Seimas - tautos atstovybė: konstituciniai pagrindai.

Abstract

Under the Constitution, only Members of the Seimas are representatives of the Nation and only the Seimas is the representation of the Nation. One of the most important features according to which a state institution is to be ascribed to the representation of the Nation is that it is a collegiate (acting as a collegiate body) state institution, which is comprised from representatives of the Nation and which adopts decisions only after debates, only by majority of votes and by taking account of various opinions. The concept of the Seimas as the representation of the Nation is based upon these provisions: (1) the Seimas – the representation of the Nation – is established by the Nation itself. The Nation does so by adopting the Constitution and therein establishing the Seimas – the representation of the Nation – one of the institutions implementing state power; (2) the Nation as the subject to whom belongs sovereignty and who executes supreme sovereign power empowers the Seimas – the representation of the Nation – to execute (implement), within the limits established in the Constitution, the legislative power and to perform other functions provided for in the Constitution and those arising from it; (3) the Seimas – the representation of the Nation – while executing the powers ascribed to it by the Constitution, may not overstep the limits, which the Nation has been established to in the Constitution, i. e. in its activities the Seimas is bound by the Constitution as well as the laws that the Seimas itself has adopted.