Info
Direct Democracy
DD002
Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: Constitution
Article 4:
The Nation shall execute its supreme sovereign power either directly or through its democratically elected representatives.
Article 9:
The most significant issues concerning the life of the State and the Nation shall be decided by referendum.
In cases established by law, the Seimas shall call a referendum.
A referendum shall also be called if not less than 300,000 citizens with the electoral right so request.
The procedure for calling and conducting referendums shall be established by law.
Article 68:
(2) The citizens of the Republic of Lithuania shall also have the right of legislative initiative. 50,000 citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who have the electoral right may submit a draft law to the Seimas, and the Seimas must consider it.
Article 69:
(4) The provisions of laws of the Republic of Lithuania may also be adopted by referendum.
Article 148:
(1)The provision “The State of Lithuania shall be an independent democratic republic” of Article 1 of the Constitution may be altered only by referendum if not less than 3/4 of the citizens of Lithuania with the electoral right vote in favour thereof.
Source: Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania (25 October 1992, as last amended on 25 April 2006), art. 4, 9, 68(2), 69(4), 148(1)
http://www3.lrs.lt/home/Konstitucija/Constitution.htm
Republic of Lithuania, Law on Referendum (4 June 2002, as last amended on 12 September 2012 – No XI-2216)
http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/europe/LT/republic-of-lithuania-law-on-referendum-2002-last/at_download/file
Verified: 2020/06/05
DD003
Mandatory referendums (national level)
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: Article 4:
1. Referendums shall be mandatory with regard to the following issues:
1) on the amendment to the provision of Article 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania that, “the State of Lithuania shall be an independent and democratic republic;”
2) on the amendment to the provisions of Chapter I of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, “the State of Lithuania;”
3) on the amendment to the provisions of Chapter XIV of the Republic of Lithuania Constitution, “Amending the Constitution;”
4) on the amendment to the Constitutional Act, dated June 8, 1992, “On Non-Alignment of the Republic of Lithuania to Post-Soviet Eastern Alliances;”
5) regarding participation by the Republic of Lithuania in international organizations, should this participation be linked with the partial transfer of the scope of competence of Government bodies to the institutions of international organizations or the jurisdiction thereof.
2. Mandatory referendums may be held also with regard to other laws or provisions thereof, which 300 thousand citizens having the right to vote or the Seimas shall submit a proposal for to be decided by means of a referendum
Source: Republic of Lithuania, Law on Referendum (4 June 2002, As last amended on 6 May 2014 — No XII-860), art. 4
https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/7b65c002233a11e6acbed8d454428fb7?jfwid=nz8qn8fey
Verified: 2020/06/05
DD004
Optional referendums (national level)
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: Article 5: Consultative (deliberative) referendums may be held with respect to other issues of utmost importance to the State and the People, regarding which it is not necessary to hold a mandatory referendum, they are being proposed for a referendum by 300 thousand citizens having the right to vote or the Seimas.
Source: Republic of Lithuania, Law on Referendum (4 June 2002, As last amended on 6 May 2014 — No XII-860), art. 5
https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/7b65c002233a11e6acbed8d454428fb7?jfwid=nz8qn8fey
Verified: 2019/04/15
DD005
Citizens' Initiatives (national level)
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: Article 4:
(2) Mandatory referendums may be held also with regard to other laws or provisions thereof, which 300 thousand citizens having the right to vote or the Seimas shall submit a proposal for to be decided by means of a referendum.
Article 5:
Consultative (deliberative) referendums may be held with respect to other issues of utmost importance to the State and the People, regarding which it is not necessary to hold a mandatory referendum, they are being proposed for a referendum by 300 thousand citizens having the right to vote or the Seimas.
Source: Republic of Lithuania, Law on Referendum (4 June 2002, As last amended on 6 May 2014 — No XII-860), art. 4 (2), 5
https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/7b65c002233a11e6acbed8d454428fb7?jfwid=nz8qn8fey
Verified: 2020/06/05
DD006
Agenda Initiatives (national level)
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: Article 68:
(2) The citizens of the Republic of Lithuania shall also have the right of legislative initiative. 50,000 citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who have the electoral right may submit a draft law to the Seimas, and the Seimas must consider it.
Source: Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania (25 October 1992, as last amended on 25 April 2006), art. 68(2)http://www3.lrs.lt/home/Konstitucija/Constitution.htm
Verified: 2020/06/05
DD007
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer:
b . No
Comments:
Source: Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm)
Verified: 2020/06/05
DD129
Question: Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer:
b . Sometimes binding
Comments: Mandatory referendums result is always binding. Consultative referendums result is only advisory but must be deliberated in the Seimas.
Source: Republic of Lithuania, Law on Referendum (4 June 2002, As last amended on 6 May 2014 — No XII-860), art. 3-5
https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/7b65c002233a11e6acbed8d454428fb7?jfwid=nz8qn8fey
Verified: 2020/06/05
DD130
Question: Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer:
c . Both constitutional and other issues
Comments: Article 4:
1.Referendums shall be mandatory with regard to the following issues:
(1) on the amendment to the provision of Article 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania that, “the State of Lithuania shall be an independent and democratic republic;”
(2) on the amendment to the provisions of Chapter I of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, “the State of Lithuania;”
(3) on the amendment to the provisions of Chapter XIV of the Republic of Lithuania Constitution, “Amending the Constitution;”
(4) on the amendment to the Constitutional Act, dated June 8, 1992, “On Non-Alignment of the Republic of Lithuania to Post-Soviet Eastern Alliances;”
(5) regarding participation by the Republic of Lithuania in international organisations, should this participation be linked with the partial transfer of the scope of competence of Government bodies to the institutions of international organisations or the jurisdiction thereof.
2. Mandatory referendums may be held also with regard to other laws or provisions thereof, which 300 thousand citizens having the right to vote or the Seimas shall submit a proposal for to be decided by means of a referendum.
Article 5:
Consultative (deliberative) referendums may be held with respect to other issues of utmost importance to the State and the People, regarding which it is not necessary to hold a mandatory referendum, they are being proposed for a referendum by 300 thousand citizens having the right to vote or the Seimas.
Source: Republic of Lithuania, Law on Referendum (4 June 2002, As last amended on 6 May 2014 — No XII-860), art. 4-5
https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/7b65c002233a11e6acbed8d454428fb7?jfwid=nz8qn8fey
Verified: 2020/06/05
DD131
Question: Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer:
b . No
Comments:
Source: Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook (2008) (http://www.idea.int/publications/direct_democracy/index.cfm)
Verified: 2016/07/22
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Additional, but potentially outdated material is available here.
