niu
Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos
Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*,
Marijampoles Rajonas, Mazeikiu Rajonas, Moletu Rajonas, Neringa*
Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*, Panevezio Rajonas, Panevezys*, Pasvalio
Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas, Prienu Rajonas, Radviliskio Rajonas,
Raseiniu Rajonas, Rokiskio Rajonas, Sakiu Rajonas, Salcininku
Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Silutes
Rajonas, Sirvintu Rajonas, Skuodo Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas,
Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traku Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas,
Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas, Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus
Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas

Independence: 11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet
Union); 6 September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania's
independence)

National holiday: Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16
February 1918 is the date of independence from German, Austrian,
Prussian, and Russian occupation, 11 March 1990 is the date of
independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution: adopted 25 October 1992

Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of
legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since
26 February 1998)

head of government: Premier Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS (since 3 July 2001)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the premier

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 21 December 1997 and 4 January 1998 (next to be
held NA 2002); premier appointed by the president on the approval of
the Parliament

election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote
- Valdas ADAMKUS 50.4%, Arturas PAULAUSKAS 49.6%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71
members are directly elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by
proportional representation; members serve four-year terms)

elections: last held 8 October 2000 (next to be held NA October
2004)

election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democratic
Coalition 31.1%, New Union/Social Liberals 19.6%, Liberal Union
17.2%, TS 8.6%, remaining parties all less than 5%; seats by party -
Social Democratic Coalition 52, Liberal Union 34, New Union/Social
Liberals 29, TS 9, Farmer's Party 4, Center Union 2, Poles'
Electoral Action 2, Modern Christian Democratic Union 1,
indepen