Lithuania - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Lithuania, it was meaning of the name is obscure; may be derived from the local words lietava, meaning "small river," or lietus, meaning "rain" or "land of rain," or the Latin word litus, meaning "shore". 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.
The flag
The National flag of Lithuania has .
Info
The National Anthem
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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) |
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| National holiday | Independence Day (or National Day), 16 February (1918) |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | Acting Prime Minister Rimantas SADZIUS (since 4 August 2025) |
| Cabinet | Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by Parliament |
| Election/appointment process | president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by Parliament |
| Most recent election date | 26 May 2024 |
| 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% |
| Expected date of next election | 2029 |
| 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 Gediminas VARVUOLIS (since 5 September 2025) |
| 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
Info
International organization participation
All Important Facts about Lithuania
Want to know more about Lithuania? Check all different factbooks for Lithuania below.
