Lithuania

## **Policy process**

The main body of implementing policies in Lithuania is the Parliament (Seimas). However, the initiation of new policies is not only limited to the Parliament, but also to the Government (the cabinet of ministers), the President and Lithuanian citizens who have a right to vote (if they collect at least 50 thousand signatures on a petition then Seimas is obliged to consider the proposal).

When talking about Constitutional policies, half of all (141) Seimas members have to vote, whereas for passing an ordinary policy it is enough to have the majority of Seimas members present in the meeting. Referendum is also possible when applying new Constitutional policies. The latest referendum in Lithuania was organised in 2019 - about the right for Lithuanian citizens to hold a dual citizenship. However, there weren't enough voters to change the Constitution. Another referendum before this one was organised in 2014 - it concerned three articles of Lithuanian Constitution. People voted if foreigners and juridical persons should be banned from buying land in Lithuania; and if the minimum requirement of 100 thousand signatures of Lithuanian citizens should be established for initiating referendums. However, there weren't enough voters.

All policies are considered implemented with a signature of the President of Lithuania. The President can sign the policy suggested by Seimas or return it to Seimas for additional review. The policy is considered implemented if after the additional review the corrections of the President were applied to the policy or if more than half of all Seimas members voted for it.

If the President does not do any of the steps mentioned above, the policy is implemented after the chairman of Seimas signs and officially announces it.

It is suggested that in democratic country most of the policy drafts should be proposed by the Government since it knows the situation in the country the best. However, according to the research of 2015, the situation in Lithuania is a little bit different as the Government proposes 47 percent of policies and Seimas - 51 percent [1].

Monitoring of policies implementation is coordinated by the Ministry of Justice in Lithuania. It sets the procedure, subjects and policies which needs to be monitored [2].

## **National actors**

Seimas - under the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania of October 1992, the unicameral Parliament of Lithuania, Seimas, is composed of 141 MPs who are elected for a four-year term in one-candidate or multi-candidate electoral areas on the basis of universal and equal suffrage by secret ballot in direct mixed system elections. Parliament elects committees from its members to explore drafts for legislation and to clarify other issues in accordance with the Constitution. Parliamentary commissions (standing and ad hoc) are formed to carry out short-term or limited assignments [3].

Government - consists of the Prime Minister and ministers. The Government represents the executive power in Lithuania. It resolves public issues by taking a majority-vote decisions in its sittings. The Government has the right of legislative initiative at Seimas. It adopts resolutions on Seima's draft laws and other proposals submitted to Seimas. The Prime Minister or an authorized minister attends the proposal deliberation procedure [4].

President - decides the basic issues of foreign policy and, together with the Government, conducts it. Also, signs international treaties and submit them to Seimas for ratification. Holds the right of legislative initiative at Seimas, and the right to veto the laws passed by Seimas [5].

## **Regional actors**

Lithuania has 60 municipalities each of them has their council. These institutions are representative bodies responsible for self-government rights in municipality. They are responsible for achieving the goals promised to citizens of the municipalities. Each municipality has a mayor who since 2015 is elected by citizens and not by the Municipal council.

Municipalities have different forms of responsibilities and abilities of policies. They can act alone according to the Constitution of Lithuania. Also, they have to act according to the functions of the whole country, which are transferred to municipalities by Seimas. They can also have contractual functions which are assigned by the contracts which municipalities sign [6].