REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA

REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA LAW ON THE STATUS OF A DEPUTY OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA Chapter 1 General Provisions Article

1. The Deputy as a Representative of the State A deputy is a member of the Supreme Council -- the supreme governmental body -- and represents the people of Lithuania. A Deputy's activities are governed by the Provisional Basic Law, by this law and other laws, by resolutions of the Supreme Council, and by his or her own conscience. Article
2. The Oath of Office A deputy of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania who is elected President, Vice President, Secretary, or member of the Presidium of the Supreme Council, or to other official posts of the Supreme Council during the sitting of the first session of the Supreme Council shall publicly and solemnly swear allegiance to the Republic of Lithuania as follows: "I (name,surname), in your presence, swear to be faithful to the Republic of Lithuania; I swear to respect and uphold its laws, to protect the integrity of its territory; I swear to the best of my ability to strengthen the independence of Lithuania, to faithfully serve my Homeland, Democracy, and the good of the people of Lithuania. So help me God." Article
3. Term of office A deputy's term of office shall be 5 years commencing from the day when the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania convenes a new session and confirms the deputy's powers. At this moment the term of office of the deputy of the Supreme Council from the prior convocation expires. A deputy's term of office may be terminated: 1) when a deputy is recalled by his or her constituents; 2) when, at the deputy's own request, the Supreme Council adopts a resolution accepting the surrender of his or her powers; 3) upon the loss of Lithuanian citizenship; and 4) upon the passage of a criminal sentence against said deputy. Article
4. The coordination of a deputy's duties with other activities A deputy may engage in labour activity only with the consent of the Supreme Council. Deputies engaged in scientific, educational, or artistic activities and who are members of unions of liberal professions do not require such consent. A deputy has the right of deciding vote on all issues under discussion, as well as the right to elect and be elected to any organ of the Supreme Council. A deputy may express his or her opinion vocally or in writing on any issue considered at a session [of the Supreme Council] as well as propose issues for consideration. A deputy may submit the text of his or her speech on the issue under consideration to the chair for inclusion into the shorthand record of a sitting. The discharging of these rights and duties is determined by the rules of procedure of the Supreme Council. Chapter 2 A Deputy's Participation at a Session Article
5. Relations with constituents A deputy is fully accountable to his or her constituents and regularly issues accounts of activities to them. A deputy who has not justified his or her constituents' trust may be recalled accoring to procedures established by law. Article
6. Provision of conditions for a deputy's activities The state must guarantee a deputy conditions necessary for effective performance of his parliamentary activities. Persons and officials hindering the execution of a deputy's powers or threatening the life, health, honour, and dignity of a deputy as the representative of the state, is held accountable in accordance with the law. Article
7. Participation in [Supreme Council] Sessions A deputy's participation at a session [of the Supreme Council] is mandatory. If the deputy is unable to participate at the sittings of a session, that deputy must inform the Supreme Council of this. A deputy has the right of deciding vote on all issues under discussion, and has the right to elect and be elected to any institution of the Supreme Council. A deputy may express his opinion vocally or in writing on any issue considered at the session as well as propose issues for consideration. A deputy may submit the text of his or her speech on the issue under consideration to the chair for inclusion into the shorthand record of a sitting. The discharging of these rights and duties is determined by the rules of procedure of the Supreme Council. Article
8. The Right of legislative initiative A deputy has the right of legislative initiative at the Supreme Council, i.e. the right to propose adequately formulated draft legislation or to submit the proposal on the adoption of concrete laws which must be considered by the Supreme Council. Article
9. The Right to Inquiry A deputy has the right submit an inquiry, vocally or in writing, to all heads and officials of state bodies of the Republic of Lithuania requesting that [these officials] reply to or expand their view on issues pertaining to their competence. The head of a state institution or the official to whom the inquiry is addressed must reply in the form required by the deputy. According to procedures established by law, a deputy has the right to raise the issue of confidence in an elected or established institution, or an elected, appointed or confirmed official, during a Supreme Council session. Chapter 3 A Deputy's Activities in the Electoral District Article
10. Meeting with Constituents, Consideration of Their Proposals, Appeals and Petitions A deputy must regularly hold meetings with his constituents in his or her electoral district. The deputy has the right to invite officials of local municipal executive bodies, managers and proprietors of enterprises, institutions, and organisations located in the electoral district to take part in the meeting. A deputy considers proposals, appeals, and petitions submitted by constituents and, on certain occasions, forwards them for consideration to the appropriate state bodies. With the assistance of experts from institutions of state control and supervision, a deputy monitors how these appeals are being resolved. Officials to whom a deputy's appeal was addressed, including citizens' proposals, appeals, and petitions, must consider them no later than within 20 days upon the receipt of these inquiries. Article
11. The Right to Participate in Meetings of State and Governing Institutions A deputy has the right to participate at the meetings of state and governing institution when issues concerning the interests of his or her constituents are addressed. Article
12. Assistance Provided for a Deputy In Activities in the Electoral District Local governments and their executive bodies, managers and proprietors of enterprises, institutions and organisations, irrespective of their jurisdiction, must provide a deputy with conditions enabling meetings with constituents, and must inform the deputy about the time and place of such meetings, and provide the deputy with other assistance and information essential for this purpose. Chapter 4 Guarantees of a Deputy's Activities Article
13. Material and Social Maintenance A deputy is paid a salary from the state budget. The procedure and amount of payment is established by the Supreme Council. A deputy has the right to have assistants and or secretaries who receive a salary from the state budget as well as assistants working on a volunteer basis. Article
14. The Right to Reception Without Delay, to Unrestricted Access to Enterprises, Institutions and Organisations A deputy has the right to be received without delay at enterprises, institutions and organisations on issues pertaining to his or her activities as a deputy and be provided with necessary information. A deputy has the right to unrestricted access to all enterprises, institutions and organisations on the territory of the Republic. The procedure of approaching enterprises, institutions and organisations, the activities of which are associated with state secrets, is established by law. Article
15. The Priority Right to the Use of Radio, Television and the Print Media A deputy has the priority right to make use of radio, television and the print media free of charge on issues pertaining to a deputy's activities. It is prohibited to edit the material submitted by a deputy without his or her consent. Article
16. Protection of Deputy's Employment Rights After the expiration of the term of office, with the exception of cases where the deputy has been recalled, a deputy must be provided with employment or post at state institutions, enterprises and organisations which he had occupied or engaged in before election. In the case that there is no such opportunity due to the abolition of his or her primary post or liquidation of an enterprise, institution, or organisation, a deputy must be provided with similar employment or post at the same enterprise, institution, or organisation or, with the deputy's consent, at another enterprise, institution, or organisation. The length of a deputy's parliamentary activities is included in the length of service of general employment. Election as deputy does not terminate membership in artistic unions and or free trade unions. Article
17. Responsibility for Ignoring a Deputy's Legitimate Request On realizing that citizens' rights and laws have been violated, a deputy has the right to immediately demand that the violation be rectified or, he may address appropriate institutions and officials. The violation must annotated in the record drawn up by representatives of lawenforcement and supervising agencies. For ignoring a deputy's legitimate demands, a guilty official may be entailed to disciplinary penalty or dismissed from his post. In cases envisaged by law legal action may be taken against said official. Article
18. Immunity A deputy may not be found criminally responsible, arrested, or his or her personal freedom may not be restrained in an administrative order without the consent of the Supreme Council, except in cases when the deputy is found in flagrant violation of the law. In such cases, the Procurator of the Republic of Lithuania must inform the Supreme Council of such a violation without delay. On receiving the consent of the Supreme Council to initiate proceedings against a deputy, the deputy may not be arrested in the building of the Supreme Council. A deputy may not be persecuted for speeches, opinions, or votes voiced at the Supreme Council. Only the Procurator General of the Republic of Lithuania has the right to initiate legal proceedings against a deputy. A deputy as a witness is not obliged to yield information, or its source, acquired while exercising his duties as a deputy. In his foreign travels a deputy is entitled to the use of a diplomatic passport. Article
19. Procedure for Obtaining the Consent of the Supreme Council to Initiate Legal Actions Against a Deputy In order to receive the consent of the Supreme Council to initiate legal actions against a deputy, or to arrest or fine him in administrative order, the Procurator General of the Republic of Lithuania must submit the motion to the Supreme Council. The Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania must considers the motion no later than within a one month period. The Supreme Council musty adopt a reasonable decision and must inform the Procurator General of the decision within three days. If necessary, the Supreme Council may reconsider its decision. A deputy has the right to be present when the Council considers the issue of his or her immunity. Article
20. Identification cards and badges A deputy is entitled to a deputy's identification card and a deputy's badge after the deputy's powers have been affirmed by the Supreme Council. A Deputy's identification card and badge is valid during the period of his term of office. Samples of deputy's identification cards and badges are approved by the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania. Vytautas Landsbergis President Supreme Council Republic of Lithuania 11 April 1990 No. I-137