Preamble
The Lithuanian Nation
- having established the State of Lithuania many centuries ago,
- having based its legal foundations on the Lithuanian Statutes and the Constitutions of the Republic of Lithuania,
- having for centuries defended its freedom and independence,
- having preserved its spirit, native language, writing, and customs,
- embodying the inborn right of each person and the People to live and create freely in the land of their fathers and forefathers, the independent State of Lithuania,
- fostering national concord in the land of Lithuania,
- striving for an open, just, and harmonious civil society and law-governed State, by the will of the citizens of the reborn State of Lithuania,
- approves and declares this Constitution.
Chapter 1 The State of Lithuania
Article 1
The State of Lithuania shall be an independent and democratic republic.
Article 2
The State of Lithuania shall be created by the People. Sovereignty shall be vested in the People.
Article 3
1. No one may limit or restrict the sovereignty of the People or make claims to the sovereign powers of the People.
2. The People and each citizen shall have the right to oppose anyone who encroaches on the independence, territorial integrity, or constitutional order of the State of Lithuania by force.
Article 4
The People shall exercise the supreme sovereign power vested in them either directly or through their democratically elected representatives.
Article 5
1. In Lithuania, the powers of the State shall be exercised by the Parliament, the President of the Republic and Government, and the Judiciary.
2. The scope of powers shall be defined by the Constitution.
3. Institutions of power shall serve the people.
Article 6
1. The Constitution shall be an integral and directly applicable statute.
2. Every person may defend his or her rights on the basis of the Constitution.
Article 7
1. Any law or other statute which contradicts the Constitution shall be invalid.
2. Only laws which are promulgated shall be valid.
3. Ignorance of the law shall not exempt a person from responsibility.
Article 8
The forced seizure of State power or any of its institutions shall be considered an anti-constitutional action, which is illegal and invalid.
Article 9
1. The most significant issues concerning the life of the State and the People shall be decided by referendum.
2. In the cases established by law, referendums shall be announced by the Parliament.
3. Referendums shall also be announced if no less than 300,000 of the electorate so request.
4. The procedure for the announcement and execution of a referendum shall be established by law.
Article 10
1. The territory of the State of Lithuania shall be integral and shall not be divided into any state derivatives.
2. The State borders may only be realigned by an international treaty of the Republic of Lithuania which has been ratified by four-fifths of all the Parliament members.
Article 11
The administrative divisions of the territory of the State of Lithuania and their boundaries shall be determined by law.
Article 12
1. Citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania shall be acquired by birth or on other bases established by law.
2. With the exception of cases established by law, no person may be a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania and another state at the same time.
3. The procedure for the acquisition and loss of citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania shall be established by law.
Article 13
1. The State of Lithuania shall protect its citizens abroad.
2. It shall be prohibited to extradite a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania to another state unless an international agreement whereto the Republic of Lithuania is a party establishes otherwise.
Article 14
Lithuanian shall be the State language.
Article 15
1. The colors of the State flag shall be yellow, green, and red.
2. The State emblem shall be a white Vytis on a red background.
3. The State flag and emblem and their use shall be established by law.
Article 16
The national anthem shall be Vincas Kudirka's "Tautiska Giesmes".
Article 17
The capital of the Republic of Lithuania shall be the city of Vilnius, the long-standing historical capital of Lithuania.
