Editing Politics of Lithuania (section)

== Administrative divisions ==
{{Main|Subdivisions of Lithuania}}
Lithuania has a three-tier administrative division: the country is divided into [[Counties of Lithuania|10 counties]] (Lithuanian: singular – ''apskritis'', plural – ''apskritys'') that are further subdivided into [[Municipalities of Lithuania|60 municipalities]] (Lithuanian: singular – ''savivaldybė'', plural – ''savivaldybės'') which consist of over 500 [[Elderships of Lithuania|elderships]] (Lithuanian: singular – ''seniūnija'', plural – ''seniūnijos'').

The [[County governor (Lithuania)|county governor]]s (Lithuanian: ''apskrities viršininkas'') institution and county administrations have been dissolved in 2010.<ref name="county">{{in lang|lt}} [http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter3/dokpaieska.showdoc_l?p_id=349513 (Republic of Lithuania Annul Law on County Governing)], [[Seimas]] law database, 7 July 2009, Law no. XI-318.</ref>

Municipalities are the most important administrative unit. Some municipalities are historically called "district municipalities", and thus are often shortened to "district"; others are called "city municipalities", sometimes shortened to "city". Each municipality has its own elected government. In the past, the election of municipality councils occurred once every three years, but it now takes place every four years. The council appoints [[elder (administrative title)|elders]] to govern the elderships. Mayors are elected directly since 2015, being appointed by the council before that.<ref>{{in lang|lt}} Justinas Vanagas, [http://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/seimas-iteisino-tiesioginius-meru-rinkimus.d?id=65139619 Seimo Seimas įteisino tiesioginius merų rinkimus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014091111/https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/seimas-iteisino-tiesioginius-meru-rinkimus.d?id=65139619 |date=14 October 2017 }}, Delfi.lt, 26 June 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2015.</ref>