Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1299

 CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT 1247

Greater Lithuania fell under Russian rule, and Lithuania Minor was annexed by Prussia. The Russian rigims lasted till the Russian revolution of 1905, and partly up to the time of the war in 1914. From 1915 till the conclusion of the armistice Lithuania was under German occupation.

In 1917 a Lithuanian Conference of 200 representatives at Vilna elected a Lithuanian State Council (Taryba) and demanded the complete inde- pendence of Lithuania. The independence of the Lithuanian State was proclaimed on February 16", 1918.

The Lithuanian Government has been recognised by Great Britain, France, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Poland, Switzerland, and Finland as a de facto Government, and by Russia v Treaty of Peace of July 12, 1920) and Germany as a de jure Government.

Constitution and Government.— The provisional constitution adopted by the Constituent Assembly on June 2, 1920, declan-s that the State of Lithuania is a Democratic Republic, the Constituent Assembly is the exponent of the sovereign power of Lithuania, and the Constituent As- sembly makes laws, ratifies treaties with other States, approves the State budget and superintends the execution of the laws. The Executive Power is placed in the hands of the President of the Republic and of the Cabinet of Ministers. The President of the Republic is elected by the Constituent Assembly. The President chooses the Minister-President (Premier), who forms the Cabinet. The President also appoints the higher military and civil officials of the State. Until the President of the Republic i» elected, his duties are to be performed by the President of the Constituent Assembly. In case of the death, resignation or illness of the President, his place is to be taken by the President of the Constituent Assembly. All the acts of the President must be countersigned by the Premier or the proper Minister. The Cabinet of Ministers is responsible to the Constituent Assembly and resigns on an expression of a lack of confidence by the latter. The Members of the Constituent Assembly on entering the Cabinet of Ministers do not cease to be Members of the Constituent Assembly.

All the citizens of Lithuania, without distinction of sex, nationality or religion, are equal before the law ; there are no classes or titles. All citizens are also guaranteed inviolability of person, homes, and correspondence, and freedom of religion, conscience, press, spee:h, strikes, assembly and organi - sation. The penalty of death is abolished.

The Constituent Assembly of Lithuania was elected April 15, 1920, by universal, equal, direct and secret suffrage according to the proportional system, the electoral unit being one representative to about 15,000 inhabi- tants. There were elected 112 representatives, composed as follows : — Christian Democrats, 59 ; Social Populist Democrats, 29 ; Social Democrats, 13 ; Jews, 6 ; Poles, 3 ; non-party, 1.

Acting President o f Lithuania. — A. Stulginskis, President of Constituent Assembly (appointed 1920).

The present Cabinet of Ministers was formed on June 8, 1920, and is as follows : —

Prims Minister. — Dr. K. Grinius.

Minister of Finance, Trade and Commerce, and of Comwittnications. — E Galvanauskas.

Minister for Foreign Affairs.— Dr. J. Puriekis. Minister of National Defence. — Lieut. -Colonel K. Zukas. Minister of the Interior.— K. Skipitis.