Lietuvos valstybės taryba kaip konstitucinis institutas: (1918 m. lapkritis - 1920 m. gegužė)

Abstract

Composed in 1917 State Council of Lithuania was a public institution, which neither performed governing functions nor did it undertake the functions of public affairs management. Occupational German government recognised only its advisory role. Having secured recognition of Lithuanian expatriates the Council as a representative of the people became political centre of revival the state of Lithuania. In 1918, February 16 it promulgated the Act of Independence, on November 2, same year, having named itself State Council of Lithuania it took advantage of a favourable situation and adopted Provisional Constitution, which made the Council the only legislative institution, and its Presidium – a collective head of the state. In the course of further development of the state the role of State Council had been gradually decreasing. Since 1919 the Council would not hold meetings and legislative functions had been overtaken by The Cabinet of Ministers which became the main legislator, in April Presidium of the Council lost its powers of supreme institution. Gradually State Council became an institution of secondary importance and ceased to exist right after the Foundig Parliament assembled.