LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Prezidentai; Prezidento institucija; Valdžia; Valstybinė valdžia; Politinė valdžia; Konstitucijos; Konstitucinės galios; Lithuania; Presidents; Institution of the President; Power; State government; Political power; Constitutions; Constitutional powers.
ENThe paper analyzes the debates among members of the Seimas and lawyers regarding the political significance of the institution of the President, the diversity in approaches during the Constitution-drafting period, and the perspective on the President in the context of the current election. It also discusses the legal potential for the exercising of the president's powers as well as the impact of the active constellation of political forces on the expanding and narrowing of the President's authority. Additionally, the paper examines the ability of the President's person to perform the functions at his/her hand and the unavoidable importance of public opinion to the institution of the President. [From the publication]