MERŲ RINKIMAI LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOJE: TEISINIO REGULIAVIMO RAIDA IR NAUJAUSI JO POKYČIAI

Abstract

The organisation of the activities of self-government institutions is the basis of every democratic system. Therefore, it is essential that the legal acts regulating these issues, and first of all the Constitution and the laws corresponding to it, do not constrain municipalities – the administrative units of the state territory – when implementing such vital principles of self-government as representative democracy, independence and freedom of activity, responsibility to the municipal community and others. This article reveals how, since the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania in 1992 and until recently, the provisions of this essential state legal act have been changed, related to the legal status and role of one of the institutions implementing the right of self-government – the mayor – and the reasons that led to these changes. The ordinary legal regulation caused by such changes is also analysed. In addition, insights are provided as to which provisions of the currently valid legal acts, in the authors’ opinion, are flawed, and how they should be adjusted for local self-government to be effective and meet the expectations of the population.