Lithuania - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Lithuania, it was meaning of the name "Lietuva" remains unclear and is debated by scholars; it may derive from the Lietava, a stream in east central Lithuania. The Government system in this country is the semi-presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 60 municipalities (savivaldybe, singular - savivaldybe); Akmene, Alytaus Miestas, Alytus, Anksciai, Birstonas, Birzai, Druskininkai, Elektrenai, Ignalina, Jonava, Joniskis, Jurbarkas, Kaisiadorys, Kalvarija, Kauno Miestas, Kaunas, Kazlu Rudos, Kedainiai, Kelme, Klaipedos Miestas, Klaipeda, Kretinga, Kupiskis, Lazdijai, Marijampole, Mazeikiai, Moletai, Neringa, Pagegiai, Pakruojis, Palangos Miestas, Panevezio Miestas, Panevezys, Pasvalys, Plunge, Prienai, Radviliskis, Raseiniai, Rietavas, Rokiskis, Sakiai, Salcininkai, Siauliu Miestas, Siauliai, Silale, Silute, Sirvintos, Skuodas, Svencionys, Taurage, Telsiai, Trakai, Ukmerge, Utena, Varena, Vilkaviskis, Vilniaus Miestas, Vilnius, Visaginas, Zarasai
National symbols
Mounted knight known as Vytis (the Chaser), white stork; national colors: yellow, green, red.
The flag
The National flag of Lithuania has three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red; yellow symbolizes golden fields, as well as the sun, light, and goodness; green represents the forests of the countryside, in addition to nature, freedom, and hope; red stands for courage and the blood spilled in defense of the homeland.
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The National Anthem
| Title | "Tautiska giesme" (The National Song) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Vincas KUDIRKA |
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note: adopted 1918, restored 1990; written in 1898 while Lithuania was a part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990
More about the government of Lithuania
| Date of Independence | 16 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia and Germany); 11 March 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 6 July 1253 (coronation of MINDAUGAS, traditional founding date); 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | Independence Day (or National Day), 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 was the date Lithuania established its statehood and its concomitant independence from Soviet Russia and Germany; 11 March 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of Lithuanian statehood and its concomitant independence from the Soviet Union |
| Legal system | civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the Constitutional Court |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Constitution | |
| History | Several previous; latest adopted by referendum 25 October 1992, entered into force 2 November 1992 |
| Amendments | Proposed by at least one fourth of all Parliament members or by petition of at least 300,000 voters; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of two readings three months apart and a presidential signature; amendments to constitutional articles on national sovereignty and constitutional amendment procedure also require three-fourths voter approval in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2022 |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | at least one parent must be a citizen of Lithuania |
| Dual citizenship recognized | no |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 10 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | President Gitanas NAUSEDA (since 12 July 2019) |
| Head of government | Prime Minister Ingrida SIMONYTE (since 24 November 2020) |
| Cabinet | Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by Parliament |
| Elections/appointments | president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); first round of the election held on 12 May 204 (runoff to be held on 12 May 2024); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by Parliament |
| Election results | 2024: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in the second round; percent of vote -Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 74.6%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (independent) 24.4% 2019: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 66.7%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (independent) 33.3% |
| Legislative branch | |
| Description | Unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats; 71 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote and 70 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) |
| Elections | Last held on 11 and 25 October 2020 (next to be held on 13 October 2024) |
| Election results | Percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - TS-LKD 50, LVZS 32, LSDP 13, LRLS 13, LP 11, DP 10, LLRA-KSS 3, LSDDP 3, LT 1, LZP 1, independent 4; composition - men 99, women 41, percentage women 29.3% |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court (consists of 37 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges) |
| Judge selection and term of office | Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Seimas; judges serve 5-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Seimas from nominations - 3 each by the president of the republic, the Seimas speaker, and the Supreme Court president; judges serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms; one-third of membership reconstituted every 3 years |
| Subordinate courts | Court of Appeals; district and local courts |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Audra PLEPYTĖ (since 7 July 2021) |
| Chancery | 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 234-5860 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 328-0466 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://usa.mfa.lt/usa/en/ |
| Consulate(s) general | Chicago, Los Angeles, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Kara C. McDONALD (since 26 January 2024) |
| Embassy | Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106 |
| Mailing address | 4510 Vilnius Place, Washington DC 20521-4510 |
| Telephone | [370] (5) 266-5500 |
| FAX | [370] (5) 266-5510 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://lt.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 5 (all cultural) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Vilnius Historic Center; Curonian Spit; Kernavė Archaeological Site; Struve Geodetic Arc; Modernist Kaunas: Architecture of Optimism, 1919-1939 |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Lithuania
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Lithuania
Want to know more about Lithuania? Check all different factbooks for Lithuania below.
