Legal System of Lithuania

Lithuania is located in Europe. It is geographically situated in eastern europe, bordering the baltic sea, between latvia and russia, west of belarus. The country achieved independence on 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). The capital is Vilnius.

Government Overview

Government Type: semi-presidential republic Chief of State: President Gitanas NAUSEDA (since 12 July 2019) Head of Government: Prime Minister Inga RUGINIENE (since 25 September 2025) Cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by Parliament Administrative Divisions: 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 Holiday: Independence Day (or National Day), 16 February (1918) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal System

The legal system of Lithuania is described as civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the Constitutional Court International Law: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: several previous; latest adopted by referendum 25 October 1992, entered into force 2 November 1992 Amendment Process: 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

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 37 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges) Judge Selection: 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

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of unicameral

Citizenship and Suffrage

Citizenship by Birth: no Citizenship by Descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of Lithuania Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Historical Background

Lithuanian lands were united under MINDAUGAS in 1236; over the next century, Lithuania extended its territory through alliances and conquest to include most of present-day Belarus and Ukraine. By the end of the 14th century, Lithuania was the largest state in Europe. An alliance with Poland in 1386 led the two countries into a union through a common ruler. In 1569, Lithuania and Poland formally united into a single dual state, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Lithuania based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.