Your Excellency,

Your Excellency, CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA (Adopted by the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania in the Referendum of 25 October 1992) (as last amended on 13 July 2004 No. IX-2343, No. IX-2344) THE LITHUANIAN NATION - having created the State of Lithuania many centuries ago, - having based its legal foundation on the Lithuanian Statutes and the Constitutions of the Republic of Lithuania, - having for centuries staunchly defended its freedom and independence, - having preserved its spirit, native language, writing, and customs, - embodying the inborn right of each person and the Nation 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 State under the rule of law, by the will of the citizens of the reborn State of Lithuania, adopts and proclaims this CONSTITUTION CHAPTER I 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 Nation. Sovereignty shall belong to the Nation. Article 3 No one may restrict or limit the sovereignty of the Nation or make claims to the sovereign powers belonging to the entire Nation. The Nation and each citizen shall have the right to resist anyone who encroaches on the independence, territorial integrity, and constitutional order of the State of Lithuania by force. Article 4 The Nation shall execute its supreme sovereign power either directly or through its democratically elected representatives. Article 5 In Lithuania, State power shall be executed by the Seimas, the President of the Republic, the Government, and the Judiciary. The scope of power shall be limited by the Constitution. State institutions shall serve the people. Article 6 The Constitution shall be an integral and directly applicable act. Every person may defend his rights by invoking the Constitution. Article 7 Any law or other act which is inconsistent with the Constitution shall be invalid. Only laws which have been published shall be valid. Ignorance of the law shall not exempt one from liability. Article 8 Seizure of State power or of its institution by force shall be considered anti-constitutional actions which are unlawful and invalid. Article 9 The most significant issues concerning the life of the State and the Nation shall be decided by referendum. In the cases established by law, referenda shall be called by the Seimas. Referenda shall also be called if at least 300,000 of the citizens having the voting right so request. The procedure for the calling 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-like formations. The State boundaries may be altered only by an international treaty of the Republic of Lithuania after it has been ratified by four-fifths of all the Members of the Seimas. Article 11 The administrative units of the territory of the State of Lithuania and their boundaries shall be established by law. Article 12 Citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania shall be acquired by birth or on any other grounds established by law. With the exception of individual cases provided for by law, no one may be both a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania and another state at the same time. The procedure for the acquisition and loss of citizenship 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 treaty of the Republic of Lithuania 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 coat of arms of the State shall be a white Vytis on a red field. The State coat of arms and the State flag and their use shall be established by law. Article 16 The anthem of the State shall be "Tautiška giesmė" by Vincas Kudirka . Article 17 The capital of the State of Lithuania shall be the city of Vilnius, the historical long-standing capital of Lithuania . CHAPTER II THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE STATE Article 18 Human rights and freedoms shall be inborn. Article 19 Everyone’s right to life shall be protected by law. Article 20 Liberty of an individual shall be inviolable. No one may be subjected to arbitrary detention or arrest. No one may be deprived of liberty save on the grounds and in accordance with the procedures prescribed by law. A person detained in flagrante delicto must, within 48 hours, be brought before a court for the purpose of determining, in his presence, the validity of the detention. If the court does not pass a decision to arrest the person, the detainee shall be released immediately. Article 21 The right to integrity of the person shall be inviolable. Human dignity shall be protected by law. It shall be prohibited to subject anyone to torture, injury, degrading and inhuman treatment or punishment. No person may be subjected to scientific or medical experimentation without his free and informed consent. Article 22 The private life of an individual shall be inviolable. Personal correspondence, telephone conversations, telegraph messages, and any other communication shall be inviolable. Information concerning the private life of a person may be collected only upon a justified court decision and in accordance with the law. The law and the court shall protect everyone from arbitrary or unlawful interference in his private or family life, from encroachment upon his honour and dignity. Article 23 Property shall be inviolable. Ownership rights shall be protected by law. Property may be taken over only in cases and in terms of law for a public purpose and subject to fair compensation. Article 24 A person's home shall be inviolable. Without the consent of the resident, entrance into a person’s home shall only be permitted by a court decision or in accordance with the procedure established by law when this is necessary to guarantee public order, arrest of a criminal, or save a person's life, health, or property. Article 25 Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions and freely express them. No one may be prevented from seeking, receiving and imparting information and ideas. Freedom of expression, freedom to receive and impart information may not be restricted in any way other than by law and when it is necessary for the protection of health, dignity, private life, and morals, or for the defence of the constitutional order. Freedom of expression and freedom to impart information shall be incompatible with criminal actions - incitement of national, racial, religious, or social hatred, violence or discrimination, slander or disinformation. Any citizen shall have the right to obtain, in the manner established by law, any available information concerning him from State institutions. Article 26 Freedom of thought, conscience and religion shall not be restricted. Everyone shall have the right to freely choose any religion or belief and, either alone or in community with others, in public or private, to manifest his religion or faith in worship, observance, practice or teaching. No one may coerce another person or be subject to coercion to choose or manifest any religion or belief. Freedom to manifest and spread his religion or belief may be subject only to limitations as are prescribed by law and only when this is necessary to guarantee public security, public order, health and morals, or for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of the person. Parents and legal guardians shall, without restrictions, take care of the religious and moral education of their own children and wards in accordance with their own convictions. Article 27 A person’s opinions, manifested religion or belief may not serve as a justification for the commission of a criminal offence or for failure to execute the law. Article 28 While exercising his rights and freedoms, everyone must observe the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Lithuania, and must not restrict the rights and freedoms of other people. Article 29 All persons shall be equal before the law, the court, and other State institutions and officers. No one’s rights may be restricted nor any privileges may be granted to anyone on any ground such as 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 apply to court. Compensation for material and moral damage inflicted on anyone shall be determined by law. Article 31 Everyone shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to the procedure established by law and declared guilty by an effective court judgement. Everyone charged with a criminal offence shall have the right to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal. It shall be prohibited to compel a person to give evidence against himself, his family members or close relatives. Punishment may only be imposed or applied on the grounds established by law. No one may be punished for the same criminal offence twice. Everyone who is suspected of commission of a criminal offence or who is the defendant shall be guaranteed, from the moment of detention or first interrogation, the right to defence as well as the right have a legal counsel. Article 32 Any citizen may move and choose his place of residence in Lithuania freely, and may leave Lithuania freely. No restrictions shall be placed on the exercise of these rights other than such as are in accordance with law and are necessary for the protection of the security of the State, the health of the people, or for administration of justice. No citizen may be prohibited from return to Lithuania. Every Lithuanian may settle in Lithuania. Article 33 All citizens shall have the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs, both directly and through democratically elected representatives, and the right to seek employment, on general terms of equality, in the civil service of the Republic of Lithuania. Every citizen shall be guaranteed the right to criticize the work of State institutions and their officials, and to appeal against their decisions. It shall be prohibited to persecute people for criticism. Citizens shall be guaranteed the right of petition; the procedure for exercising 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 one may be compelled to belong to any society, political party, or association. The founding and functioning of political parties and any other political and public organisations shall be regulated by law. Article 36 Prohibition of and interference with citizens assembling for unarmed and peaceful meetings shall not be permitted. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those imposed in conformity with law and necessary to protect the security of the State or public safety, public order, the protection of people's health or morals, or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. Article 37 Citizens belonging to ethnic communities shall have the right to foster their language, culture, and customs. CHAPTER III 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 protection and care of the State. Marriage shall be entered into by 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. It shall be the right and duty of parents to bring up their children to be honest individuals and loyal citizens, as well as to support them until they come of age. It shall be the duty of children to respect their parents, take care of them in their old age, and to cherish their heritage. Article 39 The State shall take care of families that raise and bring up their children at home, and shall provide support to them in the manner established by law. The law shall provide to working mothers a paid maternity leave before and after childbirth, as well as favourable working conditions and other privileges. Minors shall be protected by law. Article 40 State and municipal educational and teaching institutions shall be secular. At the request of parents, they shall provide religious instruction. Non-state educational and teaching institutions may be established according to the procedure established by law. Institutions of higher education shall be granted autonomy. The State shall supervise the activities of educational and teaching institutions. Article 41 Education shall be compulsory for persons under the age of

1. Education at State and municipal secondary and vocational schools and post-secondary schools shall be free of charge. Higher education shall be accessible to everyone according to the individual abilities of each person. Citizens who demonstrate good academic progress shall be guaranteed education at state institutions 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 ensure protection of monuments of Lithuania’s history and art as well as of other cultural monuments and treasures. The law shall safeguard and protect the spiritual and material interests of authors relating to scientific, technical, cultural, and artistic work. Article 43 The State shall recognise the traditional Lithuanian churches and religious organisations, as well as other churches and religious organisations provided that they enjoy support in society and that their teaching and practices do not contradict the law and morality. The churches and religious organisations recognised by the State shall have the rights of a legal person. Churches and religious organisations shall be free to spread their teaching, perform their rites, and have houses of prayer, charity institutions, and educational institutions for the training of the clergy. Churches and religious organisations shall be free to conduct their affairs according to their canons and statutes. The status of churches and other religious organisations in the State shall be determined by agreement or by the law. The teaching spread by churches and other religious organisations, other religious activities, and houses of prayer may not be used for purposes which contravene the Constitution and the law. There shall be no state religion in Lithuania. Article 44 Censorship of mass information shall be prohibited. The State, political parties, political and public organisations, and other institutions or persons may not monopolise the mass media. Article 45 Ethnic communities of citizens shall independently manage the affairs of their ethnic culture, education, charity, and mutual assistance. Ethnic communities shall be provided support by the State. CHAPTER IV 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 that are beneficial for the community. The State shall regulate economic activity in such a way that it would serve 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 protect the interests of the consumers. Article 47 The underground as well as internal waters, forests, parks, roads, historical, archaeological and cultural sites of State importance shall belong, by the right of exclusive ownership, to the Republic of Lithuania. The Republic of Lithuania shall have exclusive ownership rights to the airspace over its territory, its continental shelf and the economic zone in the Baltic Sea. Foreign entities may acquire ownership of land, internal waters and forests in the Republic of Lithuania in accordance with a constitutional law. Plots of land may belong to a foreign state by the right of ownership for the establishment of its diplomatic missions and consular posts in accordance with the procedure, terms and conditions established by law. Article 48 Every person may freely choose an occupation or business, and shall have the right to have adequate, safe and healthy conditions at work, to receive fair remuneration for work and be provided social security in the event of unemployment. The employment of foreign nationals in the Republic of Lithuania shall be regulated by law. Forced labour shall be prohibited. Military or alternative service, as well as labour in time of war, natural disasters, epidemics, or any other special circumstances shall not be considered forced labour. Work performed by convicted persons which is regulated by law shall not be considered forced labour either. Article 49 Every worker shall have the right to rest and leisure as well as to an annual paid leave. The length of working time shall be defined 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 Workers 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 its exercise shall be established by law. Article 52 The State shall guarantee to citizens the right to receive old age and disability pensions as well as social assistance in the event of unemployment, sickness, widowhood, loss of the 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 health-care institutions shall be established by law. The State shall promote physical education of society and shall support sports. The State and each individual must protect the environment from harmful effects. Article 54 The State shall secure the protection of the natural environment, wildlife and plants, individual objects of nature and protected areas and shall supervise a sustainable use of natural resources, their renewal and replenishment. The devastation of land and the subsoil, the pollution of waters and air, radioactive impact on the environment as well as depletion of wildlife and plants shall be prohibited by law. CHAPTER V THE SEIMAS Article 55 The Seimas shall be composed of representatives of the People - 141 Members of the Seimas who shall be elected for a four-year term on the basis of universal, of equal, and direct suffrage by a secret ballot. The Seimas shall be deemed elected when at least three-fifths of the Members of the Seimas have been elected. The procedure for election of the Members of the Seimas shall be established by law. Article 56 Any citizen of the Republic of Lithuania who is not bound by an oath or allegiance to a foreign state, and who, on the election day, is 25 years of age and has permanently been residing in Lithuania, may be elected a Member of the Seimas. Persons who have not served their sentence imposed by court, 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 on the second Sunday of October in the year when the mandates of the Members of the Seimas are about to expire. Regular elections to the Seimas following an early election to the Seimas shall be held on the date specified in paragraph 1 of this Article Article 58 Early elections to the Seimas may be held on the decision of the Seimas adopted by at least a three-fifths majority vote of the Members of the Seimas. Early elections to the Seimas may also be called by the President of the Republic of Lithuania: 1) if the Seimas failed to adopt a decision on the new programme of the Government within 30 days of its presentation, or if the Seimas, within 60 days of its initial presentation, two times in succession disapproved of the Government programme; or 2) on the motion of the Government, if the Seimas passes a motion of no confidence in the Government. The President of the Republic may not call early elections to the Seimas if the term of office of the President of the Republic expires in less than six months, also if less than six months have passed since the early 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 on the early elections to the Seimas. The elections to the new Seimas must be held within three months from the adoption of the decision on the early elections. Article 59 The term of office of the Members of the Seimas shall commence from the day on which the newly-elected Seimas convenes for the first sitting. The powers of the outgoing Members of the Seimas shall expire from the moment of opening of this sitting. A newly elected Member of the Seimas shall acquire all the rights of a People's representative only after he swears at the Seimas an oath of loyalty to the Republic of Lithuania. A Member of the Seimas who either does not swear an oath in the manner prescribed by law, or who swears a conditional oath, shall lose the mandate of a Member of the Seimas. The Seimas shall adopt an appropriate resolution thereon. When in office, Members of the Seimas shall act in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, the interests of the State, as well as their own conscience, and may not be restricted by any mandates. Article 60 The duties of Members of the Seimas, other than their duties at the Seimas, shall be incompatible with any other duties at State institutions or organisations, as well as with work in business, commercial and other private institutions or enterprises. During his term of office, a Member of the Seimas shall be exempt from the duty of doing national defence service. A Member of the Seimas may be appointed only the Prime Minister or a minister. The work of a Member of the Seimas as well as all the expenses relating to his parliamentary activities shall be remunerated from the funds of the State budget. A Member of the Seimas may not receive any other salary, with the exception of a pay for creative activities. The duties, rights and guarantees of the activities of a Member of the Seimas shall be established by law. Article 61 A Member of the Seimas shall have the right to submit an enquiry to the Prime Minister, the ministers, and the heads of other State institutions formed or elected by the Seimas. The said persons must respond orally or in writing during the Seimas session in the manner established by the Seimas. During a session of the Seimas, a group of at least one-fifth of the Members of the Seimas may submit an interpellation motion against 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 Members of the Seimas, pass a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister or a Minister. The voting procedure shall be established by law. Article 62 A Member of the Seimas shall enjoy immunity. A Member of the Seimas may not be prosecuted, arrested, nor may be subjected to any other restriction of his freedom without the consent of the Seimas. A Member of the Seimas may not be persecuted for voting or his speeches at the Seimas. However, legal proceedings may be instituted against him, as prescribed, for insult or slander. Article 63 The powers of a Member of the Seimas shall be terminated: 1) on the expiration of the term of his office, or when the Seimas, elected in an early elections, convenes for the first sitting; 2) upon his death; 3) upon his resignation; 4) when he is declared legally incapable by the court; 5) when the Seimas revokes his mandate on impeachment ; 6) when the election is recognised invalid, or if the law on election is grossly violated; 7) if he takes up or does not give up employment which is incompatible with the duties of a Member of the Seimas; and 8) if he loses citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania Article 64 Every year, the Seimas shall convene for two regular sessions - spring and autumn. The spring session shall commence on 10th of March and shall end on 30th of June. The autumn session shall commence on 10th September and shall end on 23rd of December. The Seimas may resolve to prolong a session. Extraordinary sessions shall be convened by the Speaker of the Seimas upon the proposal of at least one-third of all the Members of the Seimas, 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 by themselves on the day following the expiration of the 15-day period. Article 66 The sittings of the Seimas shall be presided over by the Speaker or Vice-Speaker of the Seimas. The first sitting after the Seimas elections shall be opened by the eldest Member of the Seimas. Article 67 The Seimas shall: 1) consider and adopt amendments to the Constitution; 2) pass laws; 3) adopt resolutions on referenda; 4) call presidential elections of the Republic of Lithuania; 5) establish State institutions provided for by law, and appoint and dismiss their chief officers; 6) approve or reject the candidature of the Prime Minister nominated by the President of the Republic; 7) consider the programme of the Government submitted by the Prime Minister, and decide whether to approve it; 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 no-confidence in the Prime Minister or a minister; 10) appoint justices and Presidents of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court; 11) appoint and dismiss the State Controller and the Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania; 12) call elections of municipal councils; 13) form the Central Electoral Committee and change its composition; 14) approve the State budget and supervise its implementation; 15) determine State taxes and other compulsory payments; 16) ratify or denounce international treaties to which the Republic of Lithuania is a party, and consider other issues of foreign policy; 17) determine administrative division 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 a state of emergency, announce mobilisation, and adopt a decision to use the armed forces. Article 68 The right of legislative initiative at 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. 50,000 citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who have the voting right may submit a draft law to the Seimas; the Seimas must consider this draft law. Article 69 Laws shall be adopted at the Seimas in accordance with the procedure established by law. Laws shall be 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 adopted if more than half of all the Members of the Seimas vote in favour; they shall be amended by at least a three-fifths majority vote of all the Seimas Members. The Seimas shall determine a list of constitutional laws by a three-fifths majority vote of the Members of the Seimas. Provisions of the laws of the Republic of Lithuania may also be adopted by referendum. Article
2. The laws adopted by the Seimas shall come into force after they are signed and officially promulgated by the President of the Republic, unless the laws themselves establish a later date for their coming into force. Other acts adopted by the Seimas and the Statute of the Seimas shall be signed by the Speaker of the Seimas. Said acts shall come into force on the day following their promulgation, unless the acts themselves provide for different procedure for their coming into force. Article 71 The President of the Republic, within ten days of receiving a law passed by the Seimas, shall either sign and officially promulgate the law, or shall refer it back to the Seimas together with relevant reasons for reconsideration. If the law adopted by the Seimas is not referred back and is not signed by the President of the Republic within the specified period, the law shall come into force after it is signed and officially promulgated by the Speaker of the Seimas. A law or any other act adopted by referendum must, within five days, be signed and officially promulgated by the President of the Republic. If the President of the Republic does not sign and promulgate such a law within the specified period, the law shall come into force after it is signed and officially promulgated by the Speaker of the Seimas. Article 72 The Seimas may reconsider and adopt the law which has been referred back by the President of the Republic. The law reconsidered by the Seimas shall be deemed adopted if the amendments submitted by the President of the Republic were accepted or if more than half of all the Members of the Seimas voted for it, and if it was a constitutional law - if at least three-fifths of all the Members of the Seimas voted for it. Such laws must, within three days, be signed and, without delay, promulgated by the President. Article 73 Complaints of citizens about the abuse of authority and bureaucracy by State and local government officials, with the exception of judges, shall be examined by the Seimas ombudsmen. They shall have the right to advise the court to remove the guilty officials from office. The powers of the Seimas ombudsmen shall be established by law. The Seimas shall also establish, as necessary, other institutions of control. Their system and powers shall be established by law. Article 74 The President of the Republic, the President and justices of the Constitutional Court, the President and justices of the Supreme Court, the President and judges of the Court of Appeal, as well as the Members of the Seimas who have grossly violated the Constitution or breached their oath, or if it transpires that they have committed a criminal offence may be removed from office by a three-fifths majority vote of all the Members of the Seimas, or their mandate of a Member of the Seimas may be revoked. This is done in impeachment proceedings which shall be established by the Statute of the Seimas. Article 75 Officials appointed or elected by the Seimas, with the exception of persons specified in Article 74, shall be removed from office when they receive a motion of no confidence from the Seimas by a majority vote of all the Members of the Seimas. Article 76 The structure of the Seimas and its rules of procedure shall be determined by the Statute of the Seimas. The Statute of the Seimas shall have the power of law. CHAPTER VI THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC Article 77 The President of the Republic shall be the Head of State. The President shall represent the State of Lithuania and shall perform all the duties with which he is charged by the Constitution and laws. Article 78 Any citizen of the Republic of Lithuania by origin, who has lived in Lithuania for at least the last three years, who has reached the age of at least 40 prior to the election day, and who is eligible to be elected a Member of the Seimas may be elected the President of the Republic. The President of the Republic shall be elected by the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania for a term of five years on the basis of universal, equal, and direct suffrage by secret ballot. 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 paragraph 1 of Article 78 and who has collected signatures of at least 20,000 voters shall be registered as a presidential candidate. The number of candidates for the post of the President of the Republic shall not be limited. Article 80 Regular elections of the President of the Republic 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 half of the voters participated, received more than half of the votes of all the voters who participated in the election, shall be deemed elected. If less than half of the voters participated in the election, the candidate who received the greatest number of votes, but not less than one-third of votes of all the voters, shall be deemed elected. If, during the first election round, no single candidate gets the requisite number of votes, a run-off shall be held 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 not more than two candidates took part in the first election round, and neither of them received the requisite number of votes, a run-off shall be held. Article 82 The elected President of the Republic shall assume office on the day following the expiration of the term of office of the President of the Republic, after he, in Vilnius, in the presence of the representatives of the People - Members of the Seimas, swears an oath to the People to be loyal to the Republic of Lithuania and the Constitution, to fulfil in good faith the duties of President, and to be equally just to all. The re-elected President of the Republic shall also swear an oath. The act of oath of the President of the Republic shall be signed by the President and by the President of the Constitutional Court, or, in his absence, by a justice 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 a pay for creative activities. A person elected the President of the Republic must suspend his activities in political parties and political organisations until the beginning of the campaign of a new presidential election. Article 84 The President of the Republic shall: 1) solve the fundamental issues of foreign policy 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 the highest diplomatic ranks and special titles; 4) appoint, subject to the approval of the Seimas, the Prime Minister, charge him to form the Government, and approve its composition; 5) remove, subject to 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 the Government to continue exercising its functions until a new Government is formed; 7) accept the resignation 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 ministers and may charge them to continue in office until a new minister is appointed; 8) upon the resignation of the Government or after it returns its powers, within 15 days, recommend to the Seimas the candidature of a new Prime Minister for consideration; 9) appoint or dismiss ministers upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister; 10) appoint or dismiss, according to the+ established procedure, State officials provided by law; 11) recommend candidatures of the Supreme Court justices to the Seimas and, upon the appointment of all the Supreme Court justices, recommend to the Seimas to appoint from among them the President of the Supreme Court; appoint judges of the Court of Appeal, and from among them, subject to the approval of the Seimas, - the President of the Court of Appeal; appoint judges and presidents of district and regional courts, and change their places of office; in cases provided by law, recommend to the Seimas to remove judges from office; appoint and remove from office, subject to the approval of the Seimas, the Prosecutor General; 12) recommend to the Seimas the candidatures of three justices of the Constitutional Court, and, upon appointing all the justices of the Constitutional Court, recommend to the Seimas, to appoint from among them, the candidate for the post of the President of the Constitutional Court; 13) recommend to the Seimas the candidatures of the State Controller and Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania; may recommend to the Seimas to express no confidence in said officials; 14) appoint or dismiss, upon the approval of the Seimas, the Commander of the Army and the head of the Security Service; 15) confer the 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 declaration of mobilisation, and submit these decisions at the next sitting of the Seimas for approval; 17) declare a state of emergency according to the procedures and in cases established by law, and submit this decision to the next sitting of the Seimas for approval; 18) make annual reports at 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, an extraordinary session of the Seimas; 20) call regular elections to the Seimas, and, in cases set forth in paragraph 2 of Article 58 of the Constitution, call early 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 pardon 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, by virtue of the power and authority vested in him, shall issue acts-decrees. In order to be valid, the decrees of the President, specified in items 3, 15, 17, and 21 of Article 84 of the Constitution, must be countersigned by the Prime Minister or an appropriate minister. Responsibility for such a decree shall lie with the Prime Minister or the minister who countersigned it. Article 86 The President of the Republic shall enjoy immunity: while in office, the President may not be arrested, prosecuted or held administratively liable. The President of the Republic may be prematurely removed from office only for gross violation of the Constitution or breach of the oath of office, also when it transpires that a criminal offence has been committed. The issue of removal of the President of the Republic from office shall be decided by the Seimas by impeachment proceedings. Article 87 When, in the cases specified in paragraph 2 of Article 58 of the Constitution, the President of the Republic calls early elections to the Seimas, the newly-elected Seimas may, by a three-fifths majority vote of all the Members of the Seimas and within 30 days of the first sitting, call an early election of the President of the Republic. The President of the Republic who wishes to stand in the election, shall be immediately registered as a candidate. If the President of the Republic is re-elected in such an election, he shall be deemed elected for the second term, provided that more than three years of his first term in office had expired prior to the election. If less than three years of the first term had expired, the President of the Republic shall only be elected for the remainder of the first term, which shall not be considered the second term in office. If an early election of the President of the Republic is called during the President's second term, the incumbent 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 his term of office; 2) when an early presidential election is held; 3) upon his resignation from office; 4) upon the death of the President of the Republic; 5) when the Seimas removes the President from office on impeachment; and 6) when the Seimas, taking into consideration the conclusion of the Constitutional Court, by a three-fifths majority vote of all the Members of the Seimas, adopts a resolution stating that the President of the Republic is unable to fulfil the duties of his office for health reasons. Article 89 In the event of the President’s death, resignation, removal from office on impeachment, or if the Seimas resolves that the President of the Republic is unable to fulfil the duties of his office for health reasons, the duties of the President shall be temporarily taken over by the Speaker of the Seimas. In such a case, the Speaker of the Seimas shall lose his powers at the Seimas, and his duties shall be temporarily performed, by the order of the Seimas, by a Deputy Speaker. In said cases, the Seimas shall, within 10 days, call an election of the President of the Republic which must be held within two months. If the Seimas cannot convene and call the election of the President of the Republic, the election shall be called by the Government. The Speaker of the Seimas shall act for the President of the Republic when the President is on a temporary foreign visit or has fallen ill and for this reason is temporarily unable to fulfil the duties of his office. While temporarily acting for the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the Seimas may neither call early 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 motion of no confidence in the Speaker of the Seimas. The powers of the President of the Republic may not be exercised in any other cases, or by any other persons or institutions. Article 90 The President of the Republic shall have his residence. The financing of the President of the Republic and of the President's residence shall be established by law. CHAPTER VII 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 recommendation of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister, within 15 days from his appointment, shall present to the Seimas the Government which he has formed and which has been approved by the President of the Republic, and shall submit for the consideration of the Seimas the programme of the Government. The Government shall return its powers to the President of the Republic after the Seimas elections or upon election of the President of the Republic. A new Government shall be empowered to act after the Seimas approves its programme by a majority vote of the Members of the Seimas participating in the sitting. Article 93 When assuming office, the Prime Minister and the ministers shall, at the Seimas, swear an oath to be loyal to the Republic of Lithuania, to observe the Constitution and laws. The text of the oath shall be set out in the Law on the Government. Article 94 The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall: 1) administer the affairs of the country, safeguard the inviolability of the territory of the Republic of Lithuania, and ensure state security and public order; 2) enforce laws and resolutions of the Seimas on the implementation of the laws and the decrees of the President; 3) co-ordinate the activities of the ministries and other institutions of the Government; 4) draw up the draft budget of the State and submit it to the Seimas; implement the State Budget and submit a report on the implementation of the budget to the Seimas; 5) draw up draft laws and submit them to the Seimas for consideration; 6) establish diplomatic relations and develop 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 during its meetings by issuing resolutions which are passed by a majority vote of all the members of the Government. The State Controller may also participate in the meetings of the Government. Government resolutions shall be signed by the Prime Minister and the appropriate minister. Article 96 The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall be jointly and severally responsible to the Seimas for the general activities of the Government. The ministers, in directing the spheres of administration entrusted to them, shall be accountable to the Seimas, the President of the Republic, and shall be 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. When the Prime Minister is not available, or when he is unable to discharge his duties, the President of the Republic of Lithuania, upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister, shall direct one of the ministers to act for the Prime Minister during a period not exceeding 60 days; when there is no such recommendation, the President of the Republic shall direct one of the ministers to act for the Prime Minister. Article 98 A minister shall head his respective ministry, resolve issues falling within the competence of the ministry, and shall also discharge other functions prescribed by laws. Only another member of the Government appointed by the Prime Minister may temporarily act for a minister. Article 99 The Prime Minister and ministers may not hold any other elected or appointed office, be employed in any business, commercial or other private institutions or enterprises, nor may receive any remuneration other than the salary established for their respective Government offices and a pay for creative activities. Article 100 The Prime Minister and ministers may not be prosecuted, arrested or have their freedom restricted in any other way without a prior consent of the Seimas, and during the period when the Seimas is not in session - without a prior consent of the President of the Republic. Article 101 Upon the request of the Seimas, the Government or individual ministers must report about their activities to the Seimas. When more than half of the ministers have been replaced, the Government must be once again granted its powers by the Seimas or else the Government must resign. The Government must also resign in the following cases: 1) when the Seimas disapproves two times in succession of the programme of the newly formed Government; 2) when the majority of all the Members of the Seimas by secret ballot passes a motion of no confidence in the Government or in the Prime Minister; 3) when the Prime Minister resigns or dies; or 4) after the Seimas elections, when a new Government is formed. A minister must resign if more than half of all the Members of the Seimas, by secret ballot, passes a vote of no confidence in him. The President of the Republic shall accept resignation of the Government or an individual minister. CHAPTER VIII THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT Article 102 The Constitutional Court shall rule on whether the laws and other legal acts of the Seimas are not in conflict with the Constitution and whether legal acts of the President and the Government do not violate the Constitution or laws. The status of the Constitutional Court and the procedure for exercising its powers shall be established by the Law on the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania. Article 103 The Constitutional Court shall consist of nine justices appointed for one nine- year term which is not renewable. Every three years, one-third of the Constitutional Court shall be renewed. The Seimas shall appoint three candidates for the post of the justices of the Constitutional Court from among the candidates nominated by the President of the Republic of Lithuania, three candidates nominated by the Speaker of the Seimas and three candidates nominated by the President of the Supreme Court; the candidates shall be appointed justices by the Seimas. The President of the Constitutional Court shall be appointed from among the justices of the Constitutional Court on the recommendation of the President of the Republic of Lithuania. Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who have an impeccable reputation, a university degree in law, and who have a record of at least ten years of work in the legal profession or research and teaching according to his qualifications as a lawyer, shall be eligible for appointment as justices of the Constitutional Court. Article 104 When in office, justices 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 assuming office, justices of the Constitutional Court shall swear an oath at the Seimas to be loyal to the Republic of Lithuania and the Constitution. Justices of the Constitutional Court shall be subject to the same restrictions on work and political activities that are applicable to court judges. Justices of the Constitutional Court shall enjoy the same immunity as is granted to the Members of the Seimas. Article 105 The Constitutional Court shall hold a hearing and rule on whether the laws of the Republic of Lithuania and legal acts passed by the Seimas are not in conflict with the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania. The Constitutional Court shall also examine whether the following are not in conflict with the constitution: 1) legal acts of the President; and 2) legal acts of the Government. The Constitutional Court shall submit opinions on: 1) whether election laws were violated during the elections of the President of the Republic or elections to the Seimas; 2) whether the health the President of the Republic of Lithuania is not preventing him from continuing in office; 3) whether international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania are in conformity with the Constitution; and 4) whether concrete actions of the Members of the Seimas or other State officials against whom impeachment proceedings have been instituted do not contravene the Constitution. Article 106 The Government, at least one-fifth of all the Members of the Seimas, and the courts shall have the right to apply to the Constitutional Court concerning the legal acts specified in paragraph 1 of Article
3. At least one-fifth of all the Members of the Seimas and the courts must apply to the Constitutional Court concerning the conformity of acts of the President with the Constitution and the laws. At least one-fifth of all the Members of the Seimas, the courts, and the President of the Republic of Lithuania may apply to the Constitutional Court concerning the conformity of an act of the Government with the Constitution and the laws. A recommendation of the President or a resolution of the Seimas to investigate the conformity of an act with the Constitution shall suspend the act. An opinion of the Constitutional Court may be sought by the Seimas, and in cases concerning the elections to the Seimas and international treaties– by the President of the Republic of Lithuania . The Constitutional Court shall have the right to refuse to accept a case for hearing or to make a conclusion if the application is not based on legal motives. Article 107 A law of the Republic of Lithuania or a part thereof or any other act of the Seimas or a part thereof , an act of the President of the Republic of Lithuania, and an act of the Government or a part thereof may not be applied from the day of announcement of the decision of the Constitutional Court that the act in question (or part thereof) is in conflict 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 are not subject to appeal. On the basis of the conclusions of the Constitutional Court, a final decision on the issues set forth in paragraph 3 of Article 105 of the Constitution shall be taken by the Seimas. Article 108 The powers of a justice of the Constitutional Court shall be terminated: 1) on the expiration of his term of office; 2) upon his death; 3) upon his resignation; 4) when the justice is incapable to hold office for health reasons; and 5) upon his removal from office by the Seimas on impeachment. CHAPTER IX THE COURT Article 109 In the Republic of Lithuania, justice shall be administered only by courts. While administering justice, judges and courts shall be independent. When hearing cases, judges shall obey only the law. The court shall hand down decisions in the name of the Republic of Lithuania. Article 110 A judge may not apply a law which is in conflict with the Constitution. When there are grounds to believe that a law or any other legal act which could be invoked in an individual case is in conflict with the Constitution, the judge shall suspend the hearing and shall apply to the Constitutional Court seeking its decision on whether the law or any other legal act in question is in conformity with the Constitution. Article 111 The court system of the Republic of Lithuania shall comprise the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, regional courts and district courts. For administrative, labour, family and cases of other categories, specialised courts may be established pursuant to law. Courts with extraordinary powers may not be established in the Republic of Lithuania in a time of peace. The composition 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. Justices of the Supreme Court as well as the President of the Supreme Court chosen from among them shall be appointed and dismissed by the Seimas subject to the recommendation of the President of the Republic of Lithuania. Justices of the Court of Appeal as well as its President chosen from among them shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Lithuania subject to the approval of the Seimas. Judges and presidents of regional courts, district courts, and specialised courts shall be appointed, and, if necessary, their places of office shall be changed by the President of the Republic of Lithuania. A special institution of judges provided for by laws shall submit recommendations to the President concerning the appointment, promotion, transfer of judges, or their removal from office. A person appointed a judge shall swear an oath, according to the procedure established by law, to be loyal to the Republic of Lithuania and to administer justice only according to law. Article 113 A judge may not hold any other elected or appointed posts and may not be employed in any business, commercial, or other private institutions or enterprises. He may not receive any remuneration other than the salary established for the judge and a pay for educational, scientific, or creative activities. A judge may not participate in the activities of political parties and other political organisations. Article 114 Interference by institutions of State government and administration, Members of the Seimas and other officials, political parties, public organizations, and citizens with the activities of a judge or the court shall be prohibited and shall incur liability provided for by law. A judge may not be prosecuted, arrested or be subjected to any other restriction of personal freedom without the consent of the Seimas, or, in the period between the sessions of the Seimas, without the consent of the President of the Republic of Lithuania. Article 115 Judges of courts of the Republic of Lithuania shall be dismissed from office according to the procedure established by law in the following cases: 1) upon their resignation; 2) upon expiry of their term or upon reaching the pensionable age determined by law; 3) for reasons of health; 4) in the event of appointment to another office or upon voluntary transfer to another place; 5) if their behaviour discredits their title of a judge; and 6) upon coming into effect of court judgements convicting them. Article 116 For a gross violation of the Constitution, breach of oath, or when it transpires that a criminal offence has been committed the President and justices of the Supreme Court as well as the President and judges of the Court of Appeal may be removed from office by the Seimas according to the procedure of impeachment proceedings. Article 117 All court hearings shall be public. In camera court hearings may be held in order to protect the secrecy of a citizen's family or private life, or where a public hearing might disclose a State, professional or commercial secret. Court hearings in the Republic of Lithuania shall be conducted in the State language. Persons who have no command of Lithuanian shall be guaranteed the right to participate in the investigation and court proceedings through an interpreter. Article 118 A pre-trial investigation shall be initiated and directed, and prosecution on behalf of the State shall be upheld by a prosecutor. In cases established by law, the prosecutor shall defend the rights and legitimate interests of the person, society and the State. When performing his functions, the prosecutor shall be independent and shall obey only the law. The Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Lithuania shall be the Office of the Prosecutor General and territorial prosecutors’ offices. The Prosecutor General shall be appointed and dismissed by the President of the Republic with the approval of the Seimas. The procedure for the appointment and dismissal of prosecutors and their status shall be established by law. CHAPTER X LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION Article 119 Administrative units of the territory of the State provided by law shall be guaranteed the right to self-government. This right shall be implemented through appropriate municipal councils. The citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and other permanent residents of an administrative unit shall be elected, under law, members of municipal councils for a four-year term on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot by the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and other permanent residents of the administrative unit. The procedure for the organisation and activities of self-governmentl institutions shall be established by law. A municipal council shall form executive bodies accountable to it for a direct implementation of the laws of the Republic of Lithuania, the decisions of the Government and the municipal council. Article 120 Municipalities shall be supported by the State. Within the limits of their competence assigned to them by the Constitution and laws, municipalities shall act freely and independently Article 121 Municipalities shall draw up and approve their budget. Municipal councils shall have the right, within the established limits and according to the procedure provided by law, to levy local fees and charges, and to provide for tax and charge reliefs at the expense of their own budget. Article 122 Municipal councils shall have the right to appeal to court for violation of their rights. Article 123 At higher level administrative units, administration shall be organised by the Government according to the procedure established by law. Representatives appointed by the Government shall supervise the observance of the Constitution, the laws and the implementation of the decisions of the Government by the municipalities. The powers of the Government representative and the procedure for their exercise shall be established by law. In cases and according to the procedure provided by law, the Seimas may temporarily introduce direct administration in the territory of a municipality. Article 124 Acts or actions of municipal councils as well as of their executive bodies and officials which violate the rights of citizens and organisations may be appealed against in court. CHAPTER XI FINANCES AND THE STATE BUDGET Article 125 The Bank of Lithuania shall be the central bank of the Republic of Lithuania, belonging to the State by right of ownership. The right of issue of currency shall belong exclusively to the Bank of Lithuania. The procedure 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 Board of the Bank consisting of the Chairman, Vice Chairmen and members of the Board. The Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania shall be appointed for a five-year term by the Seimas on the recommendation of the President of the Republic of Lithuania. Article 127 The budgetary system of the Republic of Lithuania shall consist of an independent State budget of the Republic of Lithuania and independent municipal budgets. The State budget revenue shall be raised from taxes, compulsory payments, charges, income from State property and other income. Taxes, other budgetary payments, fees and charges shall be established by the laws of the Republic of Lithuania. Article 128 Decisions concerning the State loan and other basic property liabilities of the State shall be adopted by the Seimas on the proposal of the Government. The procedure for the management, use and disposal of State property shall be established by law. Article 129 The budget year shall start on the 1st of January and shall end on the 31st of December. Article 130 The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall draw up the State draft budget and submit it to the Seimas not later than 75 days before the close of the budget year. Article 131 The State draft budget hall be considered by the Seimas and shall be confirmed by passing a law prior to the start of the new budget year . During deliberation of the draft budget, the Seimas may increase expenditure provided that it specifies the financial sources for said expenditure. Expenditure established by law may not be reduced unless said laws have been amended. Article 132 If the State Budget is not approved by the prescribed date, at the beginning of the budget year, the budget expenditure each month may not exceed one-twelfth of the State Budget expenditure of the previous budget year. During the budget year the Seimas may revise the budget. It shall be revised according to the same procedure by which it is drawn up, adopted and approved. Where necessary, the Seimas may approve an additional budget. CHAPTER XII STATE CONTROL Article 133 The system and powers of the State Control shall be established by law. The State Control shall be headed 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 assuming office, the State Controller shall swear an oath. The oath shall be established by law. Article 134 The State Control shall supervise the legality of the management and use of State property and the implementation of the State budget. The State Controller shall report to the Seimas on the annual account of the implementation of the State budget. CHAPTER XIII FOREIGN POLICY AND NATIONAL DEFENCE Article 135 In its foreign policy, the Republic of Lithuania shall adhere to the universally recognized principles and norms of international law, seeking to ensure national security and independence, well-being of the citizens and their basic rights and freedoms, and shall contribute to the establishment of the international order based on law and justice. War propaganda shall be prohibited in the Republic of Lithuania, . Article 136 The Republic of Lithuania shall participate in international organizations provided that this does not contradict the interests and independence of the State. Article 137 Weapons of mass destruction and foreign military bases may not be deployed on the territory of the Republic of Lithuania. Article 138 The Seimas shall ratify or denounce the following international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania: 1) on the redrawing of the State borders of the Republic of Lithuania; 2) on political co-operation with foreign countries, mutual assistance, as well as defence treaties related to national defence; 3) on the renunciation of the use or threat of force as well as peace treaties; 4) on the presence and status of the armed forces of the Republic of Lithuania on the territory of a foreign state; 5) on the participation of Lithuania in universal and regional international organisations; and 6) multilateral or long-term economic treaties. Laws and international treaties may provide for other cases when the Seimas ratifies international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania. International treaties ratified by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania shall be an integral part of the legal order of the Republic of Lithuania. Article 139 The defence of the state of Lithuania from a 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 do military or alternative national defence service in the manner prescribed by law. The organisation of national defence shall be established by laws. Article 140 The main issues of national defence shall be discussed and co-ordinated by the State Defence Council which consists of the President of the Republic of Lithuania, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Seimas, the Minister of National Defence, and the Commander of the Armed Forces. The State Defence Council shall be headed by the President of the Republic of Lithuania. The procedure for its formation, activities and its powers shall be established by law. The President of the Republic of Lithuania shall be the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The Government, the Minister of National Defence, and the Commander of the Army shall be responsible to the Seimas for the control and command of the State armed forces. Only a reserve serviceman may be the Minister of National Defence. Article 141 Soldiers doing actual military service or alternative service, non-reserve officers of the national defence, officers of the police and the internal services, non-commissioned officers, re-enlistees, and other paid officers of paramilitary and security services may not be Members of the Seimas or of municipal councils. They may not hold elected or appointed posts in the civil service, nor may they take part in the activities of political parties and organisations. Article 142 The Seimas shall impose martial law, call mobilisation or demobilisation, adopt decisions to use the armed forces when a need arises for the defence of the homeland or fulfilment of the international obligations of Lithuania. In the event of an armed attack which threatens the sovereignty of the State or its territorial integrity, the President of the Republic of Lithuania shall immediately pass a decision concerning defence against an armed aggression, impose martial law throughout the country or in part of the country, declare mobilisation, and submit these decisions to the next sitting of the Seimas; in the period between sessions, the President shall immediately convene an extraordinary session of the Seimas. The Seimas shall approve or overrule the decision of the President of the Republic of Lithuania. Article 143 If a regular election is to be held in time of hostilities, either the Seimas or the President shall adopt a decision to extend the term of office of the Seimas, the President, and municipal councils. In such cases, elections must be held within three months from the of the end of the hostilities. Article 144 When a threat arises for the constitutional system or public peace of the State, the Seimas may declare a state of emergency throughout the country, or in any of its parts for a period of up to six months. In cases of emergency during the period when the Seimas is not in session, the President of the Republic shall have the right to adopt such a decision, and convene, at the same time, an extraordinary session of the Seimas for the consideration of this issue. The Seimas shall approve or overrule the decision of the President of the Republic of Lithuania. A state of emergency shall be regulated by law. Article 145 After imposition of martial law or declaration of 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 take care of and provide support to the servicemen who developed a health impairment during the military service, as well as the families of soldiers who were killed or died during the military service. The State shall also support citizens whose health was impaired while defending the State, as well as the families of the citizens who were killed or died in defence of the State. CHAPTER XIV AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION Article 147 A motion calling for the amendment of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania may be put forward to the Seimas by a group of at least one-fourth of all 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 “the State of Lithuania shall be an independent democratic republic” may only be amended by referendum in which at least three-fourths of the electorate of Lithuania would vote in favour of such an amendment. The provisions of Chapter I ("The State of Lithuania") and Chapter XIV ("Amendment of the Constitution") may be amended only by referendum. Amendments of other chapters of the Constitution must be discussed and twice put to a vote at the Seimas. There must be a break of at least three months between the votes. A draft law on amendment of the Constitution shall be deemed adopted by the Seimas if, during each of the votes, at least two-thirds of all the Members of the Seimas vote in favour of the law. An amendment of the Constitution which has been overruled may be submitted to the Seimas for reconsideration not earlier than after one year. Article 149 The adopted law on amendment of the Constitution shall be signed by the President of the Republic of Lithuania and officially promulgated within five 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 Speaker of the Seimas signs and promulgates it. The law on amendment of the Constitution shall become effective not earlier than one month after its adoption. FINAL PROVISIONS Article 150 The following shall be integral parts of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania: The Constitutional Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the State of Lithuania of 11 February 1991; The Constitutional Act of the Republic of Lithuania on the Non-Alignment of the Republic of Lithuania to Post-Soviet Eastern Alliances of 8 June 1992; The Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the Procedure for Entry into Force of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania of 25 October 1992; The Constitutional Act of the Republic of Lithuania on the Membership of the Republic of Lithuania in the European Union of 13 July
4. Article 151 This Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania shall come into force on the day following the official publication of the results of the Referendum, provided that more than half of the electorate of Lithuania voted in favour of the Constitution in the Referendum. Article 152 The procedure for coming into force of this Constitution and separate provisions thereof shall be regulated by the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the Procedure for Coming into Force 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 After the adoption of this Constitution by referendum, the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania may, by 25 October 1993, amend by a three-fifths majority vote of all the Members of the Seimas the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania set forth in Articles 47, 55, 56, item 2 of paragraph 2, Article 58, in Articles 65, 68, 69, items 11 and 12 of Article 84, paragraph 1 of Article 87, in Articles 96, 103, 118 and in paragraph 4 of Article
5. Article 154 The Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania and the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the Procedure for Coming into Force of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania adopted by referendum shall be signed and promulgated within 15 days by the Speaker of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania. CHAIRMAN OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS