The Necessity of Parliamentary Oversight and the Main Subjects of Parliamentary Oversight in Lithuania: Permanent Committees of the Seimas

Abstract

The article analyses parliamentary oversight exercised by the Seimas (Lithuanian parliament). As a legal institute of a constitutional status, parliamentary oversight is complex in its nature in that it influences the executive branch by means of established oversight instruments in a systemic and independent manner and ensures the continuous and effective functioning of the executive power. Based on the doctrine of the sovereignty of the nation, the Seimas is the only governmental body that can exercise parliamentary oversight. This function of the Seimas is therefore very significant. In the article, the author analyses the function of parliamentary oversight exercised by the Seimas and the legal and practical conditions necessary for the permanent committees of the Seimas to exercise the function effectively and continuously.