic of Lithuania shall be regulated by law.
Forced labour shall be prohibited.
Military service   or alternative service, as well as labour which is  executed  during war,  natural calamity,  epidemic,  or other urgent circumstances, shall not be deemed as forced labour. Labour which  is performed  by convicts  in places of confinement and which  is regulated  by law  shall not  be deemed  as  forced labour either.

Article 49
Every person  shall have  the right  to rest and leisure, as well as to annual paid holidays.
Working hours shall be established by law.

Article 50
Trade unions   shall  be   freely   established   and  shall function  independently.  They  shall  defend  the  professional, economic, and social rights and interests of employees.
All trade unions shall have equal rights.

Article 51
Employees shall   have  the   right to   strike in  order to protect their economic and social interests.
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
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.
The State  shall promote physical culture of the society and shall support sports.
The State  and each  individual must protect the environment from harmful influences.

Article 54
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.
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.  

CHAPTER 5 
THE SEIMAS

Article 55
The Seimas  shall consist of representatives  of the People. 141 Seimas  members who shall  be elected for a four-year term on   the basis  of universal,  equal, and  direct suffrage  by  secret ballot.
The Seimas   shall  be deemed  elected when  at least three- fifths of the Seimas members have been elected.
The electoral procedure shall be established by law.

Article 56
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 Seimas member.
Persons who  have not served their courtimposed sentence, as well as  persons   declared legally   incapable   by  court,  may not  be elected members of the Seimas.

Article 57
Regular elections   to  the  Seimas shall be held no earlier than 2 months, and no later than 1 month, prior to the expiration of the powers of the Seimas members.

Article 58
Pre-term elections   to  the   Seimas may  be  held  on  the decision of  the Seimas   adopted by  three-fifths majority  vote of  all  the Seimas members.
The President of the Republic of Lithuania may also announce pre- term elections to the Seimas:
1) if   the  Seimas   fails to  adopt a  decision on the new programme of the  Government within  30 days of its presentation, or if  the  Seimas  twice   in  succession   disapproves  of  the Government programme  within 60 days of its initial presentation; or
2) on   the  proposal   of the   Government,  if  the Seimas expresses direct non-confidence in the Government.
The President  of the  Republic may  not  announce  pre-term elections to  the   Seimas 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 Seimas.
The day   of  elections to the new Seimas shall be specified in the resolution of the Seimas or in the decree of the President of the  Republic concerning   the  pre-term   elections to    the Seimas.  The election to  the new Seimas must be organised within three months  from the  adoption of  the decision on the pre-term elections.

Article 59
The term   of  office of  Seimas members shall commence from the day  that the  newly-elected Seimas  convenes for  the  first sitting. The  powers of   the  previously  elected Seimas members shall expire as from the opening of the sitting.
Newly-elected Seimas  members shall  acquire all  the rights of a  People's representative  only after  swearing in the Seimas to be loyal to the Republic of Lithuania.
Seimas 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  Seimas   member.  The   Seimas  shall adopt  a corresponding resolution thereon.
In office,  Seimas 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
The duties   of  Seimas members, with the exception of their duties in  the   Seimas, shall   be incompatible  with any  other duties in State institutions  or organisations,  as well  as with work   in trade,  commercial   and other  private institutions or enterprises. For  term  of office, Seimas members shall be exempt from the duty to perform national defence service.
A Seimas   member  may   be appointed    only    as    Prime Minister  or Minister.
The service  of a  Seimas member  shall be  remunerated, and all expenses   incurred   from  parliamentary   activities  shall be reimbursed  with  funds from the State budget. A Seimas member may not receive  any other  salary, with the exception of payment for creative activities.
The duties,   rights  and  guarantees of  the activities  of Seimas members shall be established by law.

Article 61
Seimas 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 Seimas. Said persons  or bodies  must respond orally or in writing at the Seimas session in the manner established by the Seimas.
At sessions   of  the   Seimas, a group of no less than one- fifth of  the  Seimas  members  may    interpellate  the    Prime Minister  or  a Minister.
Upon considering   the  response   of the  Prime Minister or Minister to  the interpellation,  the Seimas  may decide that the response is not satisfactory,  and, by  a majority  vote of  half of   all the  Seimas members, express non-confidence in the Prime Minister or a Minister.
The voting procedure shall be established by law.

Article 62
The person of a Seimas member shall be inviolable.
Seimas 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 Seimas.
Seimas members   may  not  be  persecuted    for  voting  or speeches  in  the  Seimas.  However,  legal    actions  may    be instituted   against Seimas  members   according to   the general procedure if  they are guilty of personal insult or slander.

Article 63
The powers of a Seimas member shall be terminated:
1) on  the expiration  of the  term of his or her powers, or when the  Seimas, 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 Seimas revokes his or her mandate in accordance with impeachment proceedings;
6) when   the  election  is recognised 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  Seimas member; and
8) if  he or  she  loses  citizenship  of  the  Republic  of Lithuania.

Article 64
Every year,   the  Seimas   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 Seimas may resolve to prolong a session.  
Extraordinary   sessions    shall   be    convened  by   the Seimas Chairperson  upon  the proposal  of at  least one-third of all the  Seimas 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 Seimas which must be held within 15 days of the Seimas election. If the  President  of  the  Republic fails   to convene  the  sitting of  the Seimas,  the members  of the  Seimas shall assemble  the day  following the  expiration of the 15-day period.

Article 66
The Chairperson   or  Assistant  Chairperson of  the  Seimas shall preside over sittings of the Seimas.
The sitting   directly  following   elections of  the Seimas shall be opened by the eldest member of the Seimas.

Article 67
The Seimas shall:
1) consider and enact amendments to the Constitution;
2) enact laws;
3) adopt resolutions for the organisation 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 programme  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  and    supervise  the implementation thereof;
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 mobilisation,  and adopt decisions to use the armed forces.

Article 68
The right  of legislative  initiative in  the  Seimas  shall belong to  the members  of  the  Seimas,  the  President  of  the Republic, and the Government.
Citizens of   the Republic  of Lithuania shall also have the right of  legislative  initiative. A  draft law  may be submitted to the  Seimas by   50,000 citizens  of the Republic of Lithuania who have  the right  to vote. The Seimas must consider this draft law.

Article 69
Laws shall  be enacted  in the  Seimas  in  accordance  with the procedure established by law.
Laws shall   be  deemed   adopted if  the  majority  of  the Seimas members  participating  in  the  sitting  vote  in  favour thereof.
Constitutional laws   of  the Republic of Lithuania shall be deemed adopted  if   more than   half  of all  the members of the Seimas vote  in the   affirmative. Constitutional  laws shall  be amended by  at least  a three-fifths  majority vote  of  all  the Seimas  members.   The  Seimas   shall     establish  a  list  of constitutional laws by a three-fifths majority vote of the Seimas members.
Provisions of   the  laws   of the Republic of Lithuania may also be adopted by referendum.

Article 70
The laws  enacted by  the Seimas  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.
Other acts   adopted  by the  Seimas  and the Statute of the Seimas shall  be signed  by the  Chairperson of  the Seimas. Said acts shall become effective the day  following  the  promulgation thereof, unless  the   acts themselves   provide   for    another procedure  of enforcement.

Article 71
Within ten   days  of   receiving a   law  passed    by  the Seimas, the President of  the  Republic  shall  either  sign  and officially promulgate  said   law, or  shall  refer  it  back  to the  Seimas together with relevant reasons for reconsideration.
In the   event  that   the law  enacted by the Seimas 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 Seimas.
The President   of  the   Republic must,   within five days, sign and  officially promulgate  laws and  other acts  adopted by referendum.
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 Seimas.

Article 72
The Seimas  may reconsider  and enact  laws which  have been referred back by the President of the Republic.
After reconsideration   by  the   Seimas,  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  Seimas members  vote in  the affirmative, and if it is  a constitutional  law   - if  at least three-fifths of all the Seimas members vote in the affirmative.
The President   of  the   Republic must,  within three days, sign and  forthwith officially  promulgate laws  reenacted by the Seimas.

Article 73
Seimas  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.
The powers of the Seimas controllers shall be established by law.  As   necessary,  the  Seimas  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 Seimas may, by  three-fifths majority  vote of  all the  Seimas 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   Seimas  members, or may revoke their  mandate of  Seimas member.  Such actions  shall  be carried out  in accordance  with impeachment   proceedings  which shall be  established by the Statute of the Seimas.

Article 75
Officers  appointed  or  chosen  by  the  Seimas  (with  the exception of persons specified  in Article  74) shall  be removed from office  when the   Seimas,  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 Seimas shall be determined by  the Statute  of the  Seimas. The  Statute of  the Seimas shall have the power of law.  

CHAPTER 6  
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC

Article 77
The President of the Republic is the head of State.
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
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  Seimas member may be elected President of the Republic.
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.
The same   person  may  not  be  elected  President  of  the Republic of Lithuania for more than two consecutive terms.

Article 79
Any citizen  who meets  the requirements  set forth  in Part 1 of  Article 78   and has  collected the  signatures of at least 20,000 voters shall be registered as a presidential candidate.
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
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 organised 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.
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
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  Seimas, 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.
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
The President   of  the  Republic may not be a member of the Seimas 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.
A person   elected  President  of the  Republic must suspend his  or   her  activities  in  political  parties  and  political organisations 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 Seimas for ratification;
3) appoint   or  recall,  upon  the  recommendation  of  the Government, diplomatic   representatives  of  the  Republic    of Lithuania   in foreign  states and  international  organisations; 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  Seimas,  the  Prime Minister, charge  him   or her  to  form  the  Government,    and approve  its composition;
5) remove,  upon approval  of the Seimas, the Prime Minister from office;
6) accept  the powers  returned by  the Government  upon the election of  a   new Seimas,   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   Seimas, 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 Seimas, and, upon  the   appointment of   all  the Supreme  Court judges, recommend from  among   them a   Supreme   Court  Chairperson  to the   Seimas; appoint,  with the approval of the Seimas, 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 Seimas;
12)   propose    to   the   Seimas   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 Seimas;
13)  propose     to  the    Seimas  candidates    for  State Controller  and  Chairperson  of    the  Board  of  the  Bank  of Lithuania; if  necessary, propose  to   the  Seimas   to  express non-confidence  in  said officials;
14) appoint  or dismiss,  upon the  approval of  the Seimas, 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  mobilisation, and  submit these  decisions to  the next sitting of the Seimas 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 Seimas for approval;
18) make  annual reports  in the Seimas 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 Seimas;
20) announce   regular  elections   to the  Seimas, and,  in cases set  forth in   part  2 of  Article 58 of the Constitution, announce pre- term elections to the Seimas;
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 Seimas or refer them back  to   the Seimas  according to  the procedure  provided for in Article 71 of the Constitution.

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   items 3,  15, 17,  and 21  of  Article 84   of  the Constitution, 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  
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.
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 Seimas shall  resolve issues   concerning  the   dismissal of the President of  the Republic  from office  according to impeachment proceedings.

Article 87
When, in  cases  specified  in  part  2  of  Article  58  of the Constitution, the  President of  the Republic  announces pre- term elections  to   the Seimas, the newly-elected Seimas may, by three- fifths  majority vote of all the Seimas members and within 30 days  of the  first  sitting,  announce  a  pre-term  election of  the President of the Republic.
If the  President of  the  Republic  wishes  to  compete  in the election,   he   or   she  shall  immediately  be  registered as  a candidate.
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.
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  Seimas  removes  the  President  from  office according to impeachment proceedings; and
6)  when     the   Seimas,  taking  into  consideration  the conclusion  of  the  Constitutional  Court  and  by  three-fifths majority vote  of all  the Seimas 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
In the   event  that  the President  dies or is removed from office according  to   impeachment proceedings,  or if the Seimas 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 Seimas Chairperson. In such a  case, the Chairperson of the Seimas shall lose his  or her  powers in  the Seimas, and at the behest of the Seimas, the  duties of  Chairperson  shall temporarily be carried out by  the Assistant  Chairperson. In   said  cases, the  Seimas shall announce,  within 10 days, an election for the President of the Republic  which must be held within two months. If the Seimas cannot convene  and announce  the election  for the  President of the Republic, the election shall be announced by the Government.
The Chairperson   of  the Seimas 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.
While temporarily acting for  the President of the Republic, the Chairperson  of the  Seimas  may  neither  announce  pre-term elections of  the Seimas  nor   dismiss   or   appoint  Ministers without   the agreement  of  the Seimas.  During the said period, the Seimas  may not consider  the issue  of lack of confidence in the Chairperson of the Seimas.
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.  

CHAPTER 7  
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA

Article 91
The Government   of  the Republic of Lithuania shall consist of the Prime Minister and Ministers.

Article 92
The Prime   Minister  shall,   with the   approval  of   the Seimas, 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.
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 Seimas and shall submit  the programme  of its  activities to the Seimas for consideration.
The Government   shall  return  its powers  to the President of the Republic  after the  Seimas  elections  or  upon  electing the President of the Republic.
A new   Government  shall   be empowered  to act  after  the Seimas approves  its  programme by  majority vote  of the  Seimas members participating in the sitting.

Article 93
On entering  upon  their  duties,  the  Prime  Minister  and the individual Ministers  shall, in  the Seimas,  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  Seimas 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  Seimas; execute  the  State  Budget  and  report  on  the fulfillment of the budget to the Seimas;
5)  draft   bills  and   submit  them   to  the  Seimas  for consideration;
6) establish   diplomatic relations  and maintain  relations with foreign countries and international organisations; and
7) discharge  other duties  prescribed to the Government  by the Constitution and other laws.

Article 95
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.
Government directives shall be  signed by the Prime Minister and the appropriate Minister.

Article 96
The Government   of  the   Republic of  Lithuania shall   be jointly responsible  to  the Seimas  for the  general  activities of  the Government.
The  Ministers, in directing the spheres  of  administration entrusted to  them, shall  be  responsible  to  the  Seimas,  the President of  the Republic, and directly subordinate to the Prime Minister.

Article 97
The Prime  Minister shall  represent the  Government of  the Republic of Lithuania and shall direct its activities.
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
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.
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   Seimas, or,   if the Seimas is not in session, of the President of the Republic.

Article 101
Upon the   request  of   the Seimas,   the  Government    or individual Ministers  must give an account of their activities to the Seimas.
When more   than  half of  the Ministers  are  changed,  the Government must  be   re-invested with  authority by  the Seimas. Otherwise, the Government must resign.
The Government must also resign if:
1)  the  Seimas  disapproves  two  times  in  succession  of the programme of the newly-formed Government;
2) the   majority  of   all the   Seimas 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 Seimas elections, when a new Government is formed.
A Minister   must  resign  if more  than a  half of  all the Seimas members  express, in  a secret  ballot  vote,  a  lack  of confidence in him or her.
The President   of  the  Republic shall  accept resignations of the Government or individual Ministers.  

CHAPTER 8  
THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

Article 102
The Constitutional   Court shall decide whether the laws and other legal  acts   adopted by   the  Seimas   are in  conformity with  the Constitution and  legal acts  adopted by  the President and  the Government, do not violate the Constitution or laws.
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
The Constitutional Court shall consist of 9 judges appointed for an unrenewable  term of 9 years. Every three years, one-third of the  Constitutional Court  shall be  reconstituted. The Seimas 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   Seimas, and    3  candidates    from  those nominated   by   the Chairperson  of   the Supreme    Court;  the Seimas shall appoint the candidates that they choose as judges.
The  Seimas    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.
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
In fulfilling   their duties,  judges of  the Constitutional Court shall  act independently  of any  other State  institution, person  or   organisation,  and     shall   observe     only  the Constitution  of  the Republic of Lithuania.
Before entering   office, judges of the Constitutional Court shall, in  the   Seimas, swear  to be faithful to the Republic of Lithuania and the Constitution.
The restrictions  on work  and  political  activities  which are imposed  on  court judges  shall  also  apply  to  judges  of the Constitutional Court.
Judges of   the  Constitutional  Court shall  have the  same rights concerning  the   inviolability of  their person  as shall members of the Seimas.

Article 105
The Constitutional   Court   shall   consider   and    adopt decisions concerning the  conformity of  laws of  the Republic of Lithuania  and   legal  acts  adopted  by  the  Seimas  with  the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania.  
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.
The   Constitutional   Court   shall   present   conclusions concerning:
1) the   violation  of   election laws  during  presidential elections or elections to the Seimas;
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 Seimas  members    or  other    State  officers  against  whom impeachment proceedings have been instituted.

Article 106
The Government,  no less  than one-fifth  of the  members of the Seimas,  and  the courts  shall have  the  right  to  address the Constitutional Court  concerning legal acts specified in part 1 of Article 105.
No less  than one-fifth  of the  members of  the Seimas  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.
No less   than  one-fifth of  the members of the Seimas, 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.
Upon the   proposal  of the President or the decision of the Seimas to  investigate   the conformity   of  an   act  with  the Constitution, the applicability of the act shall be suspended.
The Seimas may request a conclusion from the  Constitutional Court, and in cases concerning Seimas elections and international agreements, the  President of  the Republic of Lithuania may also request a conclusion. 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
Laws (or  parts thereof) of the Republic of Lithuania or any other acts  (or   parts thereof)  of  the  Seimas,  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.
The decisions of the Constitutional Court on issues assigned to its  jurisdiction  by the  Constitution shall be final and may not be appealed.
On the   basis  of the  conclusions  of  the  Constitutional Court, the  Seimas shall   have a  final decision  on the  issues set forth in part 3 of Article 105 of the Constitution.

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 Seimas according to the impeachment proceedings.  

CHAPTER 9  
THE COURT

Article 109
In the  Republic of  Lithuania, the  courts shall  have  the exclusive right to administer justice.
While administering  justice, judges and  courts   shall  be independent.
While investigating cases, judges shall obey only the law.
The court shall adopt  decisions on  behalf of  the Republic of Lithuania.

Article 110
Judges may not apply laws which contradict the Constitution.
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
The court   system  of   the Republic   of  Lithuania  shall consist of  the Supreme   Court,  the  Court of  Appeal, district courts,  and local courts.
For the  investigation of administrative, labour, family and other litigations,  specialised    courts  may    be  established pursuant to law.
Courts with  special powers  may not  be established  in the Republic of Lithuania in times of peace.
The formation  and competence  of courts shall be determined by the Law on Courts of the Republic of Lithuania.

Article 112
In Lithuania,   only  citizens  of the Republic of Lithuania may be judges.
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     Seimas     upon    the recommendation  of  the President of the Republic of Lithuania.
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 Seimas.
Judges and  chairpersons of  district courts,  local courts, and other  specialised   courts shall   be  appointed,    and  if necessary, transferred  to   other places   of  office,   by  the President of the Republic of Lithuania.
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.
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
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.
Judges may  not participate  in the  activities of political parties and other political organisations.

Article 114
Institutions of   State  power  and administration,  members of the  Seimas    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.
Judges may   not  have   legal actions   instituted  against them, nor  may they   be  arrested or  restricted    of  personal freedom without  the consent   of  the   Seimas, or in the period between sessions  of the Seimas, 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 behaviour  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 Seimas may remove them from office according to impeachment proceedings.

Article 117
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.
In the    Republic  of  Lithuania,  court  trials  shall  be conducted in the State language.
Persons who  do not speak Lithuanian shall be guaranteed the right to  participate   in investigation  and  court  proceedings through an interpreter.

Article 118
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.
Pretrial   interrogation    shall   be    carried   out   by investigators.
The procedure  for the  appointment  of  public  prosecutors and judges and their status shall be established by law.  

CHAPTER 10  
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

Article 119  
Administrative units   provided  by law  on State  territory shall be  entitled to  the right  of self-government.  This right shall be implemented through local government Councils.
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.
The procedure   for   the  organisation  and  activities  of self- government institutions shall be established by law.
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
The State shall support local governments.
Local governments   shall  act    freely  and  independently within  the   limits  of  their  competence    which  shall    be established  by  the Constitution and laws.

Article 121
Local governments shall draft and approve their own budget.
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
In higher  level administrative  units,  the  administration shall be  organised by the Government according to the  procedure established by law.
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.
The powers of Government representatives and  the procedures of their implementation shall be established by law.
In cases   and  according to procedures provided by law, the Seimas 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  organisations may be appealed against in court.  

CHAPTER 11  
FINANCES, THE STATE BUDGET

Article 125
In the  Republic of Lithuania, the central bank shall be the Bank of Lithuania, which is owned by the State.
The Bank   of  Lithuania shall have  the exclusive  right to issue bank notes.
The procedures  for the  organisation and  activities of the Bank of  Lithuania as  well as its powers shall be established by law.

Article 126
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.
The Board  Chairperson of  the Bank  of Lithuania  shall  be appointed for a  five-year term by the  Seimas on  the nomination of  the President of the Republic of Lithuania.

Article 127
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.
State budget    revenues  shall  be  accrued    from  taxes, compulsory payments,  dues, receipts  from  State  property,  and other income.  Taxes, other budgetary payments, and dues shall be established by the laws of the Republic of Lithuania.

Article 128
Decisions   concerning    State   loans  and  other    basic property liabilities  of   the State   shall  be adopted  by  the Seimas on the recommendation of the Government.
Procedures  concerning   the  management,  utilisation,  and disposal of State property shall be established by law.

Article 129
The budget  year shall begin on the 1st of January and shall end on the 31st 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 Seimas no later than 75 days before the end of the budget year.

Article 131
The draft   budget  of the  State shall be considered by the Seimas, and  shall   be approved   by law by the beginning of the new budget year.
Upon considering  the draft  budget,  the  Seimas  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
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.
During the  budget year the Seimas may change the budget. It shall be changed  according to  the same procedure  by  which  it was drafted, adopted and approved. As necessary, the  Seimas  may approve an additional budget.  

CHAPTER 12  
CONTROL OF THE STATE

Article 133
The system    and  powers    of  State    control  shall  be established by law.
State control  shall be directed by the State Controller who shall be appointed  for  a  five-year  term  by  the Seimas  upon the nomination of the President of the Republic of Lithuania.
Before taking   office, the  State Controller  shall take an oath. The oath shall be established by law.

Article 134
State control shall supervise the legality of the management and utilisation  of State  property   and the  realisation of the State budget.
The State   Controller  shall  give an account to the Seimas on the annual execution of the State budget.   

CHAPTER 13
FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL DEFENCE

Article 135
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.
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
The Seimas  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 utilisation  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 organisations; and
6) multilateral or long-term economic agreements.
Laws and   international  treaties   may provide   for other cases in which the  Seimas shall  ratify  international  treaties of  the Republic of Lithuania.
International agreements   which  are ratified by the Seimas of the  Republic of   Lithuania  shall be the constituent part of the legal system of the Republic of Lithuania.

Article 139
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.
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.
The organisation of national  defence shall  be  established by laws.

Article 140
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 Seimas  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.
The Chief  Commander  of  the  armed  forces  shall  be  the President of the Republic of Lithuania.
The Government,   the Minister  of National Defence, and the Chief Commander  of   the Army shall be responsible to the Seimas 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 Seimas 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 organisations.

Article 142
The  Seimas    shall  impose  martial  law,  shall  announce mobilisation or  demobilisation,   and shall  adopt decisions  to use   the armed  forces in   defence  of  the homeland or for the fulfillment of the international obligations of Lithuania.
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   mobilisation,  and   shall submit these decisions  to the  next   sitting of   the  Seimas; in  the period between  sessions, the President shall immediately convene an unscheduled  session of the Seimas.  The Seimas  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 Seimas  or the President shall adopt  a decision   to  extend the terms of the Seimas, the President,  and  local  government    Councils.  In  such  cases, elections must be held within three months of the end of the war.

Article 144
In the   event  that   the constitutional   system or public order of  the State   is threatened,  the Seimas  may  declare  a state   of emergency  throughout   the country,   or  in separate parts thereof, for a period not exceeding six months.
In the   event  of   emergency, and  if the Seimas 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 Seimas   for  the  consideration of this issue.  The Seimas shall  approve or abolish the decision of the President of the Republic of Lithuania.
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 of the Constitution may be temporarily restricted.

Article 146
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.
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.

CHAPTER 14  
AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION

Article 147
In order   to  amend   or append  the  Constitution  of  the Republic of  Lithuania, a   proposal  must   be submitted  to the Seimas by either no less  than one-fourth  of the  members of the Seimas, or by at least 300,000 voters.
During a   state  of  emergency or  martial law,  amendments to the Constitution may not be made.

Article 148
The provision   of  Article 1  of the  Constitution 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 favour thereof.
The provisions  of Chapter  1  ("The  State  of  Lithuania") and Chapter  14   ("Amending the   Constitution")  may be amended only by referendum.
Amendments   of other  chapters  of  the  Constitution  must be considered  and   voted upon  in the  Seimas twice. There must be a lapse of  at least  three months  between each  vote.  Bills for constitutional  amendments   shall be   deemed adopted by the Seimas if,  in  each of the votes, at least two-thirds of all the members of the Seimas vote in favour of the enactment.
An amendment   to  the Constitution which is rejected by the Seimas may  not   be submitted to the  Seimas for reconsideration for the period of one year.

Article 149
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.
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   Seimas  signs and promulgates it.
The   law   on   an  amendment  to  the  Constitution  shall become effective  no earlier  than one  month after  the adoption thereof.  

FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 150
The constituent    parts  of    the  Constitution    of  the Republic  of Lithuania shall be:
The   11   February   1991   Constitutional   Law   "On  the State  of Lithuania";
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 favour 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 Seimas  of   the Republic   of  Lithuania may, by  25 October 1993, amend  by three-fifths  majority vote  of  all  the  Seimas members the  provisions of  the Constitution  of the  Republic of Lithuania set  forth in  Articles 47,  55, 56,  in item  2 of the second part  of Article  58, in  Articles 65, 68, 69, in items 11 and 12  of Article  84, in  the first  part  of  Article  87,  in Articles 96, 103, 118 and in the fourth part of Article 119.

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.


LAW ON THE PROCEDURE FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA

Article 1
Upon the  enforcement of the Constitution  of  the  Republic of Lithuania,  the Provisional  Basic  Law  of  the  Republic  of Lithuania shall become null and void.

Article 2
Laws, other   legal  acts, or  parts thereof  which were  in effect on  the territory   of  the Republic of Lithuania prior to the adoption  of the    Constitution  of    the    Republic    of Lithuania,   shall   be effective  provided   that they   do  not contradict the  Constitution and  this   law, and   shall  remain effective until  they are  either declared  null    and  void  or coordinated with the provisions of the Constitution.

Article 3
Provisions of   the   laws  of  the  Republic  of  Lithuania which determine the  status of  the supreme institutions of State power and  administration  of the  Republic of  Lithuania as well as  the  status  of  deputies  and  local  governments  shall  be effective until the elected Seimas decides otherwise.

Article 4
The powers   of  the   Supreme Council   and  its   deputies shall  be terminated when  the elected  Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania convenes into its first sitting.
The members   of  the  Seimas of  the Republic  of Lithuania shall convene   in   a   sitting   on   the   third  working  day after   the announcement  of   the Central   Electoral Committee, following both  election rounds,  that at  least 3/5  of all  the members  of the Seimas have been elected.

Article 5
The following   text  shall   be the   established  oath  of members of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania:
"I (full name),
Swear to be faithful to the Republic of Lithuania;
Swear to   respect  and  observe its  Constitution and  laws and to protect the integrity of its territories;
Swear   to   strengthen,  to   the   best  of  my   ability, the independence  of  Lithuania,  and  to  conscientiously  serve my Homeland,   Democracy,   and  the  well-being  of  the  people of Lithuania. So help me God."
The oath may also be taken omitting the last sentence.

Article 6
The legal   situation  during the  period that  there is  no President of  the    Republic  shall    be  equivalent    to  the situation which is provided for in Article 89 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania.
As necessary,  the Seimas,  by a  majority vote of more than half of  all the   members  of   the Seimas, may prolong the term provided in Article 89 for a period not exceeding four months.

Article 7
Judges of   the  Constitutional Court  of  the  Republic  of Lithuania, including  the   Chairperson of    the  Constitutional Court, must  be appointed  not   later than  one month  after the President of the Republic is elected.
Upon the   initial  appointment   of   Constitutional  Court judges, three  of them  shall be appointed for a three-year term, three for a six-year term, and three for a nine-year term.
The President  of  the  Republic,  the  Chairperson  of  the Seimas, and  the Chair-person   of  the   Supreme  Court    shall indicate   in their  proposals to   appoint Constitutional  Court judges   which of them shall be  appointed for three years, which for six, and which for nine.
The judges  of the  Constitutional Court  who are  appointed for three  or  six-year terms  may hold  the same  office for one more term after an interval of at least three years.

Article 8
The provisions  of part  3 of Article 20 of the Constitution of the  Republic of   Lithuania shall  become applicable once the laws on  the   criminal procedure  of the   Republic of Lithuania are coordinated with this Constitution.    

VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS
President
Supreme Council
Republic of Lithuania  

Vilnius
6 November 1992
____________  
© Office of Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.


Source: http://www3.lrs.lt/c-bin/eng/preps2
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