PUBLIC SECURITY IN CONSTITUTIONAL DIMENSION IN LITHUANIA

Abstract

This article analyses how the public security is reflected in the constitutional dimension in Lithuania. The analysis is performed by focusing on two main aspects: the entrenchment of public security in the text of the Constitution and the interpretation of the relevant constitutional provisions by the Constitutional Court, i.e., on the official constitutional doctrine related ensuring public security. This article consists of two main parts: the first part deals with the relevant analysis of the text of the Constitution, and the second part analyses the interpretation of the Constitution by the Constitutional Court from two angles – first, what is the role that the Constitution attributes to the public security and then – what impact this role has on the status of the subjects ensuring public security. Following the analysis of the text of the Constitution, the conclusion that the constitutional provisions cover the variety of aspects, that are related to the different fields of ensuring public security, is made. Whereas the analysis of the interpretation of these provisions by the Constitutional Court leads to the conclusion that ensuring public security falls within the mission of the State and public security is one of the most important public interests in our legal system. This special role of public security also implies a special role and status of subjects ensuring public security in our country. It is also concluded that an overview of future constitutional challenges suggests that the questions related to ensuring public security in Lithuania, including not only the general aspects of ensuring this public interest, but, possibly, also the issues relevant to the special status of institutions ensuring the public security and their officials exercising these functions, will continue to remain in the scope of constitutional jurisprudence.