CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1.
The Republic of Lithuania shall be a sovereign democratic
state expressing the general will and interests of the people of
Lithuania.
Article 2.
The sovereign state power shall belong to the people of
Lithuania. The people shall express their sovereign power through
the exercise of legislative initiative, the election of deputies,
votes on constitutional matters, and democratic referenda. No one
shall have the right to restrict this power or to appropriate it.
The citizens of the Republic of Lithuania have the right to
oppose all attempts to force-fullyundermine the sovereignty and
integrity of the state of Lithuania. (Amended 28 February 1991)
The Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania, the
Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Judiciary shall
exercise state power in Lithuania.
Article 3.
Basic questions of the state and public life of Lithuania
shall be presented for public-discussion and shall be decided by
means of referenda. (Amended 23 October 1990)
A referendum shall be called by the Supreme Council of the
Republic of Lithuania on its own initiative or whenever it is
called for by three hundred thousand (300,000) citizens of
Lithuania eligible to vote.
The procedure for presenting the most important questions of
state life for public discussion and for conducting referenda
shall be established by law. (Amended 23 October 1990)
Article 4.
The territory of the Republic of Lithuania shall be integral
and indivisible; its borders may be changed only on the basis of
international agreement upon ratification by four-fifths vote of
all deputies of the Supreme Council of Lithuania.
Article 5.
Parties, public organisations and public movements shall be
created according to the procedure established by law and shall
function within the limits of the Provisional Basic Law and other
laws of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 6.
Political, professional, cooperative, public organisations
and movements, associations for the creative arts and scientific
associations, in accordance with the objectives and bylaws of
their own programmes, shall participate in the management of
state and public affairs and in the solving of political,
economic and social issues.
Article 7.
The Lithuanian language shall be the state language of the
Republic of Lithuania.
The Republic of Lithuania shall ensure the use of the
Lithuanian language in the activities of state and public bodies,
educational, cultural, scientific, industrial and other
institutions, enterprises and organisations, as well as ensure
the state's commitment to the comprehensive development and
teaching of the Lithuanian language. Conditions shall be created
for the use and development of the languages of ethnic
minorities.
Article 8.
The defence of the country shall be regulated by law. War
propaganda shall be prohibited in the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 9.
The state emblem of the Republic of Lithuania shall be the
white "Vytis" (Knight) on a red background.
Article 10.
The state flag of the Republic of Lithuania shall be its
national flag, which consists of three horizontal stripes: the
upper stripe being yellow, the middle -- green, the bottom --
red. The ratio of the width and length of the flag is 1 to 2.
Article 11.
The national anthem of the Republic of Lithuania shall be
"The National Song" by Vincas Kudirka.
Article 12.
The capital of the Republic of Lithuania shall be Vilnius,
the ancient historical capital of Lithuania.
CHAPTER 2
LITHUANIAN CITIZENSHIP
Article 13.
The attributes of Lithuanian citizenship, conditions and
procedures for receiving and losing it shall be defined by the
Law on Lithuanian Citizenship.
As a rule, a citizen of Lithuania may not be concurrently a
citizen of another state.
Lithuanian citizens abroad shall be defended and protected
by the state of Lithuania.
Immigration to the Republic of Lithuania shall be regulated
by law.
Article 14.
Citizens of Lithuania shall be equal before the law
irrespective of race, sex, social origin, economic or material
status, social views, religion or nationality.
The equality of Lithuanian citizens shall be protected in
all spheres of economic, political, social and cultural life.
Article 15.
Women and men shall enjoy equal rights in Lithuania.
The realisation of these rights shall be ensured by the
granting of equal rights to women, opportunities in obtaining
education, professional training, employment, remuneration and
promotion in work, participation in public, political and
cultural activities, as well as by special safety and health
measures in the work-place.
Motherhood and family shall be given special protection by
the state. Laws shall provide for the protection of the rights of
mothers and children, material and moral support, including paid
holidays, privileges to pregnant women and to families and
mothers with many children, benefits at the baby's birth, shorter
working hours for working mothers with young children.
The work of mothers raising two or more children at home
shall be recognised to be a socially significant activity and
shall be remunerated according to law.
Article 16.
Citizens of Lithuania of different races and nationalities
shall have equal rights. Any direct or indirect restriction of
the rights of Lithuanian citizens, any direct or indirect
establishment of privileges on the basis of social origin, public
views, beliefs or nationality, the humiliation of a citizen on
the basis of these characteristics, as well as all kinds of
propaganda of racial or national exclusiveness, discord, or
disdain shall be prosecuted by law.
Article 17.
In the Republic of Lithuania foreign citizens and
individuals without citizenship shall be guaranteed rights and
freedoms provided by law, including the right of access to courts
or other state bodies to defend their personal, property, family
and other rights.
On the territory of Lithuania foreign citizens and persons
without citizenship must observe the Provisional Basic Law of
Lithuania and other laws of the Republic of Lithuania.
CHAPTER 3
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, FREEDOMS AND
DUTIES OF LITHUANIAN CITIZENS
Article 18.
Citizens of Lithuania shall have the right to work paid on
the basis of its amount and quality; remuneration shall not be
less than the minimum set by the state; citizens shall also have
the right to choose one's profession, vocation or work according
to one's own inclination, abilities, professional training,
education and in accordance with the requirements of society.
Article 19.
Citizens of Lithuania shall have the right to rest and
recreation. This right shall be ensured by a work week of no more
than 40 hours, yearly paid holidays, paid free days every week,
as well as the expansion of the network of educational and health
institutions, development of mass sports, physical culture and
tourism, creation of favorable conditions for rest and recreation
where one resides and other conditions for the rational use of
one's free time. (Amended 11 September 1990)
The working hours and the number of free days for collective
farmers shall be regulated by the collective farm.
Article 20.
Citizens of Lithuania shall have the right to health care.
This right shall be ensured by free qualified medical care
administered by state health institutions, the expansion of the
network of health care institutions, development and improvement
of technology for ensuring safety and sanitary conditions in
industry, wide implementation of preventive measures, special
commitment to the health of the growing generation including
prohibition of child labour not connected to one's education,
promotion of research aimed at the prevention of disease,
decreasing mortality, guaranteeing long and active life
expectancy of citizens.
Every citizen of Lithuania shall have the right to a healthy
and habitable environment.
Article 21.
Citizens of Lithuania shall have the right to material
maintenance in old age, in case of illness, partial or total loss
of ability to work, as well as the loss of the family's main
source of income. This right shall be ensured by social security
for workers, state employees and collective farmers; temporary
disability benefits; by old age, disability and pensions to cover
loss of a family's main source of income, paid from the state and
collective farm funds; by employment of partially disabled
citizens; care of the elderly and invalids; and other forms of
social security.
Article 22.
Citizens of Lithuania shall have the right to housing.
This right shall be ensured by the development and
preservation of the state and public housing, support for the
cooperative and individual construction of residential housing,
the fair and publicly-regulated distribution of housing granted
through the construction programmes of well-appointed dwellings
as well as through reasonable rents and housing rates. Citizens
of Lithuania must keep the housing provided them in good repair.
Article 23.
Citizens of Lithuania shall have the right to education.
This right shall be ensured by free education of all kinds,
implementation of universal secondary education, widely developed
technical-vocational, specialised secondary and higher education;
state grants and privileges for students; free secondary school
textbooks; the possibility to receive instruction at school in
one's native language; creation of conditions for self-education.
Laws of the Republic shall provide for cases when
institutions of higher education work on the basis of academic
autonomy.
Article 24.
Citizens of Lithuania shall have the right to avail
themselves of cultural achievements.
This right shall be ensured by the fact that the assets of
Lithuanian and world culture contained in the state and public
funds are available to all; development of institutions of
cultural education and their equal distribution on the territory
of Lithuania; development of television and radio communications;
development of printed and periodical press publications; free
libraries; and the expansion of cultural exchanges with foreign
countries.
Cultural depositories, institutions and funds, supported
through state donations, fulfilling the interests and independent
activities of the public, groups, and subgroups, shall be the
nation's treasure. (Amended 23 October 1990)
Article 25.
Citizens of Lithuania shall be guaranteed the freedom of
scientific, technological and artistic creativity. This shall be
ensured by the development of research, invention, innovation,
literature and art. The state shall create material conditions
necessary for this and shall support creative unions.
The rights of authors, inventors and innovators shall be
protected by the state.
Article 26.
Citizens of Lithuania shall have the right to participate in
managing state and public affairs, in the discussion and adoption
of state laws and local decisions.
This right shall be ensured by the opportunity to elect and
to be elected to Councils of People's Deputies and other elected
state bodies, to take part in public discussions and voting, in
the work of supervisory and state bodies, social organisations
and independent public bodies, in the meetings of work
collectives and meetings in the one's place of residence.
(Amended 23 October 1990)
Article 27.
Every citizen of Lithuania shall have the right to make
proposals to state bodies and social organisations to improve
their work, or to criticize their shortcomings.
Citizens of Lithuania shall also have the right to petition,
i.e. to demand that state executive bodies resolve their socially
significant issues by legislative or other means.
Officials shall be required to consider the proposals,
applications and petitions of citizens, to answer them and to
take appropriate measures in the period of time established for
such matters.
Persecution for criticism shall be prohibited. Persons
undertaking such acts of persecution shall be subject to legal
accountability.
Article 28.
Citizens of Lithuania shall be guaranteed the right to
collect and disseminate information on all issues, with the
exception of issues related to state secrets, as well as issues
impairing the dignity and honour of the individual.
Article 29.
Citizens of Lithuania shall be guaranteed freedom of speech,
press, assembly, mass meetings and demonstrations.
The realisation of these political freedoms shall be
guaranteed by providing the citizenry and their organizations
access to public buildings, streets and squares, by providing for
the broad dissemination of information, and by providing access
to the press, television and radio. (Amended 23 October 1990)
These political freedoms may not be used to promote racial
and national enmity and anti-humanitarian views.
Article 30.
Citizens of Lithuania shall have the right to organise and
join political parties and social organisations to realise their
political, economic, ecological, scientific, cultural, religious
and other interests if they do not conflict with existing laws.
Organisations shall be guaranteed conditions for the
realisation of their stated objectives.
The procedure for creation, registration and dissolution of
political parties and social organisations shall be defined by
law.
Article 31.
In the Republic of Lithuania the freedom of thought,
conscience, and religious faith or lack of religious faith, equal
rights to profess convictions and views, singly or in groups, to
express or disseminate them by peaceful means shall be guaranteed
by law.
No one shall compel another person or himself be compelled
to speak out, conduct himself or act against one's own conscience
or convictions.
State institutions, educational and preparatory
establishments shall be secular in nature. According to the
procedure established by law these institutions and
establishments shall maintain contact with the Church and other
religious organisations in promoting morality.
The Church and other religious organisations shall have
independent legal status and they shall be guaranteed the right
to independently conduct their internal affairs.
Article 32.
The family shall be protected by the state.
Marriage shall be based on mutual consent of women and men:
the spouses shall be absolutely equal in family relations.
Article 33.
Citizens of Lithuania shall be guaranteed inviolability and
privacy.
Proceeding on the basis of the presumption of innocence, no
one shall be prosecuted as a criminal unless a basis for such
prosecution is provided by law and such prosecution is conducted
according to established procedure. No one shall be subject to
arrest except where there is a legal basis for such arrest and
such basis is supported by the court or a procurator.
Every citizen shall be guaranteed access to legal counsel
from the moment of his arrest.
Article 34.
Citizens of Lithuania shall be guaranteed the inviolability
of their place of residence. No one shall have the right, without
legal basis, to enter a place of residence against the will of
the people residing there.
Article 35.
The privacy of citizens' private life, correspondence,
telephone conversations and telegraph messages shall be protected
by law.
Article 36.
It shall be the duty of all state bodies, social
organisations and officials to respect the individual and to
protect citizens' rights and freedoms.
A citizen of Lithuania shall have the right to redress in
court infringements upon his honour and dignity, life and health,
personal freedom and property.
Article 37.
Citizens of Lithuania shall have the right to lodge
complaints concerning the actions of officials and state and
social organisations. Complaints must be processed according to
procedures established by law and within the period of time
established for such matters.
Complaints may be made, according to procedure established
by law, concerning actions of officials that violate the law or
exceed their powers and restrict the rights of citizens.
Citizens of Lithuania shall have the right to receive
compensation for damages inflicted upon them by state and social
organisations, as well as for damage inflicted by officials in
discharging their official duties.
Article 38.
The fulfillment of a citizen's rights and freedoms shall be
inseparable from the fulfillment of his duties.
A citizen of Lithuania must observe the Provisional Basic
Law of Lithuania and other laws of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 39.
A citizen of Lithuania must protect the interests of the
state of Lithuania and defend it.
Military service in the army of the Republic of Lithuania
shall be an honourable duty of all citizens of Lithuania.
Article 40.
It shall be the duty of every citizen of Lithuania to
respect the dignity and honour of other persons.
Article 41.
Citizens of Lithuania shall be responsible for the education
of their children and their preparation for socially beneficial
employment. Children must care for their parents and support
them.
Article 42.
Citizens of Lithuania shall protect, preserve and contribute
to a habitable environment.
Article 43.
It shall be the duty and obligation of citizens of Lithuania
to seek to preserve historical monuments and other cultural
assets.
CHAPTER 4
THE ECONOMY
Article 44.
The economy of Lithuania shall be based on the property of
the Republic of Lithuania, which shall consist of the private
property of its citizens, the property of groups of citizens, and
state property.
Ownership relations shall be regulated by laws of Lithuania
and shall be based on agreements between appropriate parties.
Conditions for the existence of relations of property
belonging to international organisations, to citizens and groups
(collectives) of citizens of other countries, on the territory of
the Republic of Lithuania, shall be defined by laws of Lithuania
and interstate agreements.
The Republic of Lithuania shall guarantee to all holders of
property the possibility of independent management of objects
which belong to them according to the law on property, as well as
the use and disposal of such property according to the laws of
Lithuania. To realise their rights, property owners shall have
the legal right to hire other individuals.
Uniform rights for the defence of one's property rights
shall be established for all owners of property.
The Republic of Lithuania shall defend the rights of
property owners in other countries.
Article 45.
The land, its mineral resources, inland and territorial
waters, forests, flora and fauna, and other natural resources
shall be the national wealth of Lithuania and the exclusive
property of the Republic of Lithuania. Mineral resources shall be
the exclusive property of the state of Lithuania. Other property
belonging exclusively to the Republic of Lithuania may be owned
by citizens of Lithuania and their groups (collectives).
The Republic of Lithuania shall have the exclusive right to
the air space over its territory, its continental shelf and the
economic zone in the Baltic Sea.
Article 46.
Property of the Republic of Lithuania that is state property
may, with or without compensation, become private property of
citizens or their groups according to procedures established by
law.
In exceptional cases, when it is necessary to safeguard the
interests of Lithuania, the property of citizens, groups of
citizens, as well as other states, their citizens or groups of
citizens may be nationalized, with compensation, through the
passage of a special law.
CHAPTER 5
THE BUDGET
Article 47.
The budgetary system of the Republic of Lithuania shall be
composed of separate independent state and local budgets.
The state budget of Lithuania shall consist of that part of
the national revenue which is allocated for education, science,
health care and social benefits, economic development and its
infrastructure, the support of state power and executive bodies,
and national expenditures connected with defence. Financial
resources to meet the needs of local administrative bodies shall
also be allocated through the state budget.
Article 48.
The draft budget of the Republic of Lithuania shall be
prepared by the Executive Branch of the Republic of Lithuania on
the basis of current and planned state projects and existing laws
of the Republic of Lithuania, and shall be presented to the
Supreme Council for approval. (Amended 23 October 1990)
Article 49.
The budget of the Republic of Lithuania shall be debated,
approved and amended by the Supreme Council of the Republic of
Lithuania on the basis of a report of the Executive Branch of the
Republic of Lithuania and the conclusions of standing
commissions.
During debate, the deputies of the Supreme Council of the
Republic of Lithuania may propose increases in the draft budget,
provided they are able to point to sources through which such
expenditure will be reimbursed. (Amended 23 October 1990)
The general figures of the approved budget shall be made
public.
Article 50.
The implementation of the State Budget of the Republic of
Lithuania shall be organised by the Executive Branch of the
Republic of Lithuania. (Amended 23 October 1990)
Article 51.
Accounting of the expenditures of the Lithuanian State
Budget shall be prepared by the Executive Branch to be later
considered and approved by the Supreme Council. The general
figures pertaining to the expenditures in the Budget shall be
made public. (Amended 23 October 1990)
Article 52.
Every local government shall have its own separate budget.
It shall have funds to finance social, economic and other local
programmes and to support local government offices.
Article 53.
The revenues and expenditures of the Budget of the Republic
of Lithuania shall be allocated among the constituent parts of
the budget system according to the Law on Budgeting and other
legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania.
CHAPTER 6
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURE
Article 54.
The state shall give financial aid to all students, the
disabled and citizens who are temporary unemployed.
Article 55.
Ethnic minorities comprising a significant proportion of the
citizenry shall have the right to independently manage the
affairs of their ethnic culture, education, charity and mutual
assistance. The state shall provide them with financial support.
(Amended 23 October 1990)
Article 56.
The Republic of Lithuania shall provide for the health of
its citizens and shall develop systems of social security.
Article 57.
The national educational system of the Republic of Lithuania
shall be adapted to the historical and cultural traditions of the
country and its economic trends. The educational system shall
provide the population with professional training and general
education that is necessary for the education of conscientious
and socially committed citizens.
Possibilities shall be created for citizens of other
nationalities residing in Lithuania to have preschool educational
institutions, in which their children shall be taught in their
native language, as well as training their teachers in their
native language, to develop their national culture, to learn the
Lithuanian language, and to study Lithuanian culture and history.
The organisation of the educational system shall be defined
in the Law on Education of the Republic of Lithuania. (Amended 23
October 1990)
Article 58.
The state shall be committed to the development of science
and national culture, the enhancement of spiritual values, the
preservation of the country's cultural heritage - historical,
architectural, artistic and other cultural monuments - and to use
them widely to elevate morality and the aesthetic education of
people and to develop culture.
Professional and folk art of all types shall be encouraged
in Lithuania.
Article 59.
The Republic of Lithuania shall care for the national,
cultural and educational needs of Lithuanians residing abroad.
CHAPTER 7
THE SYSTEM OF THE COUNCILS OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES
AND THE PRINCIPLES GUIDING THEIR ACTIVITY
Article 60.
Councils of People's Deputies shall be comprised of the
Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania, regional,
municipal, township and rural district councils of people's
deputies, and form a unified system of the representative state
power bodies of Lithuania.
Within their own territory, councils of people's deputies
shall be lawfully empowered to execute the will of the people,
acting on the basis of democracy and in accordance with the law.
Article 61.
The term of office for the councils shall be five years.
The date of the elections of the deputies to the Supreme
Council of the Republic of Lithuania and to the local councils
shall be announced no later than three months prior to the
expiration of their term of office. (Amended 11 September 1990)
The Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania may
surrender its powers before the expiration of its term of office.
This decision must be adopted by a majority vote of two-thirds of
the total number of the deputies. In this case, preterm elections
shall be announced, and the Supreme Council shall discharge its
functions of state government until the new Supreme Council is
elected. (Amended 11 September 1990)
Article 62.
Questions of supreme state and local importance shall be
considered and resolved at the sessions of the Supreme Council of
the Republic of Lithuania and local councils of people's
deputies.
Councils of people's deputies may form standing commissions,
they shall also form executive and other bodies accountable to
them. (Amended 23 October 1990)
Officials elected or appointed by councils of people's
deputies may not remain in office for more than two consecutive
terms. (Amended 23 October 1990)
Any official may be dismissed from his post before his term
of office expires if he does not properly fulfill his duties.
Article 63.
On their respective territories councils of people's
deputies, directly and through their institutions, shall concern
themselves with state, economic, social, and cultural affairs, as
well as make decisions and exercise control over their
implementation.
Article 64.
The activity of councils of people's deputies shall be based
on collective, free, and businesslike discussion and resolution
of all questions, on openness, on regular accounts of the
executive bodies to the councils and the people, and on the broad
involvement of the citizenry in their work.
In their activity councils of people's deputies and their
instutitions shall take public opinion into consideration, bring
before the citizens the most important state and local matters
for their consideration, and inform the public regularly about
their work and decisions.
CHAPTER 8
THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM
Article 65.
Lithuanian citizens shall be elected deputies to all
Councils of Deputies on the basis of universal, equal and direct
suffrage by secret ballot.
Article 66.
Elections of deputies shall be universal: upon reaching the
age of 18 all citizens of Lithuania shall be eligible to take
part in these elections.
A citizen of Lithuania shall be eligible to be elected a
deputy of a Council of people's deputies upon reaching the age of
18, and may be elected deputy of the Supreme Council upon
reaching the age of 21.
A deputy of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania
may not be concurrently a deputy of any other Council.
Members of the Executive Branch and the executive bodies
formed by Local Councils of People's Deputies as well as the
heads of ministries, state committees and agencies, judges,
procurators, state arbiters and other officials may not, at the
same time, be deputies of the council that elects, appoints or
confirms them.
Article 67.
Elections of deputies in electoral districts shall be equal:
every voter shall have one vote and voters shall participate in
elections on an equal basis.
Article 68.
Elections of deputies shall be direct: deputies shall be
elected directly by citizens.
Article 69.
Voting in elections shall be individual and secret; control
over the decision how to exercise one's vote shall be prohibited.
All voters shall be guaranteed the same voting conditions.
Article 70.
Political parties, social organisations, social movements
and groups of voters shall have the right to nominate candidates
for the post of deputy at their place of employment or residence.
The number of nominees for the post of deputy shall not be
restricted. Every participant in a pre-electoral meeting shall
have the right to nominate and consider the candidacy of any
citizen of Lithuania, including his own.
Any number of the candidates may be entered on the ballot.
Expenditures for the preparation and organisation of the
elections of deputies shall be paid for by the state.
Article 71.
Preparation for the election of deputies shall be open and
public.
Elections shall be organised by electoral committees formed
from the representatives of political parties, social
organisations, social movements, work collectives and meetings at
places of residence.
Citizens of Lithuania, work collectives, political parties,
social organisations and social movements shall be guaranteed the
opportunity to freely and fully consider the political,
professional and personal characteristics of the candidates
nominated to the post of deputy, as well as the right to lobby
for or against a candidate in meetings, in the press, on
television and radio.
The procedure for organising the election of deputies shall
be defined by the laws of Lithuania.
Complaints concerning violations of the election law shall
be reviewed by electoral committees and the courts of Lithuania
according to the procedure established by law.
Article 72.
Electoral councils of peoples deputies shall review the
mandates given them by their electorate, taking them into account
when drawing up the budget and preparing decisions on other
issues; they shall organise the implementation of these mandates
and shall inform the citizenry concerning their implementation.
CHAPTER 9
DEPUTIES
Article 73. Deputies shall be the authorised representatives
of the people in the Councils of People's Deputies.
By participating in the activity of the Councils, deputies
shall solve questions pertaining to the state, economic, social
and cultural work, shall organise the implementation of the
decisions of the Council, shall exercise control over the
functioning of state organs, enterprises, institutions and
organisations.
In his or her activities, a deputy shall be guided by the
interests of the state, shall take into consideration the needs
of the people of his or her constituency, shall seek to effect
the implementation of his or her constituents' mandate.
Article 74.
With the consent of the Supreme Council, a deputy of the
Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania may exercise powers
and retain primary employment. For work at the Supreme Council a
deputy shall receive a remuneration established by law.
As a rule, a deputy of a Local Council of People's Deputies
shall exercise his or her duties without interrupting his or her
work at an enterprise or office.
During periods when the Local Councils of People's Deputies
are in session, as well as at the times when a deputy must
exercise his or her duties as provided by law, the deputy shall
be relieved from work at an enterprise or an office; the expenses
connected with activities as a deputy, as well as a compensation
for wages shall be covered from the revenues of the local budget.
Article 75.
A deputy shall have the right to submit an inquiry to the
appropriate state organs and officials who shall make a reply to
the inquiry at a session of the Supreme Council or Local Council
of People's Deputies.
A deputy shall have the right to approach all state and
public bodies, enterprises, offices and organisations on issues
pertaining to his or her activities as a deputy, to obtain the
necessary information from them and to attend discussions on the
issues which have been raised. Heads of the appropriate state and
public bodies, enterprises, institutions and organisations shall
without delay receive the deputy and consider proposals within
the time frame established by law.
Article 76.
A deputy shall be guaranteed conditions necessary for
discharging his or her rights and duties effectively and without
interference.
The deputy's right of immunity, as well as other guarantees
relating to the deputy's activities, shall be established by law.
Article 77.
A deputy shall give an account of his or her activities as
well as those of the Council to constituents, collectives,
political parties, public organisations and movements which
nominated the candidate to the post of deputy.
A deputy who has not justified the trust of his or
constituents may be recalled at any time by a decision of the
majority of voters according to the procedure established by law.
When a deputy of the Supreme Council of the Republic of
Lithuania is appointed or elected to the state bodies formed by
the Supreme Council, the powers of the deputy shall be limited as
provided for by law for the period the deputy holds the said
office. (Amended 17 March 1990)
A deputy of the local council of people's deputies who gives
consent and is appointed or elected to the state bodies formed by
the same council, forfeits the powers of a deputy, and new
elections are held in the vacant electoral district. (Amended 17
March 1990)
CHAPTER 10
THE SUPREME COUNCIL
OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
Article 78.
The Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania shall be
the highest body of state power in the Republic of Lithuania. The
Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania shall have the
following powers:
1) to adopt the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania
and amend it;
2) to call for elections for deputies throughout the
Republic of Lithuania and to confirm the composition of the
Electoral Commission of the Republic; (Amended 23 October 1990)
3) to approve drafts of the basic programmes of economic and
social development of the Republic of Lithuania; to approve the
state budget of Lithuania; to exercise control over the
implementation of the programmes and of the budget; to approve
the reports on their implementation; and, when necessary, to
introduce changes in the budget;
4) to regulate property relations of in the Republic by
legislative means; to organise the management of the economy, the
social and cultural sphere, questions relating to the budgetary-
financial system, remuneration for work, pricing and taxes,
employ resources so as to preserve nature and environment, as
well as to organise the citizenry's Constitutional rights,
freedoms and duties, and other relations; (Amended 23 October
1990)
5) to interpret the laws of the Republic of Lithuania;
6) to form state bodies accountable to the Supreme Council
of the Republic of Lithuania; to establish the procedure for
creating supreme and local bodies of state power of the Republic
of Lithuania and the conduct of their activities; (Amended 29
March 1990)
7) to establish the systems of the procuracy, the Courts and
other judicial bodies of the Republic of Lithuania, and to
establish their powers and the procedure for conduct of their
activities through legislative means;
8) to elect the President of the Supreme Council of the
Republic of Lithuania;
9) to elect Vice Presidents and the Secretary of the Supreme
Council of the Republic of Lithuania;
10) to appoint the Prime Minister of the Republic of
Lithuania and other members of the Executive Branch, to make
changes within the Executive Branch, and, on the recommendation
of the Executive Branch, to establish and dissolve the Ministries
of the Republic of Lithuania; (Amended 11 September 1990)
11) to elect the Supreme Court of Lithuania and judges of
regional and city courts, to appoint the Procurator-General of
the Republic of Lithuania and his Deputies, to appoint chief
officers of state bodies accountable to the Supreme Council; to
approve the councils of the Procuracy of the Republic of
Lithuania as well as councils of other state bodies accountable
to the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania; (Amended 27
July 1990)
12) to hold regular hearings, to receive reports by
institutions established and elected by the Supreme Council, with
the exception of the Supreme Court of Lithuania, as well as
reports by officials appointed by the Supreme Council; when
necessary, to issue nonconfidence votes by secret ballot
regarding the Executive Branch of the Republic of Lithuania and
other institutions formed by the Supreme Council or regarding any
of their members, with the exception of the Supreme Court of
Lithuania; (Amended 23 October 1990)
13) to establish appropriate measures to guarantee state
security and public order; to consider, when necessary, issues
concerning ethnic and inter-ethnic relations;
14) to reapportion the administrative-territorial structure
of the Republic of Lithuania and to establish the procedure for
resolving these matters; (Amended 23 October 1990)
15) to change the names of administrative-territorial units
and to change their status; to resolve other matters relating to
the administrative-territorial structure; (Amended 23 October
1990)
16) to consider matters relating to the foreign policy of
the Republic of Lithuania; to establish the basic principles of
foreign policy of the Republic of Lithuania; (Amended 23 October
1990)
17) to ratify and renounce international treaties of the
Republic of Lithuania;
18) to establish state awards of the Republic of Lithuania;
19) to adopt a decision to hold referenda on its own
initiative or on the demand of at least three hundred thousand
(300,000) citizens of the Republic of Lithuania; (Amendment 23
October 1990)
20) to issue acts of amnesty;
21) to repeal directives and decrees of the Executive
Branch, as well as decisions of regional councils and municipal
councils of the Republic if they conflict with existing
legislation; (Amended 23 October 1990)
22) to resolve other significant issues of state.
The Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania shall adopt
the laws and resolutions of the Republic of Lithuania.
Laws of the Republic of Lithuania may also be adopted by
referendum. (Amended 23 October 1990)
Article 79.
The Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania shall be
composed of 141 deputies elected in voting districts having an
equal number of voters.
The Supreme Council, on receiving the report of its Mandates
Committee, shall affirm the powers of the deputies. In the event
of a violation of the election law in any of the voting districts
which has a decisive effect upon the returns of the election, the
election of a deputy in this voting district shall be considered
invalid.
Article 80.
The Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania shall meet
on an annual basis for its regular spring and autumn sessions.
The spring session shall open on March 10 and close on June 30;
the autumn session shall open on September 10 and end on December
23. The Supreme Council may on its own decision extend the period
of the session. (Amended 11 September 1990)
Special sessions shall be called by the Presidium of the
Supreme Council either on its initiative or at the request of no
less than one-third of the Supreme Council deputies.
A session of the Supreme Council of the Republic of
Lithuania shall consist of the sittings of the Supreme Council,
as well as of the sittings of the standing committees which shall
be held in the period between them. The session shall open and
close at the sittings of the Supreme Council.
The sittings of the Supreme Council shall be presided over
by the President of the Supreme Council or his Deputy. On the
instruction of the President of the Supreme Council, the sittings
of the Supreme Council may be presided over by the Assistant to
the Presiding Chairman of Plenary Sittings or his deputies
elected by the Supreme Council. (Amended 29 March 1990)
The first session of the newly-elected Supreme Council shall
be convened upon the expiration of the term of office of the
previous Supreme Council, providing no less than two-thirds of
the total number of the deputies have been elected. (Amended 11
September 1990)
The first sitting of the Supreme Council following the
election shall be opened by the Chairman of the Electoral
Commissions, and thereafter, presided over by the President of
the Supreme Council or his Deputy.
A session of the Supreme Council shall be valid if it is
attended by no less than two-thirds of all the deputies of the
Supreme Council.
Article 81.
The right of legislative initiative at the Supreme Council
shall reside with the deputies of the Supreme Council of the
Republic of Lithuania, the Supreme Council Presidium, the
President of the Supreme Council, the standing committees of the
Supreme Council, the Executive Branch, the Supreme Court, and the
Procurator-General of the Republic of Lithuania. (Amended 23
October 1990; 27 July 1990 )
The right of legislative initiative shall also reside with
national institutions of political parties and social public
organisations.
Article 82.
Draft laws and other issues submitted to the Supreme Council
for consideration shall be given a preliminary review at its
sittings; thereafter they shall be reviewed in more depth by one
or more of the several committees of the Supreme Council.
Discussion of these draft laws and other matters shall
continue at the sittings of the Supreme Council after hearing the
conclusions and recommendations of the corresponding committees.
Laws, decisions or any other acts of the Republic of
Lithuania shall be adopted by a majority of the deputies present
and voting at the session of the Supreme Council.
Draft laws and other major issues of state and public life
in the Republic may be, upon the decision of the Supreme Council,
submitted for public discussion. (Amended 11 September 1990)
Article 83.
Laws of the Republic of Lithuania, resolutions and other
acts of the Supreme Council shall be published after they are
signed by the President of the Supreme Council.
Article 84.
The Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Republic of
Lithuania shall be a body accountable to the Supreme Council,
guaranteeing the organisation of work for the Supreme Council and
performing other powers within the limits of the Provisional
Basic Law of Lithuania and other laws.
The Presidium of the Supreme Council shall consist of the
following: the President of the Supreme Council, Vice Presidents
of the Supreme Council, the Secretary of the Supreme Council, and
chairmen of the standing committees of the Supreme Council.
The Supreme Council may decide to include other members to
the Presidium who shall be chosen from among the other deputies
of the Supreme Council.
The Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Republic of
Lithuania shall be chaired by the President of the Supreme
Council, or in his absence, by his Deputy. (Amended 29 March
1990)
Article 85.
The Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Republic of
Lithuania shall:
1) call the first session of the new Supreme Council;
(Amended 11 September 1990)
2) organise preparations for Supreme Council sessions;
3) coordinate the activities of the standing committees of
the Supreme Council;
4) help, as necessary, the deputies of the Supreme Council
to carry out their powers;
5) solve problems of rendering procedural assistance to
Local Councils of People's Deputies;
6) assist in organising and conducting referenda and public
discussions of draft laws of the
Republic of Lithuania and other major concerns of state and
public life of the Republic;
(Amended 23 October 1990)
7) grant citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania; decide on
the issues of loss of citizenship of
Lithuania and the granting of asylum;
8) grant awards and confer honorary titles of the Republic
of Lithuania;
9) grant pardon to persons who have been sentenced by courts
of Lithuania;
9a) submit candidates for the Supreme Court and its court
assessors to the Supreme Council; (Amended 23 October 1990)
10) appoint and recall Lithuanian diplomatic representatives
in foreign countries and at international organisations;
11) accept the letters of credence and recall of the
diplomatic representatives of foreign countries;
11a) confer and remove the highest diplomatic ranks of the
Republic of Lithuania; (Amended 23 October 1990)
12) carry out other instructions of the Supreme Council.
The Presidium of the Supreme Council shall issue nonbinding
decrees and adopt resolutions.
Upon the expiration of the term of the Supreme Council, the
Presidium of the Supreme Council shall retain its powers until
the newly elected Supreme Council convenes for its first session
and forms a new Presidium.
Article 86.
The President of the Supreme Council of the Republic of
Lithuania shall be the highest official representative of the
Republic of Lithuania and shall represent the Republic in
international relations.
The President of the Presidium of the Supreme Council shall
be elected by the Supreme Council from among the deputies of the
Supreme Council by secret ballot for a term of five years and for
no longer than two terms in succession. The President may be
recalled by secret ballot of the Supreme Council.
The President of the Supreme Council shall be accountable to
the Supreme Council.
Article 87.
The President of the Supreme Council shall:
1) preside over the preparation of questions which are to be
discussed by the Supreme Council; sign the laws of the Republic
of Lithuania and other acts passed by the Supreme Council and the
Presidium of the Supreme Council;
2) present to the Supreme Council reports on the situation
of the Republic and on important questions of domestic and
foreign policy of Lithuania;
3) recommend, for the consideration of the Supreme Council,
candidates to the posts of Vice President and Secretary of the
Supreme Council;
4) recommend, for the consideration of the Supreme Council,
candidates for the appointment or election to the posts of the
Prime Minister of Lithuania, the Chairman of the Supreme Court of
Lithuania, the Procurator-General of the Republic of Lithuania,
heads of other state institutions accountable to the Supreme
Council; (Amended 27 July 1990)
5) hold talks and sign international treaties of Lithuania,
submitting them for ratification to the Supreme Council.
The President of the Supreme Council shall issue directives.
The Vice Presidents (or Deputies to the President) of the
Supreme Council shall exercise, as assigned by the President, a
portion of the President's functions and act for him in his
absence or when he is unable to perform his duties.
Article 88.
The Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania shall elect
from the deputies of the Supreme Council standing committees for
drafting laws, for preliminary consideration and preparation of
issues within the Supreme Council's competence, for facilitating
the implementation of laws of the Republic of Lithuania and
resolutions of the Supreme Council, and for supervising the
activities of state organisations. (Amended 23 October 1990)
The Supreme Council shall establish, when necessary,
investigative, auditing and other committees on any questions.
Article 89.
Officials who are members of the Executive Branch of the
Republic of Lithuania, heads of other state institutions
established by the Supreme Council, judges of the Supreme Court
of Lithuania, and members of the council of the Procuracy of the
Republic of Lithuania and State Arbitration Board of Lithuania
shall be elected and appointed based on the recommendations of
the appropriate standing committees of the Supreme Council.
(Amended 23 October 1990)
The newly elected Supreme Council of the Republic of
Lithuania may appoint the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime
Ministers before the standing committees of the Supreme Council
are established. (Amended 23 October 1990)
All state and public bodies organisations and officials
shall carry out the instructions of the Supreme Council
Committees, submitting all necessary information and documents to
them.
Recommendations of the Committees shall be discussed by
state and public institutions and organisations. The latter shall
inform the Committees within the time period specified by them of
the results of discussions and measures that have been adopted.
Article 90.
A deputy of the Supreme Council shall have the right during
sessions to submit an inquiry to the Executive Branch of the
Republic of Lithuania, its members, to heads of other
institutions established or elected by the Supreme Council. The
institution or official, upon receipt of an inquiry, shall make
an oral or written reply at the same session of the Supreme
Council, no later than within three days or according to other
procedures established by the Supreme Council. (Amended 11
September 1990)
A deputy of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania
shall not be found criminally responsible, arrested, fined in an
administrative order without the consent of the Supreme Council,
and during the period between sessions - without the consent of
the Presidium of the Supreme Council.
Article 91.
The procedure for the activities of the Supreme Council and
its institutions shall be established by the rules of procedure
of the Supreme Council and by other laws of the Republic of
Lithuania on the basis of the Provisional Basic Law of the
Republic of Lithuania.
Article 92.
The Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania shall
exercise control over the activities of all state institutions
accountable to it.
For exercising the functions of state control the Supreme
Council shall establish control institutions. The procedure for
their organisation and activities shall be defined by law.
CHAPTER 11
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF
THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
Article 93.
Executive power of the Republic of Lithuania shall be vested
in the Executive Branch. The Executive Branch of the Republic of
Lithuania shall consist of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime
Ministers, and ministers. (Amended 23 October 1990)
Article 94.
The Prime Minister shall head and represent the Executive
Branch.
The Prime Minister shall be approved by the Supreme Council
on the recommendation of the President of the Supreme Council.
Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers shall be approved on the
recommendation of the Prime Minister. The order of the Executive
Branch formation shall be established by the Law on the
Government and the Rules of Procedure of the Supreme Council.
(Amended 11 September 1990)
Article 95.
The Executive Branch of the Republic of Lithuania shall be
responsible to the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania
and shall be accountable to it; and during the period between the
sessions of the Supreme Council - to the Presidium of the Supreme
Council. (Amended 23 October 1990)
The Executive Branch shall make regular reports on its work
to the Supreme Council and must have its confidence. If the
Supreme Council by a majority of the total number of the deputies
by a secret ballot expresses nonconfidence in the Executive
Branch or an individual minister, the entire Executive Branch or
that minister must resign. (Amended 23 October 1990; 8 January
1991)
Article 96.
When the Prime Minister is unable to exercise his duties or
when the Prime Minister designates a Deputy Prime Minister to act
for him, the latter shall act in his stead.
Article 97.
The Executive Branch of the Republic of Lithuania, on the
basis of the legal acts of Lithuania and through the execution of
this statutes, shall adopt decisions and issue directives, and
shall organise and supervise their enforcement. (Amended 23
October 1990)
Decisions and directives of the Executive Branch shall be
enforceable throughout the Republic. (Amended 23 October 1990)
Article 98.
Within the limits of its competence the Executive Branch of
the Republic of Lithuania shall have the right to repeal the acts
of ministries and other institutions subordinate to it. The
Executive Branch shall have the right to appeal at the Supreme
Council against the decisions of a higher level local council if
these decisions contradict the laws of Lithuania. (Amended 23
October 1990)
In cases provided for by the laws of Lithuania, the
Executive Branch may suspend and protest the decisions of the
local governing institutions in this council. In the event of a
dispute, the Supreme Council adopts a final decision. (Amended 23
October 1990)
Article 99.
The Executive Branch shall hand over its mandate to the
newly elected Supreme Council at its first session. (Amended 23
October 1990)
Article 100.
The composition of the Executive Branch, its powers and
principles of its activity shall be described in the Law on the
Government.
CHAPTER 12
LOCAL COUNCILS OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES
Article 101.
The Republic of Lithuania shall establish its
administrative-territorial division.
The Republic of Lithuania shall be divided into the
following territorial units:
The Regions of: Akmene, Alytus, Anyksciai, Birzai, Ignalina,
Jonava, Joniskis, Jurbarkas, Kaisiadorys, Kaunas, Kedainiai,
Kelme, Klaipeda, Kretinga, Kupiskis, Lazdijai, Marijampole,
Mazeikiai, Moletai, Pakruojis, Pasvalys, Panevezys, Plunge,
Prienai, Radviliskis, Raseiniai, Rokiskis, Skuodas, Sakiai,
Salcininkai, Siauliai, Silale, Silute, Sirvintos, Svencionys,
Taurage, Telsiai, Trakai, Ukmerge, Utena, Varena, Vilkaviskis,
Vilnius, Zarasai;
Towns under the Republic's jurisdiction: Vilnius, Alytus,
Birstonas, Druskininkai, Marijampole, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Neringa,
Palanga, Panevezys, Siauliai. (Amended 23 October 1990)
Article 102.
The Councils of People's Deputies shall be the institutions
of state power in the regions, municipalities, townships and
rural territorial units.
Article 103.
The Local Councils of People's Deputies, guided by the state
interests, the interests of the citizens residing on the
territory of the Council, and by the principles of local
government, shall resolve all local issues, implement the
decisions of the higher state institutions, consider issues of
state importance and offer their proposals on these issues.
The Local Councils of People's Deputies shall preside over
the state, economic, social and cultural activities on their
territory, approve the local budget and the report on its
implementation; shall direct their subordinate institutions,
enterprises and organizations, exercise control over the
institutions, enterprises and organizations on their territory,
ensure that the Provisional Basic Law and other Laws, are
observed, and ensure state and public order as well as the
protection of citizens' rights.
Article 104.
Within the limits of their powers the Local Councils of
People's Deputies shall ensure coordinated economic and cultural
development on their territory, assume responsibility over
observance of the laws by the enterprises, institutions and
organisations under the jurisdiction of higher institutions on
their territory. They shall coordinate and control their work in
the spheres of the use of land and its natural wealth, the
protection of the environment, construction, the use of labour
resources, protection of historical and cultural monuments,
production of consumer goods, of social, cultural, domestic and
other services.
Article 105.
The Local Councils of People's Deputies shall adopt
resolutions within the limits of their powers granted to them by
the laws of Lithuania. The resolutions of the Local Councils
shall be observed by all the enterprises, institutions and
organisations on their territory, as well as by officials and
citizens.
Article 106.
The Local Councils of People's Deputies shall have the right
to consider and resolve at their sessions any issues assigned to
them by law. Those questions which must be submitted for
discussion and decided exclusively at the sessions of these
Councils shall be defined by law.
Article 107.
The Local Councils of the People's Deputies shall elect,
from among the deputies, standing committees for preliminary
consideration and preparation of issues which are within the
competence of the Local Councils, as well as for coordination of
the implementation of the decisions of the Councils, and the
control of the activity of state institutions, enterprises,
institutions and organisations.
The recommendations of the standing committees of the Local
Councils must be reviewed by the appropriate state and social
institutions, enterprises, and organisations. The results of such
a review or adopted measures taken must be communicated to the
committees within the specified time frame.
Article 108.
Lower level Councils of People's Deputies of local
government shall have the right to protest to the Supreme Council
the decisions adopted by higher level local governments regarding
issues within the exclusive competence of the lower level local
government.
The higher level Council of People's Deputies shall have the
right to suspend the decisions of the lower level local
government institutions if they contradict the laws of Lithuania.
In the event of a dispute, the Supreme Council shall resolve the
issue.
Article 109.
The Local Councils of People's Deputies shall work in close
cooperation with public organisations and work collectives, shall
submit significant issues for general public discussion, include
them in the activities of the standing committees, of other
institutions accountable to the councils, direct the work of the
local voluntary associations and promote social initiatives of
the people.
CHAPTER 13
EXECUTIVE INSTITUTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Article 110.
To fulfill the Laws of Lithuania, as well as the decisions
of the Local Councils of People's Deputies, the Local Councils
shall form institutions of management subordinate to them.
Article 111.
After the expiration of the term of the Local Councils, the
institutions of management shall retain their powers until the
formation of institutions of management by newly elected Local
Councils.
Article 112.
The procedure for establishing local institutions of
management shall be provided for by the laws on local government
of Lithuania.
CHAPTER 14
COURT AND ARBITRATION
Article 113.
Justice in the Republic of Lithuania shall be exercised
solely by the court. Courts with extraordinary powers may not be
established in Lithuania.
The courts of the Republic of Lithuania shall be the Supreme
Court of Lithuania and district (town) courts.
The procedures for the organisation and functioning of the
courts of Lithuania shall be established by law.
Article 114.
The courts of Lithuania shall be composed of elected judges
and court assessors.
The Judges of the district (town) courts and of the Supreme
Court of Lithuania shall be appointed by the Supreme Council of
the Republic of Lithuania.
The assessors of the district (town) courts shall be elected
by the Local Councils of People's Deputies, and assessors of the
Supreme Court of Lithuania - by the Supreme Council.
The Judges of the courts shall be elected for a term of ten
years, assessors of the courts - for a term of five years.
The Judges and assessors of the court shall be accountable
to the institutions of power which elected them and may be
recalled according to the procedure established by law.
Article 115.
The Supreme Court of Lithuania shall be the highest judicial
power in the Republic of Lithuania, exercising justice and
supervising the activities of the courts in Lithuania in the
procedure established by the laws of Lithuania.
The Supreme Court of Lithuania shall be composed of a
Chairman, deputy chairmen, judges and court assessors.
Article 116.
Civilian and criminal cases shall be tried in courts
together, excluding such cases as are established by law.
In exercising justice, the court assessors shall have all
the rights of a judge.
Article 117.
The judges and court assessors shall be independent and obey
only the law.
The judges and court assessors shall be guaranteed
conditions for the unobstructed and effective exercise of their
rights and duties.
Interference by state and management institutions, by
political parties, public organisations, public movements,
persons in official positions, and other citizens, into the
activities of the judges and court assessors when they are
exercising justice, shall be prohibited and shall be subject to
criminal liability in the manner established by law.
Inviolability of the judges and court assessors as well as
other guarantees of their immunity shall be established by the
law on the Lithuanian Court System and the Status of Judges and
by other statutes of Lithuania.
Article 118.
All citizens of Lithuania shall be equal before the law and
the court.
Article 119.
All courts shall hold public hearings of cases. A closed
hearing of a case in a court shall be permitted for instances
provided for by law if all the rules of procedure are observed.
Article 120.
A person against whom a legal action has been taken shall be
guaranteed the right to legal defense from the moment of arrest.
(Amended 23 October 1990)
Article 121.
A court hearing in the Republic of Lithuania shall be
conducted in the Lithuanian language. Persons participating in
the case, unfamiliar with the Lithuanian language, shall be given
the right to obtain full information on the materials of the
case, to participate in the court proceedings via an interpreter
and the right to use his native language in court.
Article 122.
A person shall be presumed innocent unless his guilt is
proven through procedure established by law and recognised as
established by a court sentence. Court sentences shall be passed
in the name of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 123.
Legal aid to citizens and organisations shall be provided by
the Council of Lawyers of the Republic of Lithuania. In cases
specified by law, legal aid to the citizenry shall be provided
free of charge. (Amended 23 October 1990)
The rules for the organisation and activity of the Council
of Lawyers shall be governed by the Law on Legal Defence of the
Republic of Lithuania. (Amended 23 October 1990)
Article 124.
Economic disputes between enterprises, institutions and
organisations shall be resolved by state arbitration institutions
in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Lithuania.
(Amended 23 October 1990)
CHAPTER 15
THE PROCURACY
Article 125.
The highest supervisory institution over the precise and
uniform observance of the law by all ministries, departments,
enterprises, institutions and organisations, the executive
institutions of the Local Councils of People's Deputies,
collective farms, cooperative and other public organisations,
officials, and citizens on the territory of Lithuania, shall be
exercised by the Procurator-General of the Republic of Lithuania
and lower procurators subordinate to him. (Amended 27 July 1990)
Article 126.
On the recommendation of the President of the Supreme
Council of the Republic of Lithuania, the Procurator-General of
the Republic of Lithuania shall be appointed by the Supreme
Council to which he shall be responsible and accountable.
(Amended 27 July 1990)
Article 127.
The Deputies to the Procurator-General of the Republic of
Lithuania shall be appointed by the Supreme Council on the
recommendation of the Procurator-General. (Amended 27 July 1990)
The procurators of the districts and towns shall be
appointed by the Procurator-General of the Republic of Lithuania.
(Amended 27 July 1990)
Article 128.
The term of office of the Procurator-General of the Republic
of Lithuania, his deputies and of all lower procurators shall be
five years. (Amended 27 July 1990)
Article 129.
The institutions of the procuracy of Lithuania shall
exercise their powers independently of the institutions of state
executive power and local institutions of power; they shall be
accountable only to the Procurator-General of the Republic of
Lithuania. (Amended 27 July 1990)
The mechanism of organisation and functioning of the
Procuracy shall be established by the Law on the Procuracy of the
Republic of Lithuania. (Amendment 27 July 1990)
CHAPTER 16
CONCLUDING PROVISIONS
Article 130.
All laws of Lithuania and other acts of state institutions
shall be issued on the basis of this Provisional Basic Law and in
accordance with it.
Article 131.
The Provisional Basic Law of the Republic of Lithuania shall
be altered on the decision of the Supreme Council of the Republic
of Lithuania, adopted by no less than a two-thirds majority of
the entire number of the deputies of the Supreme Council or by a
referendum.
Article 132.
The proposal to alter or amend the Provisional Basic Law
shall be considered by the Supreme Council of the Republic of
Lithuania when it is presented by a standing committee or by no
less than one-fifteenth of the deputies of the Supreme Council,
or by the Executive Branch. (Amended 11 September 1990)
Vytautas Landsbergis
President Supreme Council
Republic of Lithuania
11 March 1990
No. I-14