Introduction

Lithuania declared independence in 1990 and adopted its current Constitution in 1992. Lithuania is a parliamentary democracy and a decentralised unitary state. The Lithuanian Parliament is called the Seimas. The 141 members of the Seimas are elected by a mixed system: half is elected in the single-member constituencies, using a two-round system, and the other half is elected in the multi-member constituencies, using a proportional representation system.

Lithuania is composed of 10 regions (Lith. apskritis) that are divided in 60 municipalities (Lith. savivaldybė). On 1 July 2010, the regional administrations (Administrations of the Governor of the Region) were abolished. Currently, regions serve as territorial and statistical units only and their functions were distributed among municipalities (minority) and the central government bodies (majority). Municipalities are the only self-governing authorities. Municipal councils are elected for four-year terms. Since 1 March 2015, mayors are elected directly and serve four-year terms, too. The municipal administrations are managed by an executive director (titled 'director of the municipal administration'), appointed by the municipal council upon proposal by the mayor (Art. 16 (9), 20 (4) and Art. 29 (3) of the 1994 Law on Local Self Government).

Local self-government through municipalities is provided for by the Constitution (Art. 119-124) and specified in the 1994 Law on Local Self-Government (LLSG) as well as the 1994 Law on Territorial Administrative Units and their Boundaries (LTAUD).

According to the Constitution, the Lithuanian budgetary system consists of an independent state budget and independent municipal budgets (Art. 127). Municipalities have the right to establish local levies (Art.121).

Central level

National legislative responsibilities in all areas (Art. 5 of the Constitution).

Regional level

The regions serve as statistical and territorial units only.

Local level

According to LLSG Art. 5-7, local authorities perform two types of functions: functions delegated by the state and independent functions.

In particular, they are responsible for:

Independent functions (Art. 6):

• Budgeting;
• Local fees and charges;
• Management of municipal property;
• Establishment and maintenance of municipal agencies and companies;
• Planning and provision of social services;
• Facilitating social integration of the disabled;
• Housing support;
• Social allowances;
• Contributing to employment;
• Primary health care and public health services;
• Local strategic development;
• Regional development programmes;
• Information society development;
• Spatial planning;
• Building permissions, regulations;
• Environmental protection;
• Sports and recreation;
• Culture promotion and support;
• Local cultural centres and museums;
• Management of local protected areas;
• Organisation of local public transport;
• Maintenance of local roads and public areas;
• Noise prevention;
• Heating, drinking water and sanitation;
• Household waste management;
• Sanitary and hygiene rules and enforcement;
• Burial services and cemetery maintenance;
• Ensuring education of children;
• Provision of educational assistance;
• Free school transportation and school meals;
• Organisation of non-formal education and activities (children and adults);
• Vocational training;
• Contribution to protecting children's rights, family support;
• Promotion of local entrepreneurship;
• Facilitating business and tourism;
• Licencing;
• Public safety and security;
• Defining the boundaries of hunting areas.

Delegated functions (Art. 7):

• Public registry services;
• Management of local archives;
• State property management;
• Provision of statistical data;
•  Administration and registration of agricultural activities;
• Administration of rural development measures;
• Participation in labour market measures;
• Social benefits administration;
• Social care for the severely disabled;
• Organising of compulsory education (pre-school, primary, secondary and vocational);
• Youth policy implementation;
• Administration of rural development measures;
• Participation in the organisation of elections;
• Surveys, initiatives and censuses;
• Provision of state‑guaranteed primary legal assistance;
  
• Civil protection;
• Fire protection;
• Radiation protection;
• Participation in mobilisation efforts;
• Participation in the management of national parks;
• Organisation of secondary health care;
• Health care at general education and vocational training schools.