LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Profesinė savivalda; Konstituciniai profesinės savivaldos pagrindai; Professional self-regulation; Constitutional basis of professional self-regulation.
ENArticle analysis the jurisprudence of the Constitution Court from the years 2008–2010 related to the professional self-regulatory bodies. First part of the article describes constitutional basis of professional self-regulation. The Constitutional Court emphasis that the main basis, with certain limitations, for professional self-regulation is the freedom of association as it is defined the Constitution. Second part of the articles contains the analysis of the four major features of professional self-regulatory bodies, mentioned by the Constitutional Court: these bodies are created only for specific state controlled (liberal) professions; establishment of these bodies are executed not by respective professionals, but by legislator; membership in these bodies may be mandatory; these bodies perform both public and private functions. Conclusions are made that the position of the Constitutional Court to emphasise the freedom of association as the main constitutional basis of professional self-regulation is not sufficient as the features of professional self-regulatory bodies, as they are defined by the Constitutional Court itself, denies all elements attributable to associations. It is suggested to extend constitutional basis for professional self-regulation by also relating such bodies to state institutional system. [From the publication]