Toward Democratic Governance: The Lithuanian Local Elite

Abstract

The most important basic changes of the Lithuanian local government system occurred on March 11, 1990, with the Parliamentary declaration of reestablishing the Independence of the Republic of Lithuania. The transition from the authoritarian system to a democracy required the further clarification of the functions of local government through a number of laws.¹ The legal basis for a real development of democratic local governance was set between 1994 and 1995. By implementing the Law on Territorial Administrative Units and Their Boundaries, the former system of two levels and five categories of 581 administrative units was replaced with a system of two levels and two categories of 66 administrative units.

The most important are the Law on Local Self-government (adopted 7 July 1994 and amended thirteen times), the Law on Elections to Local Government Councils (adopted 7 July 1994 and amended seven times), the Law on the Status of Local Government Councilor (adopted 7 February 1995), the Law on Territorial Administrative Units and Their Boundaries (adopted on 19 July 1995 and amended twice), the Law on Governing of the County (adopted 15 December 1994 and amended eight times), the Law on Temporary Direct Governing in Urban and Rural Local Governments (adopted 28 March 1995 and amended twice).