SEIMAS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA

(3)of this Statute, regarding the state of health of the President of the Republic, the Seimas may appeal to the Constitutional Court with the resolution adopted by a majority vote of more than half of all the Seimas members, requesting to present a conclusion whether, according to the state of his health, the President of the Republic is able to discharge his duties. 5. Upon the receipt of the conclusion of the Constitutional Court, specified in paragraph 4 of this Article, the Seimas shall consider it at a plenary or extraordinary Seimas sitting during the session, or at an extraordinary session during the period between the sessions. Upon having resolved by a 3/5 majority vote of all the Seimas members that the President of the Republic is unable to discharge his duties due to the state of health, the Seimas shall adopt a resolution specified in paragraph 7 of this Article. 6. Following the adoption of the resolution on the removal of the President of the Republic from office according to impeachment proceedings, the Seimas shall adopt a resolution, specified in paragraph 7 of this Article at the same or an extraordinary sitting. 7. In the cases established in this Article, the resolution adopted by the Seimas shall indicate the circumstances on which the Seimas resolution is based, the appointment of the Chairman of the Seimas to temporarily act for the President of the Republic, and the appointment of a Deputy Chairman of the Seimas to temporarily act for the Chairman of the Seimas. The Seimas resolution shall enter into force from the date of its adoption. It shall be published in the Valstybės žinios (the Official Gazette) in the manner prescribed by law; it shall also be broadcast on the Lithuanian national radio and television on the date of its adoption, as well as though other means of the mass media. Article 292. Temporary Deputising for the President of the Republic 1. The Chairman of the Seimas shall temporarily deputise for the President of the Republic in the following cases, specified in paragraph 2 of Article 89 of the Constitution: 1) when the President of the Republic is temporarily absent beyond the boundaries of the country and by reason thereof is temporarily unable to discharge the duties of his office; 2) when the President of the Republic has fallen ill and by reason thereof is temporarily unable to discharge the duties of his office. 2. The Chairman of the Seimas shall temporarily deputise for the President of the Republic after the entry into force of a decree of the President of the Republic whereby the Chairman of the Seimas is appointed to temporarily deputise for the President of the Republic due to the latter’s temporary absence beyond the boundaries of the country or his illness. 3. In the cases referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article the Seimas shall adopt a resolution regarding the temporary deputising for the President of the Republic. No discussions shall be held at a Seimas sitting on the issue of the necessity to adopt a Seimas resolution. A Seimas resolution shall enter into force on the date of its adoption. 4. In the cases referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article the Chairman of the Seimas shall have retain the powers of the Chairman of the Seimas. 5. When the circumstances specified in paragraph 1 of this Article are no longer present, the Chairman of the Seimas shall cease to deputise for the President of the Republic. Article 293. Setting up a Commission of Doctors 1. When solving an issue whether the President of the Republic is able to carry out the duties of his office due to the state of health, the Seimas, shall, be its resolution, approve a commission of doctors consisting of at least 5 members, which shall present to the Seimas the conclusions regarding the state of health of the President of the Republic. Candidatures of Commission members shall be nominated to the Seimas by the Seimas Board. 2. The Commission indicated in paragraph 1 of this Article must be approved not later than within 24 hours and its conclusions must be presented to the Seimas within the shortest possible period of time. Article 30. Powers of the Deputy Chairmen of the Seimas 1. The Deputy Chairmen of the Seimas shall carry out the functions assigned to them by the Chairman of the Seimas. 2. The Deputy Chairmen of the Seimas shall within 24 hours sign the minutes of Seimas sittings, as well as the decision of the Board of the Seimas, provided they have presided over those sittings upon the Chairman’s of the Seimas charge. 3. In the event that the Chairman of the Seimas is temporarily away or has been taken ill and is unable because of that to execute his duties, the first Deputy Chairman of the Seimas or another Deputy Chairman of the Seimas, at the behest of the Seimas, shall deputise for him during such period. 4. In the cases specified in Article 291 of this Statute, the Deputy Chairman of the Seimas whom the Seimas appointed to temporarily act as Chairman of the Seimas, shall carry out such duties until the Chairman of the Seimas will start again to execute his duties. 5. The resolution (preliminary or adopted for a concrete case) concerning the temporary performance of the duties of the Chairman of the Seimas or deputising for him shall be adopted by the Seimas on the motion of the Chairman of the Seimas. Article 31. Chancellor of the Seimas 1. The Chancellor of the Seimas shall be a civil servant - head of the institution who shall be responsible and accountable to the Seimas and the Board of the Seimas. 2. The Chancellor of the Seimas shall be the head of the Office of the Seimas. The Chancellor of the Seimas shall, in the manner prescribed by law, be appointed to office for the period of 5 years, and dismissed from office by the Seimas on the recommendation of the Chairman of the Seimas. 3. A Seimas member may not be Seimas Chancellor. 4. The position of Seimas Chancellor shall be incompatible with participation in the activities of political parties or political organisations. 5. The Chancellor of the Seimas shall: 1) supervise the drafting of documents of the Seimas and the Board of the Seimas; 2) supervise the consideration of issues, inquiries and interpellations submitted to the Government members and heads of other State institutions and furnish related information to Seimas Members; 3) consider the issues raised by the Seimas Members concerning the functioning of the Office of the Seimas; ensure the implementation of the decisions of the Board of the Seimas; 4) ensure the preparation of a draft work programme of a session, draft agendas for week- and day-long sittings, draft agendas of the Assembly of Elders and the material related to all the issues subject to consideration, which are prepared by the Chairman of the Seimas and his Deputies; 5) endorse official documents prior to their being submitted to the Chairman of the Seimas for signing and, within the limits of his competence, sign official documents; 6) be responsible for the use and keeping of the Seimas Seals bearing the State Emblem; 7) regularly submit to the Seimas summarised data concerning proposals, wishes and letters addressed by voters to the Seimas; 8) together with the representatives of the parliamentary groups, arrange the seats in the chamber for the members of the parliamentary groups and for those members of the Seimas who do not belong to any parliamentary group and allocate premises for meetings of the parliamentary groups; 9) in the manner prescribed by law, appoint to office and dismiss civil servants of the Office of the Seimas; 10) approve regulations, job rules, workers’ job descriptions and instructions for clerical work of the divisions of the Office of the Seimas; 11) carry out the functions of the manager of budgetary appropriations for the Office of the Seimas; 12) carry out other functions laid down in this Statute and the Regulations of the Office of the Seimas. Article 32. Powers of the Board of the Seimas The Board of the Seimas shall: 1) approve and submit to the Ministry of Finance draft estimates of programmes and expenditures of the Office of the Seimas; 2) by the advice of the committees, consider and send the Seimas Members on business trips with written tasks of the Seimas, the Board, and committees; approve reports on such trips; 3) by the advice of the committees or parliamentary groups, consider and approve of trips of the Seimas Members during a session, which are not financed from the funds of the Seimas; 4) when necessary, consider draft work programmes of a Seimas session and draft agendas of week- or day-long sittings, and submit conclusions to the Assembly of Elders or the Seimas; 5) call unscheduled sittings of the Seimas, fix a time for such sittings; 6) approve a preliminary schedule of sittings of a Seimas session; 7) when necessary, establish to which institutions or persons the principal committee must refer a draft law for conclusions; 8) when necessary, adopt a decision to relieve the principal committee of the obligations set forth in Article 147 of this Statute; 9) when necessary, form working groups for drafting laws and carrying out the assignments of the Seimas or the Board of the Seimas; 10) assist in organising the joint work of the committees on issues which fall within the competence of several committees; 11) approve the structure of the Office of the Seimas, draw up a list of the staff of the Office of the Seimas, and fix the salaries thereof; 12) approve the regulations and rules of procedure of the Office of the Seimas; 13) when the Seimas solves an issue whether the President of the Republic is able to carry out the duties of his office due to the state of health, appeal to the Minister of Health Care regarding the nomination of candidatures for a commission of doctors, which is approved by the Seimas, and 14) settle other issues related to the organisation of the activities of the Seimas which are not ascribed to other institutions or officials of the Seimas by virtue of this Statute. Article 33. Meetings of the Board of the Seimas 1. Meetings of the Board of the Seimas shall be convened and presided over by the Chairman of the Seimas or by the Deputy Chairman of the Seimas, empowered by him. 2. Other members of the Seimas, as well as permanent representatives of the President of the Republic and the Government, may participate in the meetings of the Board of the Seimas as observers. Other individuals may also be invited to meetings of the Board of the Seimas. 3. Issues for consideration may be submitted to the Board by the Board members, committees, commissions, parliamentary groups, and the Chancellor of the Seimas. 4. Draft documents of the Board of the Seimas which are submitted for consideration shall be signed by their initiators and handed over to the Chairman of the Seimas or a Deputy Chairman of the Seimas, empowered by him, who shall prepare the agenda of a meeting, based thereon. Article 34. Decisions of the Board of the Seimas 1. Decisions of the Board of the Seimas shall be adopted by open vote and simple majority of those in attendance, provided that a meeting of the Board of the Seimas is attended by at least half of the Board members. A tie vote shall be decided by the vote of the Chairman of the Seimas or, in his absence, of the Deputy Chairman of the Seimas who is presiding over the meeting. 2. The members of the Seimas shall be informed of the decisions of the Board of the Seimas through the committees and parliamentary groups within three working days from the day on which the decision was adopted during a session or within a week of the beginning of the next session. 3. Committees and parliamentary groups may appeal against the decisions of the Board of the Seimas to the Seimas, if it is considered that the said decisions violate or restrict the rights of a Seimas Member, a parliamentary group or a committee, or have been adopted exceeding the powers assigned to the Board. Such complaints shall be considered and resolved by the Seimas, upon hearing the conclusions of the Ethics and Procedures Commission. Chapter VII Assembly of ELDERS OF THE Seimas Article 35. Meetings of the Assembly of Elders of the Seimas 1. During a session, meetings of the Assembly of Elders of the Seimas (hereinafter referred to as the Assembly of Elders) shall be held regularly at a time specially allocated for this purpose. 2. Extraordinary meetings of the Assembly of Elders shall be convened at the request of the Chairman of the Seimas, the Board of the Seimas, the elder of the Assembly of Elders, or at least 1/3 of the members of the Assembly of Elders. The members of the Assembly of Elders shall be given notice of the time and agenda of extraordinary meetings at least 6 hours prior to the beginning thereof. 3. Meetings of the Assembly of Elders shall be presided over by the elder whose duties, according to the schedule approved by the Assembly of Elders, shall be executed in turn by the elders of each parliamentary group for one week. An opening meeting of the Assembly of Elders held during the first session shall be presided over by the most senior parliamentary group elder. 4. Issues for consideration by the Assembly of Elders, which are within its competence, may be proposed and submitted to the Chairman of the Seimas or a Deputy Chairman of the Seimas empowered by him, by the members of the Assembly of Elders, the Government, as well as by other Seimas Members who submit draft laws. A draft agenda of the Assembly of Elders shall be drawn up according to these proposals by the Chairman of the Seimas or a Deputy Chairman of the Seimas empowered by him. 5. Other Seimas Members, permanent representatives of the President of the Republic and the Government may attend meetings of the Assembly of Elders as observers. 6. Meetings of the Assembly of Elders shall be open for representatives of the mass media. Article 36. Powers of the Assembly of Elders During its meetings, the Assembly of Elders shall: 1) consider draft estimates of programmes and expenditures of the Office of the Seimas and, together with its own proposals and remarks, submit them to the Board of the Seimas; 2) consider and co-ordinate rising differences related to the work programme of a Seimas session; 3) consider and approve the drafts of agendas of week- or day-long sittings; 4) consider and co-ordinate proposals regarding the appointment of a principal committee or additional appointment of committees for consideration of a draft law, as well as setting of a preliminary date of consideration of a draft law at a Seimas sitting; 5) consider and co-ordinate rising differences concerning other issues of the organisation of the work of the Seimas; 6) hear the proposals of the chairmen of the committees and elders of the parliamentary groups on mutual relations between the committees and parliamentary groups, and submit proposals thereon to the Seimas or the Board; 7) submit recommendations to the Board of the Seimas concerning the resolution of issues which are ascribed to its competence; 8) perform the function of a co-ordinating (conciliatory) committee in the event of principal disagreements concerning key issues considered in the Seimas; 9) when necessary, establish to which institutions or persons the principal committee must refer a draft law for conclusions; and 10) when necessary, adopt a decision to relieve the principal committee of the duties set forth in Article 147 of this Statute. Article 37. Decisions of the Assembly of Elders 1. With the exception of decisions concerning the agendas of week- or day-long sittings and the decisions specified in subparagraphs 8 and 9 of Article 36 of this Statute, the decisions of the Assembly of Elders shall be consultative with regard to the Seimas and the Board of the Seimas. 2. Consultative decisions of the Assembly of Elders, as well as the decisions concerning the organisation of the work of the Assembly itself shall be adopted by simple majority vote of the members of the Assembly of Elders of the Seimas taking part in the meeting. 3. Decisions concerning drafts of the work programme of a Seimas session, agendas of week- or day- long sittings shall be adopted provided that they are opposed by no more than 1/3 of the members of the Assembly of Elders participating in the meeting of the Assembly of Elders. 4. If any item of the agenda is adopted by majority vote, but is opposed by more than 1/3 of the members of the Assembly of Elders, they shall be submitted to the Seimas as recommendations. 5. Decisions of the Assembly of Elders shall be recorded in the minutes of the meetings, which shall be signed by the chairman of the meeting of the Assembly of Elders. Chapter VIII Parliamentary Groups and Interim Groups of the Seimas Article 38. Right to Form Parliamentary Groups and Working Procedure of the Parliamentary Groups 1. The Seimas Members shall form parliamentary groups voluntarily, not restricted by any mandates. Parliamentary groups may not be established on the basis of professional or local interests. 2. A parliamentary group shall consist of at least 7 Seimas Members. Each Seimas Member may be a member of only one parliamentary group. 3. The elder of a parliamentary group, his deputy or the member of a parliamentary group authorised by it shall have the right to represent in the Seimas such a part of the Seimas Members, established by this Statute, which their parliamentary group forms in the Seimas. 4. Parliamentary groups shall establish their own working procedure, provided that it does not contradict this Statute. 5. Parliamentary groups may join into coalitions which may act as one parliamentary group. Article 39. Announcement of the Establishment of Parliamentary Groups 1. The Seimas Members who formed a parliamentary group shall present an application signed by them to the Chairman of the Seimas during the session. The name of a parliamentary group, as well as the names of the elder and deputy elders must be stated in this application. 2. If a parliamentary group formed by the Seimas Members complies with the requirements of this Statute, the Chairman of the Seimas must within one week announce the establishment of this parliamentary group at a Seimas sitting. 3. The Chairman of the Seimas shall be notified in writing of any changes in the name, composition or leadership of a parliamentary group, the termination of the activities of a parliamentary group or its break-up, as well as the formation of a coalition of the parliamentary groups no later than on the following working day. The Chairman of the Seimas shall announce such information at the next Seimas sitting. Article 40. The Majority and Minority of the Seimas 1. The parliamentary groups of the Seimas whose total number of the members is more than half of the Seimas Members and which have signed a joint action declaration or coalition Government agreement shall be considered the majority of the Seimas. 2. Opposition and other parliamentary groups which do not belong to the majority of the Seimas, as well as a mixed group of the Seimas Members shall be considered the minority of the Seimas. Article 41. Opposition Parliamentary Groups 1. Parliamentary groups of the Seimas Members or their coalitions which disagree with the Government programme may declare themselves Opposition parliamentary groups. 2. The parliamentary groups or their coalitions which proclaim in the Seimas the political declarations wherein the provisions distinguishing them from the majority of the Seimas are laid down, shall be considered Opposition parliamentary groups. 3. Opposition parliamentary groups or their coalitions shall announce alternative Government programmes. 4. Opposition parliamentary groups and their coalitions shall be guaranteed all the rights of parliamentary groups and coalitions which are provided for in the Statute of the Seimas. No reason may provide for the restriction of such rights. 5. If an Opposition parliamentary group or their coalition has more than ½ of the Seimas Members belonging to the minority of the Seimas, the elder of such parliamentary group or the head of the coalition shall be named the leader of the Seimas Opposition. The Opposition leader shall enjoy additional rights of an Opposition leader provided for in this Statute. 6. Proposals of the parliamentary groups for State institutions shall be consultative. State institutions, except courts, must discuss them and reply in writing. Article 42. Interim Groups 1. Seimas Members may form interim groups for the implementation of common interests concerning a concrete matter. 2. Such group shall be considered to be formed when an application is submitted to the Chairman of the Seimas, signed by no less than 5 Seimas Members. 3. When considering this concrete matter, the interim group of the Seimas Members shall make use of the rights of a parliamentary group, which are specified in Articles 104, 108, and 109 of this Statute. PART III COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS OF THE SEIMAS Chapter IX Procedure for the APPOINTMENT Of THE COMMITTEES OF the Seimas Article 43. List of the Committees of the Seimas The following committees shall be appointed in the Seimas: 1) Environmental Protection; 2) Audit; 3) the Budget and Finance; 4) Economics; 5) European Affairs; 6) the Development of Information Society; 7) Rural Affairs; 8) National Security and Defence; 9) Social Affairs and Labour; 10) Health Affairs; 11) Education, Science and Culture; 12) Legal Affairs; 13) Foreign Affairs; 14) State Administration and Local Authorities; and 15) Human Rights. Article 44. Appointment of the Committees of the Seimas 1. Seimas committees shall be formed during the first session, except for the case specified in paragraph 2 of this Article. 2. The Committee on European Affairs shall be set up in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 441 of this Statute. 3. Upon the receipt of a draft resolution submitted by the Chairman of the Seimas, at each next regular session changes in the composition of the committees shall be approved by adhering to the principle of proportional representation of the parliamentary groups, a new committee shall be set up or committees shall be set up anew. 4. Committees shall be made up of no less than 7 and no more than 17 Seimas Members (with the exception of the Committee on European Affairs and the Committee on Foreign Affairs) according to the proportional principle of representation of the parliamentary groups. The exact number of members of each committee shall be determined by a resolution of the Seimas. 5. Then the Assembly of Elders shall approve the norms of representation of the parliamentary groups and the mixed group of the Seimas Members in all committees in compliance with the principle of their proportional representation. 6. The parliamentary groups and the mixed group of the Seimas Members shall distribute among themselves seats in the committees, according to the number of seats approved by the Assembly of Elders. 7. The Seimas members who have the permission to work with or get access to classified information may be members of the Committee on National Defence and Security. 8. Parliamentary groups, taking into consideration the requests and competence of their members, shall recommend to the committees as many members as they are accorded seats. In the event that the wish of a Seimas Member to become a member of a particular committee, expressed in his application, does not comply with the principle of proportional representation of parliamentary groups, the Seimas may adopt a resolution to appoint a Seimas Member to a committee other than the one indicated in his application. Applications of the parliamentary groups bearing the signatures of the recommended Seimas Members shall be submitted to the Chairman of the Seimas who must, within 2 weeks, present the composition of committees to the Seimas for approval. 9. The number of substitutes for committee members shall not be restricted. Each parliamentary group shall submit their candidatures, having registered them in numerical order. 10. The composition of the committees and substitutes for committee members shall be approved by the Seimas by voting for the entire list of the committee members and the substitutes for the committee members. In the event of failure to approve the said list, the entire procedure shall begin anew. Article 441. Setting up of the Committee on European Affairs 1. The Committee on European Affairs shall be constituted of not less than 15 and not more than 25 Seimas members in accordance with a principle of proportional representation of the Seimas parliamentary groups. The parliamentary groups shall delegate representatives from committee chairmen or deputy chairmen, elders or deputy elders of the parliamentary groups, members of the parliamentary groups responsible for European Union matters. An exact number of the Committee members and composition of the Committee shall be approved by a Seimas resolution. Seimas members serving on other committees may be members of the Committee on European Affairs. 2. The Deputy Chairman of the Seimas responsible for European Union affairs shall be appointed Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs. The Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs shall have deputies one of whom is the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The Seimas shall set the number of the deputies. Article 45. Powers of a Substitute for a Seimas Committee Member 1. When a committee member does not participate in a meeting of the committee, all of the said member’s rights shall be given to the substitute for the committee members of the same parliamentary group, who attends that meeting and is the first in the established list of substitutes. 2. While substituting for a member of his parliamentary group in a given committee, the Seimas Member may not serve as the chairman or deputy chairman of that committee. Article 46. Elections of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of a Seimas Committee 1. The committee shall elect its chairman and deputy chairman. 2. The Assembly of Elders of the Seimas shall approve proposals for the Seimas committees the representatives of which parliamentary groups should be elected chairman and deputy chairman of a Seimas committee. 3. The committee chairman and deputy chairman shall be elected from the representatives of different parliamentary groups, and the total number of chairmen and deputy chairmen of the committees accorded to the Seimas parliamentary groups must be in proportion to the number of the Seimas Members belonging to them. 4. The committee chairman and deputy chairman shall be approved by the Seimas. If the Seimas does not approve the presented candidate, the committee must select another candidate. 5. A member of the Board of the Seimas (except the case of the Committee on European Affairs), Seimas Member - Government member, the chairman or deputy chairman of a Seimas commission may not serve as a committee chairman and deputy chairman. 6. A representative of the Opposition parliamentary group or their coalition which has more than ½ of the Seimas Members belonging to the minority of the Seimas, shall be elected chairman or deputy chairman of the Committee on the Budget and Finance and the Committee on Audit. The chairman of the Committee on the Budget and Finance shall have two deputies. 7. The chairman and deputy chairman of a committee shall be re-elected when the committee is formed anew. 8. A committee may re-elect the chairman or deputy chairman at any other time, at the same time applying to the Seimas for approval of the new chairman or deputy chairman. In the event that the Seimas does not approve the new chairman or deputy chairman, the former chairman or deputy chairman shall remain, and the committee may apply to the Seimas concerning the same issue only during the next regular session. Article 47. Seimas Subcommittees 1. For the execution of the main trends of activities, committees may form subcommittees from their members. 2. A subcommittee must comprise at least 5 members. 3. A sub-committee chairman shall be elected by the committee and approved by the Seimas. 4. The number of chairmen of sub-committees accorded to the Seimas parliamentary groups must be in proportion to the number of the Seimas Members belonging to them. 5. The regulations of the subcommittees shall be approved by the committees. Chapter X Powers and Working Procedure of the Seimas Committees Article 48. Working Procedure of the Seimas Committees 1. The trends of activities of the Seimas committees, as well as their powers and working procedure shall be established by this Statute and other laws. 2. Seimas committees shall be responsible and accountable to the Seimas. Reports on the work done by the committees may be heard at the beginning of each next regular session. 3. Committees must during the set time discuss and present conclusions on the matters referred to them for consideration, perform other tasks assigned to them by the Seimas. 4. Committees shall be responsible for the timely establishment of necessity of appropriate laws and other legal acts, initiation, according to their trends of activities and competence, of the preparation thereof, and the request of the comprehensive opinion, relative to the drafts thereof. 5. Seimas committees shall work in accordance with the plans approved by the committees themselves, which must be co-ordinated with the work programme of a Seimas session. Such plans shall state the persons responsible for the implementation and time limits of the implementation. Work plans of the committees and agendas of meetings shall be publicly announced. 6. The activities of the committees shall be co-ordinated by the Chairman of the Seimas, the Board of the Seimas in accordance with the work programmes of Seimas sessions and work plans of the committees. 7. Committees may themselves approve the rules of working procedure, which must be in compliance with this Statute. 8. In order to prepare issues which are subject to consideration, committees may form from among their members preparatory working groups. The said groups may include other Seimas Members upon their consent, as well as representatives of State institutions, parties and public organisations, experts and scientists. Funds for the experts of such groups shall be allocated in accordance with the approved estimate of expenditures of the committee. Article 49. Powers of Seimas Committees The main powers of the committees with respect to issues within their competence shall be: 1) to debate draft laws, prepare conclusions, and discuss issues referred to the committee for consideration; 2) on their own initiative or under the instruction of the Seimas, to prepare drafts of laws and other legal acts subject to enactment by the Seimas, and to analyse the necessity of new laws or the amendments to laws in effect; 3) to prepare and submit to the Seimas drafts regarding the harmonisation, supplementing or elimination of contradictions in laws; 4) to consider the Government programme; on their own initiative or under the instruction of the Seimas, to consider programmes of activities of the Government or other State institutions, each within its specific field, and to submit their conclusions to the Seimas; 5) to consider, within the limits of their competence, candidates for the heads of State institutions who are appointed by the Seimas or for the appointment whereof the approval of the Seimas is necessary, as well as candidates for deputy heads, and to consider the dismissal from office of the said officials; 6) to consider preliminarily a draft of a law of the Republic of Lithuania pertaining to the approval of the financial indicators of the State Budget and municipal budgets, and budget performance account; 7) to analyse and control the economic efficiency of the funds of the State Budget of the current year, consider and submit conclusions and proposals on the items and programmes of a draft State Budget for the next year, presented by the Government, on the issues within the competence of the committees, to seek rational choice of programmes and distribution of allocations for it; 8) consider proposals to form or abolish ministries and other State institutions; 9) while performing parliamentary supervision, to hear information and reports furnished by ministries and other State institutions on the manner by which the laws of the Republic of Lithuania and other acts passed by the Seimas are being implemented; on their own initiative or by the advice of the Seimas, to consider yearly reports on the activities of the State institutions accountable to the Seimas, and to present their conclusions to the Seimas; 10) to consider proposals of voters and public organisations; 11) to prepare a work plan of the committee co-ordinated with the work programme of the Seimas session; 12) prepare the estimate of the committee expenditures within the amount appropriated for the committee; 13) to take part in the inter-parliamentary relations of the Seimas; 14) to participate in the process of the preparation and co-ordination of a position of Lithuania concerning proposals to adopt legal acts of the European Union (as they are defined in paragraph 3 of Article 1801), when necessary to submit conclusions regarding this position to the Seimas, the Seimas Committee on European Affairs, and the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs; 15) to consider other documents of the European Union (as they are defined in paragraph 4 of Article 1801), when necessary to submit conclusions regarding these documents to the Seimas, the Seimas Committee on European Affairs, and the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs; 16) when necessary to submit conclusions to the Seimas, the Seimas Committee on European Affairs or and the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs regarding the compliance of proposals to adopt legal acts of the European Union (as they are defined in paragraph 3 of Article 1801) with the principle of subsidiarity; 17) to consider the candidatures of the officials who are nominated by the Republic of Lithuania to the positions in the institutions of the European Union and whose nomination requires the approval of the Seimas. Article 50. Procedure of Co-operation between the Seimas Committees 1. In discussing issues within their competence, the committees shall have equal rights and obligations. 2. Issues which are within the competence of several committees may be prepared and discussed by these committees jointly on their own initiative or upon the instruction of the Seimas or its Board. For this purpose they may set up joint working groups, hold joint committee meetings which shall be presided over by the chairmen of these committees in succession. 3. The committee shall have the right to submit a proposal to the Seimas or the Board of the Seimas concerning the passing over of the issues under discussion to another committee for consideration. 4. The committee shall have the right to present its opinion on the issue discussed by another committee, as well as to ask another committee to present its conclusions, which must be submitted within 15 days. 5. While considering a draft law, the additional committee appointed by the Seimas must present its conclusions to the principal committee and the Seimas. Article 51. Rights of a Member of a Seimas Committee 1. A committee member shall have the right of a decisive vote on all the issues under consideration in the committee. He shall have the right to propose issues for consideration, and to participate in the preparation and consideration thereof; to propose to invite necessary persons to committee meetings; to submit proposals concerning the inspection of State institutions and the hearing of their information. 2. A committee member shall have the right to get access to all documents and other material received by the committee, and, as necessary, to make use of them in his work. Article 52. Powers of a Chairman and Deputy Chairman of a Seimas Committee 1. The chairman of the committee shall: 1) convene committee meetings and see that necessary documents and other material be prepared for them; 2) taking into account a work programme of a Seimas session, decisions of the committee, decisions of the Seimas or the Board of the Seimas or proposals of the initiators of the committee meetings, prepare a draft agenda of a committee meeting; 3) according to the approved work plans and other decisions of the committee, issue instructions to the committee members, and provide them with the material and documents relating to the activities of the committee; 4) for the execution of the work plan of the committee, organise members of the committee to work in preparatory commissions and working groups; 5) invite necessary persons to participate in committee meetings; 6) preside over committee meetings; 7) sign the resolutions, conclusions and minutes of the meetings of the committee, as well as the draft laws prepared and edited by the committee, which are submitted to the Seimas for consideration, and endorse the adopted and amended laws and other acts of the Seimas prepared by the committee; 8) represent the committee in its work with other State institutions and public organisations; 9) organise the implementation of the resolutions of the committee; 10) regularly notify members of the committee of the received draft laws, new assignments for the committee, the execution of the decisions of the committee, consideration of its recommendations, and work in representing the committee; 11) each month notify the Ethics and Procedures Commission of the members who do not attend committee meetings and who do not fulfil the assignments set forth in subparagraph 3 of paragraph 1 of this Article; and 12) co-ordinate the activities of the subcommittees of the committee. 2. Upon the instruction of the chairman of the committee, a deputy chairman shall discharge certain functions of the chairman. When the chairman of the committee is away or has fallen ill and by reason thereof is temporarily unable to fulfil the duties of office, he shall be deputised for by his deputy for the period of his absence, and in case the latter is absent too - by the committee member who is authorised by the chairman. Article 53. Meetings of the Seimas Committees 1. During a session, regular committee meetings shall be organised not less frequently than once a week. During a Seimas sitting, committee meetings shall be organised only with the consent of the Seimas. Between ordinary Seimas sessions, there shall normally be a one-month adjournment in the work of the committees. 2. Regular and extraordinary committee meetings shall be held upon the proposal of the committee chairmen. Extraordinary committee meetings shall be also held at the request of more than one third of the committee members or upon the instruction of the Seimas or the Board of the Seimas. A preliminary agenda of a regular committee meeting shall be usually approved during the preceding committee meeting. During an extraordinary meeting, only the issues submitted by the initiators of a committee meeting shall be considered. 3. Committees may have closed meetings, when the information related to the State or commercial secret, or other information the use and furnishing whereof are restricted by law, is provided during the deliberation. Decision to hold a closed meeting is adopted by majority vote of the committee members. 4. Committee meetings and decisions adopted shall be deemed lawful when more than half of the committee members are present at the meeting. Committee meetings shall be presided over by the committee chairman or by a deputy committee chairman upon the instruction of the chairman. Prior to the Seimas’ approval of a committee chairman, meetings shall be presided over by the most senior member of the committee. 5. In committee meetings, including closed meetings, Seimas Members who are not members of those committees may participate with the right of a deliberative vote. 6. The committees may invite to their meetings other Seimas Members, as well as municipal councillors, representatives of ministries, other State institutions, parties, public organisations, and educational institutions, specialists, scientists and other necessary persons, having co-ordinated it with heads of these institutions or organisations. 7. Committee meetings shall be open for representatives of the mass media, with the exception of closed meetings. Following each committee meeting, a report is prepared to the Seimas Press Service, in which the essence of discussions on the issues concerned and the decisions adopted are set forth. Article 54. Readings in the Seimas Committees 1. The committee may decide to organise special readings of the committee for preliminary discussion of a draft law and proposals and amendments submitted in regard to it when the committee carries out parliamentary scrutiny, as well as for the drawing up of draft conclusions concerning the issue under consideration. 2. Experts, representatives of the interested institutions and groups of the population, persons having the right of legislative initiative, shall participate in readings of the committee in which the proposals and amendments concerning the legal act under consideration shall be discussed. Decisions shall not be adopted during readings. 3. For the organisation of such readings and preparation of conclusions concerning the draft, the committee must appoint two responsible committee members (usually, one from the Seimas majority and one from the Seimas minority), as well as decide what experts, interested persons and public officials should be invited to readings. 4. A schedule and agendas of readings shall be publicly announced. 5. Upon a decision of the committee or at the request of the committee chairman, closed readings may be also held. Article 55. Decisions of the Seimas Committees 1. Committee decisions shall be adopted by open, simple majority vote of the committee members participating in the meeting. In the event of a tie vote, the vote of the committee chairman shall be decisive. 2. When a member of the committee requests that voting on his proposal be conducted, the chairman of the committee meeting must put the said proposal to a vote. 3. If the minority of the committee members, which consists of at least three Seimas Members, expresses a separate opinion concerning the issue discussed by the committee, this opinion must be announced together with the decision of the committee. 4. Decisions shall be adopted in joint meetings of several committees if each committee expresses their support for the decision. 5. Committee decisions and conclusions shall be presented to the Seimas in writing. 6. For State institutions, decisions adopted by the committees shall be recommendatory. When sending recommendations and proposals to the State institutions, committees shall inform the Chairman of the Seimas about this and, if necessary - the Government. 7. Upon receipt of recommendations and proposals of the Seimas committees, the State institutions, except courts, must consider them. The committees must be informed about the results of such consideration and measures which have been taken within 15 days from the receipt of the proposals or within other period of time established by the committees. Article 56. Powers of the Seimas Committees when Exercising Parliamentary scrutiny 1. The committees shall, due to their competence, have the right to control how laws are observed and recommendations and proposals of the committees are taken into consideration; on their own initiative or upon the instruction of the Seimas, to carry out parliamentary scrutiny of separate problems; on their own initiative or upon the instruction of the Seimas, to consider annual reports of the State institutions accountable to the Seimas. 2. If a committee decides that it is necessary to hear the information of a Government member or an official of any other State institution (except courts), the committee chairman shall notify the Government member or the head of any appropriate State institution of this. In this event, the Government member or any other official must, not later than within two weeks (unless otherwise requested by the committee), participate in a committee meeting; if the said person fails to attend the sitting - the committee chairman shall inform the Seimas of this. 3. The committees shall have the right to demand from the State institutions, except courts, and officials the documents, conclusions in writing, as well as reports and other necessary material. 4. When carrying our parliamentary scrutiny upon the instruction of the Seimas, the committees shall act in compliance with the rules of procedure of the Seimas Control Commission or ad hoc investigation commissions, set forth in Articles 75-76 of this Statute, and shall enjoy the same powers. Article 57. Seimas Committees’ Conclusions, Reports and Participation in the Seimas Discussions 1. The committee shall prepare conclusions and make reports during the Seimas sittings on issues which it prepared, conducted parliamentary scrutiny whereof, or was the principal committee while examining them, and shall prepare supplemental conclusions and make supplemental reports on the issues which were referred to the committee for additional examination. 2. Committee conclusions shall be a comprehensive description of consideration at the committee. They shall contain information on the proposals and amendments received during the consideration, experts who took part therein, amendments to the draft proposed by the committee or the conclusions made by the committee on the issue considered. The Board of the Seimas shall establish the requirements for the committee conclusions and the form thereof. 3. Committee members shall participate in discussions on all other issues according to the general procedure. Chapter XI Trends of Activities of the Seimas Committees Article 58. Trends of Activities of the Committee on Environmental Protection The trends of activities of the Committee on Environmental Protection shall be: 1) to draft laws and other legal acts, as well as proposals on the issues pertaining to environmental protection, the use of natural resources, forestry, hunting and fisheries; 2) to co-ordinate the work of the interested State institutions and other organisations in the process of drafting laws on the issues which fall within the competence of the committee; 3) to conduct an examination in terms of environmental protection of draft laws and other legal acts referred to the committee; 4) to prepare and consider proposals concerning the formation of Lithuania’s environmental protection policy; 5) to exercise parliamentary scrutiny in terms of environmental protection of the activities of all institutions, to present proposals and recommendations for the improvement of the activities of these institutions; 6) to examine international legal acts pertaining to environmental protection, and to present proposals and conclusions to the Seimas. Article 59. Trends of Activities of the Committee on the Budget and Finance The trends of activities of the Committee on the Budget and Finance shall be: 1) to consider the draft State Budget of the Republic of Lithuania presented by the Government to the Seimas for approval, and to submit a review of the conclusions of all the committees; 2) to exercise general and continuous control of the State Budget execution; 3) together with other committees, to prepare conclusions regarding the accounts of the State Budget execution; 4) to prepare drafts of laws and other legal acts, as well as proposals pertaining to the Budget and finance; 5) to prepare and present conclusions concerning the draft laws which exercise influence on the State Budget revenue and expenditure; 6) to discuss and present conclusions, as well as proposals pertaining to the draft laws on taxes and special funds, the procedure of financing agencies and organisations maintained from the budget, their expenditure standards, the standards of the formation of municipal budgets, the budget allocations for the implementation of various programmes, and for the maintenance of the Seimas and its staff; 7) to exercise parliamentary scrutiny of the use of State property, the activities of the Ministry of Finance, the Securities Commission, the Insurance Supervisory Commission, the State Gaming Control Commission, and the Bank of Lithuania, and to present proposals and recommendations relative thereto; 8) to consider State Control opinions submitted to the Seimas and (

1. or)the Seimas Committee and Budget and Finance and, in conjunction with the Seimas Committee on Audit and other Seimas Committees to evaluate and when necessary to assist to implement the recommendations of the State Control presented in these opinions; 9) to bring forward proposals on parliamentary assignments to the State Control to perform governmental audit; and 10) to consider draft laws referred to the Committee, to prepare conclusions and to examine issues of financial accounting, accountability. Article 591. Trends of Activities of the Committee on Audit The trends of activities of the Committee on Audit: 1) to consider government audit reports and opinions submitted by the State Control to the Seimas and (
2. or)the Seimas Committees; 2) to prepare a draft of a Seimas resolution concerning the implementation of the recommendations of the State Control laid down in the government audit reports and opinions; 3) to co-ordinate activities of the Seimas Committees and Commissions when considering the issues of government audit and submitting conclusions thereon; 4) to carry out parliamentary scrutiny of the efficiency of the implementation of the functions of the State Control, the State Property Fund, the Public Procurement Office, to put forward proposals and recommendations relating to the improvement of their activities, to participate in the preparation of draft laws pertaining thereto; 5) to prepare, debate and submit to the Seimas draft resolutions on financial audit of the State Control, the report on the activities of the State Control presented by the General Auditor to the Seimas; 6) to submit proposals on the conclusions presented by the State Control on the account of the execution of the State budget and on the reports presented by the Government on the State debt and the State property; 7) together with other Seimas Committees to consider whether the managers of appropriations use the State budget appropriations and the State property rationally and efficiently; 8) to debate and put forward proposals on the implementation of the State investment programme; 9) to debate draft laws referred to the Committee, to prepare conclusions thereon and to examine issues of accounting, financial statements, external and internal audits; 10) to prepare and submit to the Seimas draft resolutions on the assignment to the State Control to perform governmental audit which is not provided for in the annual government audit programme; 11) to debate and present recommendations on drafts of annual government audit programmes drawn up by the State Control; and 12) to consider an annual report of the European Court of Auditors, to present conclusions thereon to the Seimas, the Seimas Committee on European Affairs. Article 60. Trends of Activities of the Committee on Economics The trends of activities of the Committee on Economics shall be: 1) to prepare and consider drafts of laws, other legal acts being adopted by the Seimas, as well as proposals on the State regulation of Lithuania’s economy in the spheres of energy, transport, industry, trade, services and business, tourism, management, use, disposal and privatisation of the State property, public procurement and free economic zones; 2) to prepare and consider drafts of laws, other legal acts being adopted by the Seimas, as well as proposals on the legal regulation of activities of economic entities (setting up, registration, activities, reorganisation, competition, bankruptcy of enterprises), partnership of State and private capital (concessions), the legal regulation of activities of public institutions; 3) to consider drafts of laws, other legal acts adopted by the Seimas referred to the Committee by the Seimas, to prepare and submit conclusions thereon; 4) to submit conclusions and proposals on the long-term strategy of the development of Lithuania’s economy, formation of the general economic (macroeconomic), economic competitiveness, economic sectors, small and medium business, investment policy; 5) to consider and submit proposals on the issues within the competence of the Committee concerning a draft law on the approval of financial indices of State and municipal budgets of the Republic of Lithuania presented by the Government, as well as the State investment programme provided for in the said draft; 6) to consider and submit proposals on the account of the execution of the State Budget submitted by the Government with regard to the issues within the competence of the Committee; 7) to exercise parliamentary scrutiny of institutions of economic management and supervision (the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of the Economy and the institutions of the spheres of their management, the Competition Council, the Privatisation Commission, the State Pricing and Energy Control Commission, the State Tobacco and Alcohol Control Service under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania), to submit proposals and recommendations concerning the improvement of the activities thereof; 8) to examine the use of the appropriations allocated for the programmes and investment projects implemented by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of the Economy and the institutions of the spheres of their management, the Competition Council, the Privatisation Commission, the State Pricing and Energy Control Commission, the State Tobacco and Alcohol Control Service under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania; 9) to co-ordinate the activities of the interested public authorities and other organisations in the course of preparation of draft of laws and other legal acts adopted by the Seimas, on the issues within the competence of the Committee; and 10) to co-operate on the issues within the competence of the Committee with economic entities, associations and other institutions representing them and employees. Article 61. Trends of Activities of the Committee on European Affairs The trends of activities of the Committee on European Affairs shall be: 1) to consider within its remit major issues, within the competence of the Seimas, pertaining to the membership of the Republic of Lithuania in the European Union, and to submit conclusions related to them; 2) to assist in ensuring parliamentary scrutiny of the implementation of the sovereignty and the rights and duties of the membership of the Republic of Lithuania in the European Union; 3) to assist in ensuring an appropriate representation of the interests of the Republic of Lithuania in the European Union; 4) to assist the Seimas in exercising parliamentary scrutiny of the activities of the Governmental and other institutions, related to European Union matters; 5) to supervise timely and proper adoption of laws implementing the legal acts of the European Union during the legislative procedure; 6) to co-ordinate the activities of the Seimas committees and commissions when considering European Union issues and presenting conclusions thereon; 7) within the limits of its competence, to co-operate with the European Parliament and other institutions of the European Union, as well as with the committees on European affairs of the national parliaments of the European Union Member States and other European states; 8) to represent the Seimas in the Conference European Affairs Committees (COSAC); 9) within the limits of its competence, to participate in the process of the preparation and evaluation of a position of Lithuania concerning proposals to adopt legal acts of the European Union (as they are defined in paragraph 3 of Article 1801), when necessary to present Seimas opinion regarding this position to the Government and to evaluate the presentation of the position in the institutions of the European Union; 10) within the limits of its competence, to consider other documents of the European Union (as they are defined in paragraph 4 of Article 1801), when necessary to present conclusions and proposals concerning these documents; 11) within the limits of its competence, to submit, when necessary, conclusions to the Seimas on the compliance of the proposals to adopt the legal acts of the European Union (as they are defined in paragraph 3 of Article 1801) with the principle of subsidiarity; 12) to organize debates on major issues of the agenda of the European Union in a Seimas plenary sitting, as well as European weeks in the Seimas; and 13) to perform other functions related to the provision of information to the public regarding the European Union. Article 611. Trends of Activities of the Committee on the Development of Information Society The trends of activities of the Committee on the Development of Information Society: 1) to prepare and consider drafts of laws and other legal acts regulating the development of information society, to consider and submit proposals related to the issues of the development of new (innovation) technologies and information and knowledge society; 2) to consider and submit to the Seimas the conclusions and proposals regarding formation of a policy of the development of information society, preparation and implementation of a long-term strategy of the development of new (innovation) technologies and information society; 3) to co-ordinate activities of state institutions and agencies as well as other organisations when preparing drafts of laws and other legal acts on the issues within the Committee's remit; 4) to analyse international legal acts and international practice related to the development of information and knowledge society, to submit proposals and conclusions to the Seimas; 5) to review the use of the funds appropriated for the development of information and knowledge society in each programme of the manager of budgetary appropriations, and to evaluate the effectiveness of investments; 6) to submit proposals regarding the compliance of drafts of laws and other legal acts prepared by the Seimas Committees and the national strategy of the development of information and knowledge society; 7) to exercise parliamentary scrutiny on the issues within the Committee's remit, to hear information and reports of the ministries and other state institutions and agencies on the implementation of the laws and other legal acts adopted by the Seimas, which are related to the issues within the Committee's remit. Article 62. Trends of Activities of the Committee on Rural Affairs The trends of activities of the Committee on Rural Affairs shall be: 1) to draft laws and other legal acts regulating the activities of agriculture and food industry, and to present conclusions on the drafts referred to the committee for consideration; 2) to draw up and consider proposals on the formation of Lithuania’s agricultural and rural policy, the setting of the trends of agricultural science and training, and the drafting of necessary legal acts; 3) to discuss and present conclusions concerning the draft laws and programmes submitted by the Government, items in the draft State Budget pertaining to the issues of agriculture and food industry, and social problems of rural residents; 4) to carry out an examination of draft laws regulating Lithuania’s economy in terms of agricultural and rural policy, and to submit recommendations and conclusions; 5) to exercise parliamentary scrutiny of agricultural and food industry institutions; 6) to co-ordinate the work of the interested State institutions and other departments, agencies and organisations involved in rural affairs, in the process of drawing up draft laws regulating the activities of the agricultural and food industry sector. Article 63. Trends of Activities of the Committee on National Security and Defence The trends of activities of the Committee on National Security and Defence shall be: 1) to consider and draft laws and other legal acts on the issues pertaining to national defence, State security, civil defence, State border protection, and the Special Investigations Service under the Ministry of the Interior; 2) to co-ordinate the work of the interested State institutions in drafting laws and other legal acts on the issues within the competence of the committee, as well as in the spheres related to the implementation of the Law on the Basics of National Security; 3) to consider and present proposals concerning the formation of the defence policy of the public and the State, and creation and improvement of appropriate structures; 4) to exercise parliamentary scrutiny of national defence, State security, civil defence, State border protection, and the Special Investigations Service under the Ministry of the Interior, to present proposals and recommendations on the improvement of their activities; 5) to discuss proposals and present conclusions relating to the appointment of a military attach, representatives in military missions of the Republic of Lithuania to foreign states. Article 64. Trends of Activities of the Committee on Social Affairs and Labour The trends of activities of the Committee on Social Affairs and Labour shall be: 1) to consider and present proposals pertaining to the formation of a State social policy in line with the European Union criteria of social development and the standard of living; 2) to consider the draft budget of the State social insurance fund presented by the Government for approval and to submit conclusions during its consideration in the Seimas concurrently with the consideration of the draft State Budget of the Republic of Lithuania; 3) to exercise general and continuous control of the execution of the budget of the State social insurance fund; 4) to draft laws and other legal acts, and proposals on the issues of social security and labour; 5) to prepare and present conclusions on the laws which exercise influence on real income, social provision and a standard of living of the population; 6) to draft laws regulating employment, labour relations, social care and acquisition of housing by the population, and to present conclusions relative to the drafts of the said laws and other legal acts referred to the committee for consideration; 7) to co-ordinate the work of the interested State institutions and other organisations in drafting laws on the issues within the competence of the committee; 8) to exercise parliamentary scrutiny of social security institutions, and to submit proposals and recommendations for the improvement of the activities thereof. Article 65. Trends of Activities of the Committee on Health Affairs The trends of activities of the Committee on Health Affairs shall be: 1) to draft laws regulating health care of the population, as well as public health and public health activities, and to present conclusions relative to the drafts of the said laws and other acts referred to the committee for consideration; 2) to co-ordinate the work of the interested State institutions and other organisations in drafting laws on the issues within the competence of the committee; 3) to consider and present proposals concerning the formation of the State health policy; 4) to exercise parliamentary scrutiny of health system institutions and other institutions related to the solution of individual and public health problems, and to submit proposals and recommendations for the improvement of the activities thereof; 5) to control the implementation of the health care reform and the process of development of the Lithuanian National Health System. Article 66. Trends of Activities of the Committee on Education, Science and Culture The trends of activities of the Committee on Education, Science and Culture shall be: 1) to prepare and consider drafts of laws, resolutions and other documents which regulate education, science, culture and provision of information, and to present proposals relative thereto; 2) to consider and present conclusions on draft documents, referred to the committee, which are related to the issues of education, science, culture and provision of information, as well as other projects, ascertaining whether they are in conformity with the State policy on these issues; 3) to prepare proposals and recommendations for the Government and local authorities concerning education, science, culture and provision of information; 4) to provide support to persons, organisations and institutions engaged in cultural activities; 5) to exercise parliamentary scrutiny of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Culture, and cultural institutions. Article 67. Trends of Activities of the Committee on Legal Affairs The trends of activities of the Committee on Legal Affairs shall be: 1) to consider and make proposals concerning the formation of State legal policy; 2) to prepare and help carry out a reform of the legal system; 3) to consider and present conclusions concerning drafts of proposed supplements and amendments of the Constitution, as well as to preliminarily ascertain whether draft laws under discussion are in conformity with the Constitution; 4) to consider and present conclusions concerning approximation of the legislation of the Republic of Lithuania to that of the European Union; 5) to prepare draft laws and proposals related to the enhancement of the effectiveness of law enforcement and to crime control, as well as co-ordinate the preparing of such drafts; 6) to consider and present conclusions and proposals concerning reforms of the system of State institutions; 7) to present legal findings concerning drafts of laws and other legal acts prepared by other committees; 8) to consider and submit to the Seimas an opinion concerning candidatures for judges and presidents of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court, for judges of other courts, prosecutors who are appointed by the Seimas or whose nomination requires the approval of the Seimas, and concerning the dismissal of judges, as well prosecutors; 9) to exercise parliamentary scrutiny of the activities of law enforcement institutions, with the exception of the courts, and to prepare conclusions and proposals related thereto; 10) to prepare and present conclusions and recommendations to the Seimas concerning the activities of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Interior, the Prosecutor’s Office and other law enforcement institutions; 11) according to the rulings of the Constitutional Court concerning non-conformity of laws and other acts, passed by the Seimas, with the Constitution, to prepare drafts of amendments of the said laws and other acts passed by the Seimas or to submit proposals to other committees to prepare such drafts. Article 68. Trends of Activities of the Committee on Foreign Affairs The trends of activities of the Committee on Foreign Affairs shall be: 1) to prepare conclusions concerning the ratification and denouncement of international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania, as well as other issues of foreign policy which are considered in the Seimas; 2) to prepare and consider drafts of laws and other legal acts related to foreign affairs, and to submit conclusions thereon; 3) to exercise parliamentary scrutiny of the ministries and other governmental agencies which carry out foreign policy, submit proposals and recommendations regarding the improvement of their activities; to consider and submit proposals concerning the formations and carrying out of State foreign policy; 4) taking into account the priorities of foreign policy, to co-ordinate the activities of the Seimas Inter-parliamentary Relations Division, to discuss the representation of the Seimas in international organisations and fora, to submit recommendations concerning activities of Seimas delegations, to co-ordinate activities of inter-parliamentary relations groups, to submit recommendations and proposals to them, to hear and evaluate reports on activities of Seimas delegations in international organisations and fora as well as Seimas parliamentary groups at least once a year starting from the date of their formation; 5) to exercise control of State institutions which make the presentation of information about Lithuania meant for foreign countries, prepare conclusions and proposals relative thereto; 6) in conjunction with State and public organisations, to maintain and develop relations with Lithuanian emigrants and their organisations, as well as with the Lithuanians autochthons residing outside the Republic of Lithuania; 7) in conjunction with other committees, to consider the problems related to the regulation of migration and submit proposals and conclusions thereon; 8) to consider and submit recommendations and proposals to the Government concerning the establishment of diplomatic relations of the Republic of Lithuania and the opening of Lithuanian missions abroad; 9) to consider in advance proposals of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, submit conclusions and recommendations related to the appointment of diplomatic representatives of the Republic of Lithuania in foreign states and international organisations, as well as the recall of the said representatives; 10) within the limits of its competence, to participate in the process of the preparation and evaluation of a position of Lithuania concerning proposals to adopt legal acts of the European Union (as they are defined in paragraph 3 of Article 1801), when necessary to present Seimas opinion regarding these positions to the Government and to evaluate the presentation of the position in the institutions of the European Union; 11) within the limits of its competence to consider other documents of the European Union (as they are defined in paragraph 4 of Article 1801), when necessary to present Seimas opinion regarding this position to the Government and to evaluate the presentation of the position in the institutions of the European Union; 12) within the limits of its competence to present, when necessary, to the Seimas the conclusions on the compliance of the proposals to adopt the legal acts of the European Union (as they are defined in paragraph 3 of Article 1801) with the principle of subsidiarity. Article 69. Trends of Activities of the Committee on State Administration and Local Authorities The trends of activities of the Committee on State Administration and Local Authorities shall be: 1) upon the instruction of the Seimas or on its own initiative, to prepare drafts of legal acts on the issues of state government and public administration, reform of territorial structures, organisation, financing and economic independence of the work of local self-government; 2) to consider drafts of laws and other legal acts, prepare conclusions and proposals related to them, on the issues of state government, public administration, and local self-government reform, administrative division of the territory of the State, regulation of the legal relations of civil service and local self-government; 3) to consider the Government programme provisions pertaining to state government, public administration and local self-government reform; 4) within the competence of the Committee, to consider and to present conclusions to the Seimas concerning the candidatures of heads of public authorities and other political officials who are appointed by the Seimas; 5) to consider the chapters of a draft law on the approval of financial indicators of the State Budget and municipal budgets, to prepare in conjunction with other committees conclusions related to the execution of the State Budget and municipal budgets; 6) to approve the proposals, submitted to the Seimas by the Government, on the administrative division of the territory of the State and the establishment of territorial boundaries of individual municipalities and counties; 7) to submit conclusions to the Seimas concerning the motivation for introducing the direct rule, and setting of the date of new elections to municipal councils; 8) to discuss the issues within the competence of the committee which have been referred to it upon the instruction of the Seimas, its Board or the Chairman of the Seimas; 9) to consider proposals of the Association of Local Authorities of Lithuania on drafts of laws and other legal acts of the Seimas which are in process of preparation, on the issues of local self-government development; and 10) when exercising parliamentary scrutiny, to hear the reports and information of institutions of state administration and local self-government pertaining to the implementation of laws of the Republic of Lithuania and other acts adopted by the Seimas in respect of the issues within the competence of the Committee, to submit to the Seimas, the Government and the Association of Local Authorities of Lithuania proposals and recommendations related to the said matter. Article 70. Trends of Activities of the Committee on Human Rights The trends of activities of the Committee on Human Rights shall be: 1) to prepare and consider drafts of laws and other legal acts, as well as proposals on the issues related to the guarantees of civil rights and the regulation of relations of the nationalities living in Lithuania; 2) to present recommendations and proposals to ministries, State institutions, and other organisations, as well as Seimas committees on issues concerning the protection of civil rights and the improvement of relations of the nationalities; 3) to submit proposals in a prescribed manner concerning the structure, staff and funding of the Seimas ombudsmen institution; 4) to consider complaints, opinions and proposals referred to the Seimas concerning the work of the Seimas ombudsmen; 5) as necessary, to prepare a draft resolution on the vote of non-confidence in the Seimas ombudsman and to submit it to the Seimas for consideration, as well as to submit to the Seimas conclusions regarding the draft resolutions which are prepared by other committees; 6) to consider the material submitted by the Seimas ombudsman concerning a breach of law made by ministers and other officials answerable to the Seimas, and submit its conclusions to the Seimas for consideration; 7) to consider and prepare drafts of laws and other legal acts relating to the affairs of Lithuanians residing abroad; 8) to exercise parliamentary scrutiny of the institutions which settle the issues pertaining to the ensuring of human and civil rights. Chapter XII SEIMAS COMMISSIONS Article 71. Formation of Commissions 1. Having acknowledged the necessity, the Seimas may form a standing commission to examine special problems or to form temporary investigation, control, revision, preparatory, editorial and other commissions to examine and prepare or fulfil another mission of the Seimas. 2. If at the time of formation the term of the commission powers had not been clearly indicated, the activity of the commission shall be terminated per decision of the Seimas upon completion of the assigned tasks. 3. The number of commission members shall be established first, in forming a commission. The norms of proportional representation of the Seimas parliamentary groups, as well as the term to be proposed for candidates to commission membership shall be established after that. 4. Should the submitted list of candidates to commission membership prove to be insufficient, the parliamentary groups may each verbally suggest an additional candidate, during the meeting, and after them, also by each member of the Seimas, until the needed number of candidates shall be attained. 5. Each of the recommended candidates must agree verbally and, if not present at the meeting, submit a written agreement to work on the commission. The Seimas shall vote for the list of candidates derived thus. Should it fail to be approved, the procedure shall be repeated. 6. When candidates for commission membership are proposed during a Seimas sitting and not according to designated norms and even if at least two Seimas Members express doubt regarding any of the candidates, he shall be voted on individually. If more candidates are recommended for commission membership during a Seimas sitting, than the established number of candidates and all of the proposed candidates agree to work on the commission, an open-ballot vote shall be taken with the list of candidates included on the ballots. 7. In certain instances Seimas may establish another procedure of commission formation, however these may not consist of representatives of one parliamentary group or one committee. Article 72. The Procedure of Forming Ad Hoc Control or Investigation Commissions 1. Ad Hoc Control or Investigation Commissions shall be formed for the purpose of control of how the decisions of Seimas are being implemented, collection and presentation of collected information and conclusions, required to analyse the problem at hand, as well as in other instances stipulated in this Statute. 2. Ad Hoc Control or Investigation commissions shall be formed of at least 5 persons, in accordance with the procedure established in Article 71 of this Statute. 3. An Ad Hoc Control or Investigation commission may invite the assistance of experts in various areas. Article 73. Initiative to Form an Ad Hoc Control or Investigation Commission 1. The Seimas authorities, committees, parliamentary groups and a group of at least one-fourth of the Members of Seimas shall have the right of initiative to form Ad Hoc Control or Investigation Commissions, if in certain instances, this has not been established in this Statute. 2. Initiators must submit to the Seimas a draft proposal of the decision on forming an Ad Hoc Control of Investigation Commission, which shall indicate the aim in forming such a commission, its tasks and powers. 3. If a group of at least one-fourth of the Members of Seimas shall submit a written demand to form an Ad Hoc Control or Investigation Commission, the Seimas must form such a commission in the course or its nearest sitting. Article 74. Operating Procedure of Commissions 1. The chairman or deputy chairman of a standing commission or a commission, whose term of power extends beyond one year, shall be elected and approved according to established procedure for committees. A member of the Board of the Seimas or a Government member, may not become a commission chairman or his deputy. The Seimas shall appoint the chairman of an Ad Hoc Commission. 2. Usually, the Board of the Seimas shall approve the estimate of the commission’s expenses and other issues relevant to its activity. 1. If the Seimas does not decide otherwise, commissions shall follow the regulations of committee work procedure, during the course of its authorisation. 4. If the term of authorisation of a commission shall extend beyond one year, it will maintain all of the rights and obligations of committees. 5. Having completed its work, the commission shall submit to the Seimas its prepared or edited draft or conclusion, which the Seimas shall approve by passing a resolution . 6. Ad Hoc Control and Investigation Commissions shall act in accordance with the work procedure established by Articles 75 - 76 of this Statute. Article 75. The Powers and Working Procedure of an Ad Hoc Control or Investigation Commission 1. If an issue is being examined which is relevant to a state secret, the meetings of an Ad Hoc Control or Investigation Commission shall be closed to all persons excepting those who have been invited, whose list shall be compiled in accordance with the commission member desires. In other instances the Ad Hoc Control or Investigation Commission may hold closed meetings only upon receiving concurrence from the Seimas. 2. The data collected in the course of work by an Ad Hoc Control or Investigation Commission, that is relevant to a state secret, shall not be published. 3. The law shall establish the powers of Ad Hoc Control and Investigation Commissions. Article 76. Decisions of the Ad Hoc Control and Investigation Commission 1. Having completed the assigned operation the Ad Hoc Control and Investigation Commission shall submit to Seimas the collected and summarised data, conclusion and prepared draft decision. 2. A resolution is passed at the Seimas sitting regarding the issue examined by the Ad Hoc Control and Investigation Commission. 3. A Seimas resolution may express no confidence in the Government, minister or head of another State institution, who is appointed by the Seimas or conclusions are presented regarding the proposed impeachment process. 4. In instances of no confidence, the requirements of Articles 218 or 222 of this Statute shall be applied in order to pass a resolution. Article 77. Formation of the Commission on Ethics and Procedures 1. A standing Commission on Ethics and Procedures, into which at least one-tenth of the Members of Seimas may recommend one representative, shall be formed. Written proposals regarding the candidates to this commission shall be submitted to the Chairman of the Seimas. 2. Should the Seimas fail to confirm the first and the second candidates of those recommended by the same Members of the Seimas, a third candidate recommended by them for membership in this commission, must be confirmed. 3. The Seimas shall confirm a chairman and deputy chairman of this commission from members of the Commission on Ethics and Procedures. Article 78. Activity Trend of the Commission on Ethics and Procedures and Procedure Trend of activities of the Commission on Ethics and Procedures shall be: 1) to prepare drafts, as well as proposals of legal acts which are related to the activities and ethics of the Seimas Members; 2) by observing ethical norms, to assist the Seimas, Seimas divisions, and Members of the Seimas in fostering democracy, to co-ordinating various points of view and convictions, to striving for moral harmony, and to humanising relations between the Members of the Seimas; 3) to supervise the observance of the Statute of the Seimas and other legal acts which regulate the activities of the Seimas Members. Upon the proposal of the Chairman of the Seimas, deputy Chairmen of the Seimas, chairmen of committees and commissions, other Seimas Members, or on its own initiative, to examine violations of these legal acts or ethics, to consider conflicts which arise between the Seimas Members, and if necessary, to present conclusions to the Seimas, the Seimas Chairman, or the Board of the Seimas; 4) to examine and present conclusions concerning procedural disagreements upon the instruction of the