CHAPTER VII. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
Article 91
The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall consist of the Prime Minister and Ministers.
Article 92
The Prime Minister shall, with the assent of the Seimas, be appointed and dismissed by the President of the Republic.
The Ministers shall be appointed and dismissed by the President of the Republic upon the submission of the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister, within 15 days of his appointment, shall present to the Seimas the Government which he has formed and which has been approved by the President of the Republic, and shall present its programme to the Seimas for consideration.
The Government shall return its powers to the President of the Republic after the Seimas elections or upon election of the President of the Republic.
A new Government shall receive the powers to act after the Seimas gives assent to its programme by majority vote of the Members of the Seimas participating in the sitting.
Article 93
When taking office, the Prime Minister and the Ministers shall, at the Seimas, take an oath to be faithful to the Republic of Lithuania, to observe the Constitution and laws. The text of the oath shall be established by the Law on the Government.
Article 94
The Government of the Republic of Lithuania:
- shall administer the affairs of the country, protect the inviolability of the territory of the Republic of Lithuania, guarantee State security and public order;
- shall execute laws and resolutions of the Seimas on the implementation of the laws as well as the decrees of the President of the Republic;
- shall co-ordinate the activities of the ministries and other establishments of the Government;
- shall prepare a draft State Budget and submit it to the Seimas; execute the State Budget and submit to the Seimas a report on the execution of the budget;
- shall prepare draft laws and present them to the Seimas for consideration;
- shall establish diplomatic ties and maintain relations with foreign states and international organization;
- shall discharge other duties prescribed to the Government by the Constitution and other laws.
Article 95
The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall resolve the affairs of State governance at its sittings by adopting resolutions by majority vote of all the members of the Government. The State Controller may also participate in the sittings of the Government.
The Government resolutions shall be signed by the Prime Minister and the Minister of a corresponding branch.
Article 96
The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall be jointly and severally responsible to the Seimas for the general activities of the Government.
The Ministers, in directing the branches of administration entrusted to them, shall be responsible to the Seimas, the President of the Republic, and directly subordinate to the Prime Minister.
Article 97
The Prime Minister shall represent the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and shall head its activities.
When the Prime Minister is not available, or when he is unable to hold office, the President of the Republic, upon the submission of the Prime Minister, shall charge one of the Ministers to substitute for the Prime Minister during a period not exceeding 60 days; when there is no such submission, the President of the Republic shall charge one of the Ministers to substitute for the Prime Minister.
Article 98
A Minister shall head his respective ministry, shall resolve issues belonging to the competence of the ministry, and shall also discharge other functions provided for by laws.
Only another member of the Government appointed by the Prime Minister may temporarily substitute for a Minister.
Article 99
The Prime Minister and Ministers may not hold any other elected or appointed office, may not work in any business, commercial or other private establishments or enterprises, nor may they receive any remuneration other than that established for their respective Government offices and payment for creative activities.
Article 100
The Prime Minister and Ministers may not be held criminally liable, arrested or have their freedom restricted otherwise without the prior consent of the Seimas, while between the sessions of the Seimas—without the prior consent of the President of the Republic.
Article 101
Upon the request of the Seimas, the Government or individual Ministers must give an account of their activities to the Seimas.
When more than half of the Ministers are changed, the Government must once again receive its powers from the Seimas. Otherwise, the Government must resign.
The Government must also resign in the following cases:
- when the Seimas two times in succession does not give assent to the programme of the newly-formed Government;
- when the Seimas, by majority vote of all the Members of the Seimas, by secret ballot expresses no-confidence in the Government or in the Prime Minister;
- when the Prime Minister resigns or dies;
- after elections to the Seimas, when a new Government is formed.
A Minister must resign when more than half of all the Members of the Seimas, by secret ballot, express no-confidence in him.
The President of the Republic shall accept the resignation of the Government or a Minister.
