The Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania and Related Structures
Organizational Chart of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania and Related Structures
Description of the Structure of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania and Related Structures
Based on the first diagram, we already know that the Parliament shapes the state's science and study policy.
This diagram presents the organizational structure of the Parliament and the activities of related structures, as well as the relationships between them.
Since the Parliament is the legislative branch of government, we need to know how Parliament sessions are organized, how specific proposals for draft laws are developed, and how the Speaker of the Seimas, the Board, the factions, and each member of the Parliemant contribute to this process.
To make it easier to follow the draft laws being registered, you can also use the Register of legal acts, which lists the laws currently registered in the Parliament. In this register, you can also find the Parliament Statute, on the basis of which this scheme was drawn up.
As already mentioned, in order to represent students effectively, it is important to identify the relevant stakeholders, in this case the Parliament committees and/or commissions where the issue raised by the student representative may be discussed.
The diagram provides an overview of all committees and commissions, but for us, as student representatives, the most important ones are the Education and Science Committee and the Youth and Sports Affairs Commission. Therefore, we provide summaries of these committees below. We must also pay greater attention to the Social Affairs and Labor Committee and the Health Affairs Committee on certain issues.
Committee on Education and Science
The Committee on Education and Science (CES) prepares and considers regulatory laws, resolutions, and proposals related to issues of state education, science, information technology, national historical memory, and the formation of state language policy. The ESC also provides conclusions on laws, resolutions, and other related draft legislation submitted to the committee for consideration by the Seimas.
You can find out more about the committee's activities here
Commission of Youth and Sport Affairs
The Youth and Sports Affairs Commission is responsible for the formation and implementation of national youth and sports policy and submits proposals to the Parliament, the Government, and other institutions regarding legislation regulating youth and sports affairs. The Commission maintains contacts with parliamentary youth and sports institutions in other countries, as well as with Lithuanian and foreign youth and sports non-governmental organizations.
Issues relevant to students may also be addressed by other committees, so it is useful to follow their agendas, which can be found here
Members of the Parliament
The members of the Parliament are 141 Lithuanian citizens elected in democratic elections.
More about the duties of a member of the Parliament
Chairperson of the Parliament
The Chairperson of the Parliament is the head of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania, elected by a majority vote of the Parliament for the term of office of the Parliament. In exercising his or her powers, the Chairperson of the Parliament issues orders.
More about the duties of Chairperson of the Parliament
Deputy Chairpersons of the Parliament
The Deputy Chairpersons of the Parliament perform the functions assigned to them by the Chairperson of the Parliament.
More about the duties of the deputy chairpersons of the Parliament
Parliamentary Board
The Parliamentary Board consists of the Chairperson of the Parliament, his or her deputies, and the leader of the parliamentary opposition. The Board decides on organizational matters related to the work of the Parliament and advises the Chairperson of the Parliament. If necessary, the Parliamentary Board determines which institutions or persons the main committee must send a draft law to for conclusions. The Board may also set up working groups to prepare laws and organize the joint work of committees.
You can find more detailed information here
Factions
Members of the Parliament may form factions consisting of at least seven members based on their political parties or values, in which they seek to achieve their political goals. A parliamentary group is led and represented in the Parliament by a chairperson or deputy chairperson. Members of the Parliament who are not registered in factions are recognized as members of a single mixed group of members of the Parliament, which has the rights of a faction.
You can find more detailed information here
Chairperson of the Parliamentary faction
The fraction of members of the Parliament is headed and represented in the Parliament by the fraction leader or deputy leader.
You can find more detailed information here
Conference of Chairs
The Parliament has a Conefrence of Chairs, which includes members of the Parliament's Board and representatives of parliamentary groups, whose number is proportional to the number of members of the parliamentary groups. The main task of the Conference of Chairs is to discuss the work programs and agendas of the Seimas sessions, coordinate the organization of the work of parliamentary committees and factions, submit draft decisions on these issues to the Parliament and the Board, and advise the Chairperson of the Parliament.
You can find more detailed information here
The Committees
The Parliament forms committees to examine laws and resolve other issues. Committees may form subcommittees from among their members for the most important areas of activity. The work of committees is led by their chairpersons. The main areas of activity of committees are lawmaking and parliamentary control.
The committees analyze how laws and other parliamentary decisions are implemented, review the activity reports of institutions accountable to the Parliament, submit proposals and recommendations to institutions and monitor their implementation, and conduct parliamentary investigations.
You can find information about all committees operating in the Seimas here
The Commissions
The Parliament forms committees to examine laws and resolve other issues. The committees are headed by their chairpersons. The main areas of activity of the committees are lawmaking and parliamentary control.
Committees and commissions analyze how laws and other parliamentary decisions are implemented, review the activity reports of institutions accountable to the Parliament, submit proposals and recommendations to institutions and monitor their implementation, and conduct parliamentary investigations.
You can find information about all the committees operating in the Parliament here
Provisional Groups
To address specific issues, members of the Parliament (at least five) may form temporary working groups.
You can find out more about the provisional groups operating in the Seimas here
Office of the Parliament
The staff of the Parliamentary ofifice perform various tasks to ensure the smooth operation of the Parliament and the uninterrupted legislative process, improve the dissemination and accessibility of information about the work of the Parliament, and develop international cooperation in a consistent and targeted manner.
You can find more detailed information here