22 Facts About Seimas

1.

The powers of the Seimas are defined by the Constitution and the laws of Lithuania.

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2.

Primary function of the Seimas is to consider, adopt and issue laws and amendments to the Constitution.

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3.

The Seimas approves the state budget proposed by the Government, supervises its implementation, and sets state taxation.

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4.

Seimas approves or rejects the candidate for the Prime Minister nominated by the President.

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5.

The Seimas must give its assent to the newly formed Government and its programme before the Government can start their work.

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6.

Seimas appoints and dismisses justices and presidents of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals, proposed by the President.

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7.

Seimas establishes and disestablishes ministries of the Government, establishes state awards, can declare martial law and emergencies, start mobilization and introduce direct local rule on municipalities.

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8.

Seimas has 141 members, elected to a four-year term in parallel voting, with 71 members elected in single-seat constituencies and 70 members elected by proportional representation.

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9.

Seven elections of the Seimas have been held in Lithuania since independence in 1990.

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10.

Sittings of the Seimas are presided over by the Speaker of the Seimas or a Deputy Speaker.

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11.

Right of legislative initiative in the Seimas belongs to the members of the Seimas, the President, and the Government.

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12.

Seimas Committees perform thorough analysis of the draft law, present it to interested state institutions and organizations, consult specialists in different fields and hear opinions on the draft.

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13.

Seimas meets annually in two regular sessions: a spring session and an autumn session .

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14.

The open sittings of the Seimas are broadcast on cable television and via the internet.

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15.

The III Seimas Palace was originally occupied by the Council of the Center of Labour Unions and is used by the Committees of the Seimas, housing the restaurant and other administrative functions.

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16.

However, it is considered that the first Seimas met in Hrodna in 1445 during talks between Casimir IV Jagiellon and the Council of Lords.

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17.

At the beginning of the 16th century, the Seimas acquired some legislative powers and could petition the Grand Duke to pass certain laws, which the Duke usually granted in exchange for nobility's support and cooperation in taxation and war matters.

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18.

The Seimas continued the land reform, expanded the network of primary and secondary schools and introduced a system of social support.

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19.

The Seimas was interrupted by 1926 Lithuanian coup d'etat in December, when the democratically elected government was replaced with the authoritarian rule of Antanas Smetona.

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20.

The primary task of the new Seimas was to adopt a new constitution, which was accomplished on 11 February 1938.

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21.

Later part of the term of the Seimas was again characterized by an economic crisis, brought about by Russian financial crisis of 1998.

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22.

The term of the Tenth Seimas was plagued a severe economic crisis and the bust of the housing bubble.

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