The Government of Lithuania

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.

The National Anthem

Title	"Tautiska giesme" (The National Song)
Lyric/music	Vincas KUDIRKA

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

Constitution
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
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 Gintautas PALUCKAS (since 12 December 2024)
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); election last held on 26 May 2024 (next election to be held in 2029); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by Parliament
Election results	2024: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote -Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 75.6%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (TS-LKD) 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
Legislature name	Parliament (Seimas)
Legislative structure	Unicameral
Number of seats	141 (all directly elected)
Electoral system	Mixed system
Scope of elections	Full renewal
Term in office	4 years
Most recent election date	10/13/2024 to 10/27/2024
Parties elected and seats per party	Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) (52); Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) (28); Political Party "The Dawn of Nemunas" (PPNA) (20); Union of Democrats “For Lithuania” (DSVL) (14); Liberals Movement of the Republic of Lithuania (LS) (12); Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS) (8); Other (7)
Percentage of women in chamber	28.4%
Expected date of next election	October 2028
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