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The object of this research is the Zaberezinskis family among the political elite of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania: the association of the family's history (its genealogy, economic, political, foundational activity) with the rest of the environment of the GDL rulers of the Jagiellonian Dynasty. The general backdrop of the political life of the GDL makes it possible to see and evaluate the weight of the Zaberezininkis family among the country's ruling elite. From the late 15th to the middle of the 16th century, the aristocratic authority with its ages-old roots acquired institutional form. Foreseeing the possibility of rulers residing outside the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (as during Kazimierz Jagiellonian's rule), Alexander Jagiellonian's privilege of 6 August 1492 authorized broader prerogatives for the Council of Lords. At the same time, on the eve of the proclamation of the Grand Duke, the summoned parliament initiated the tradition of representation of the nobility. Institutional changes were accompanied by the reception of humanistic ideas, legal culture and political theory, linked to the custom, increasing at the time, of nobility sending their offspring to universities to pursue higher education. The story of the Zaberezinskis family, descendants of Rimvydas, is presented In the context of the formation of the GDL Republic (Respublica Magni Ducatus Lithuaniae), a political nation of descendants of the Romans (as the Lithuanian nobility portrayed themselves). The earliest data on the kin are associated with the times of Sigismund Kęstutaitis, and the latest with those of Sigismund Augustus. Members of the family played a particularly significant role in the history of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the times of Kazimierz Jagiellonian and his two sons Alexander and Sigismund the Old, from the 1480s until 1544. Responding to the postulates of the modern science of genealogy, the story of the family is presented according to its different branches. Against the background of key events in Lithuanian history, beginning from Jurgis Rimvydaitis and Jonas Jurgaitis Zaberezinskis, the careers of the latter's children and their descendants, their interrelationships, and factors influencing their careers are analysed. Due to the different status of different members of the family and the different amounts of data available in the sources, the questionnaire applied to different members of the family differs. Jonas Jurgaitis and his son Jonas Jonaitis Zaberezinskis, who reached the highest posts, are the most significant, and the most extensive treatment is given to their biographies. The composition of the landholding and the development of the network of towns are discussed in a separate part of the study. The available data (including property holdings) do not directly confirm a family relationship between the Zaberezinskis and the Manvydas families. No sources have been found in which the Zaberezinskis in any way mention Manvydas or his brother, or a family relationship with them. In the view of the author of this work, the success of Jonas Jurgaitis Zaberezinsky's career can be attributed to his holding the strategic post of Vicar of Polotsk at a key moment, the favour of Lithuanian Grand Duke Alexander and strong personal abilities. In consequence, Jonas Jurgaitis Zaberezinsky proved one of the most prominent personalities on the Council of Lords, achieving the particularly high offices of Voivode of Trakai and Grand Marshall, and personally taking part in the most important events in the interstate relations of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. For a variety of reasons (often due to early death), the only descendent of Jonas Jurgaitis Zaberezinskis who achieved a significant political career was his son Jonas Jonaitis Zaberezinskis (~1473-1538), who ultimately, like his father, assumed the posts of Voivode of Trakai and Grand Marshall of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. His relations with the other most influential high-ranking noblemen of the period are considered, especially the meaning of marriages contracted by him and arranged by him for his descendants and relatives. The gathered data regarding the formation and distribution of the family's latifundium show that the most important stage in the formation of the estate was the time of Jonas Jurgaitis Zaberezinskis, although later the family also acquired significant properties through marriage and purchases. A major step in this process was the marriage of Jonas Jurgaitis Zaberezinskis to the daughter, Ona, of Jonas Nasuta, who held large properties in Palenkė (Podlasie). Other ways land was acquired were purchases and gifts of the rulers (Casimir and Alexander). One such event that stands out is Alexander's gift in 1506 of the regions of Alytus and Simnas. Many of the surviving papers written by Jonas Jonaitis Zaberezinskis in the final period of his life, when he resided in Alytus as Keeper of the City and the Region, testify to intense internal colonization of the area of Alytus and Simnas by the Nemunas River. Alytus and Simnas also include the most noteworthy church foundations made by Jonas Jonaitis Zaberezinskis and his family, a clear witness to the founders' piety. As he gave the decisive impulse for Alytus and Simnas to become city-like settlements, he can properly be considered the founder of those cities. The political self-awareness of the Lithuanian aristocracy is best captured by the term from that period "the Republic of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania" (Respublica Magni Ducatus Lithuaniae), as D. Kuolis has accurately observed. The theory of the Roman origins of the Lithuanian nobility, with all its consequences (such as e.g. the rule of law), can be considered the highest peak of the political culture of the ruling elite of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1525 (well before the Union of Lublin, which is often associated with Lithuanian republican traditions) Albertas Goštautas's memorial to the Grand Duchess Bona associated the notion of nobility with loyalty to the ruler and responsibility for the commonwealth (the republic). Although it can be said that certain Republican ideals drawn from antiquity thrived among the Lithuanian aristocracy, their dominant trait was conservatism (unwillingness to admit lesser nobility to the structures of power). The high-rank nobility clearly recognized the ruler as the head of the political body of the Grand Duchy, and sought for him a crown. The programme for a Kingdom of Lithuania should be linked to the need, fostered by aristocracy, for the GDL to have its own distinct identity, though having a separate ruler was important also for practical reasons: the unquestioned centralized government accelerated the defence mechanisms of the state. A contemporary observer testifies that, when the ruler was absent, the Lithuanian lords "did not know what to do, remained undecided and did nothing." The ruling elite of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, both in their actions and in what they wrote (in the Lithuanian chronicles and elsewhere), unequivocally showed that no agreements with the Polish Crown bound them. The role of the aristocracy in the political emancipation of the lesser nobility and the importance of the latter for the maturing of the Lithuanian-Polish Union are issues that still require further research. Jonas Jonaitis Zaberezinskis gave some of his nobles personal freedom and economic autonomy, which can be regarded as a precondition for political emancipation.

The object of this research is the Zaberezinskis family among the political elite of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania: the association of the family's history (its genealogy, economic, political, foundational activity) with the rest of the environment of the GDL rulers of the Jagiellonian Dynasty. The general backdrop of the political life of the GDL makes it possible to see and evaluate the weight of the Zaberezininkis family among the country's ruling elite. From the late 15th to the middle of the 16th century, the aristocratic authority with its ages-old roots acquired institutional form. Foreseeing the possibility of rulers residing outside the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (as during Kazimierz Jagiellonian's rule), Alexander Jagiellonian's privilege of 6 August 1492 authorized broader prerogatives for the Council of Lords. At the same time, on the eve of the proclamation of the Grand Duke, the summoned parliament initiated the tradition of representation of the nobility. Institutional changes were accompanied by the reception of humanistic ideas, legal culture and political theory, linked to the custom, increasing at the time, of nobility sending their offspring to universities to pursue higher education. The story of the Zaberezinskis family, descendants of Rimvydas, is presented In the context of the formation of the GDL Republic (Respublica Magni Ducatus Lithuaniae), a political nation of descendants of the Romans (as the Lithuanian nobility portrayed themselves). The earliest data on the kin are associated with the times of Sigismund Kęstutaitis, and the latest with those of Sigismund Augustus. Members of the family played a particularly significant role in the history of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the times of Kazimierz Jagiellonian and his two sons Alexander and Sigismund the Old, from the 1480s until 1544. Responding to the postulates of the modern science of genealogy, the story of the family is presented according to its different branches. Against the background of key events in Lithuanian history, beginning from Jurgis Rimvydaitis and Jonas Jurgaitis Zaberezinskis, the careers of the latter's children and their descendants, their interrelationships, and factors influencing their careers are analysed. Due to the different status of different members of the family and the different amounts of data available in the sources, the questionnaire applied to different members of the family differs. Jonas Jurgaitis and his son Jonas Jonaitis Zaberezinskis, who reached the highest posts, are the most significant, and the most extensive treatment is given to their biographies. The composition of the landholding and the development of the network of towns are discussed in a separate part of the study. The available data (including property holdings) do not directly confirm a family relationship between the Zaberezinskis and the Manvydas families. No sources have been found in which the Zaberezinskis in any way mention Manvydas or his brother, or a family relationship with them. In the view of the author of this work, the success of Jonas Jurgaitis Zaberezinsky's career can be attributed to his holding the strategic post of Vicar of Polotsk at a key moment, the favour of Lithuanian Grand Duke Alexander and strong personal abilities. In consequence, Jonas Jurgaitis Zaberezinsky proved one of the most prominent personalities on the Council of Lords, achieving the particularly high offices of Voivode of Trakai and Grand Marshall, and personally taking part in the most important events in the interstate relations of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. For a variety of reasons (often due to early death), the only descendent of Jonas Jurgaitis Zaberezinskis who achieved a significant political career was his son Jonas Jonaitis Zaberezinskis (~1473-1538), who ultimately, like his father, assumed the posts of Voivode of Trakai and Grand Marshall of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. His relations with the other most influential high-ranking noblemen of the period are considered, especially the meaning of marriages contracted by him and arranged by him for his descendants and relatives. The gathered data regarding the formation and distribution of the family's latifundium show that the most important stage in the formation of the estate was the time of Jonas Jurgaitis Zaberezinskis, although later the family also acquired significant properties through marriage and purchases. A major step in this process was the marriage of Jonas Jurgaitis Zaberezinskis to the daughter, Ona, of Jonas Nasuta, who held large properties in Palenkė (Podlasie). Other ways land was acquired were purchases and gifts of the rulers (Casimir and Alexander). One such event that stands out is Alexander's gift in 1506 of the regions of Alytus and Simnas. Many of the surviving papers written by Jonas Jonaitis Zaberezinskis in the final period of his life, when he resided in Alytus as Keeper of the City and the Region, testify to intense internal colonization of the area of Alytus and Simnas by the Nemunas River. Alytus and Simnas also include the most noteworthy church foundations made by Jonas Jonaitis Zaberezinskis and his family, a clear witness to the founders' piety. As he gave the decisive impulse for Alytus and Simnas to become city-like settlements, he can properly be considered the founder of those cities. The political self-awareness of the Lithuanian aristocracy is best captured by the term from that period "the Republic of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania" (Respublica Magni Ducatus Lithuaniae), as D. Kuolis has accurately observed. The theory of the Roman origins of the Lithuanian nobility, with all its consequences (such as e.g. the rule of law), can be considered the highest peak of the political culture of the ruling elite of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1525 (well before the Union of Lublin, which is often associated with Lithuanian republican traditions) Albertas Goštautas's memorial to the Grand Duchess Bona associated the notion of nobility with loyalty to the ruler and responsibility for the commonwealth (the republic). Although it can be said that certain Republican ideals drawn from antiquity thrived among the Lithuanian aristocracy, their dominant trait was conservatism (unwillingness to admit lesser nobility to the structures of power). The high-rank nobility clearly recognized the ruler as the head of the political body of the Grand Duchy, and sought for him a crown. The programme for a Kingdom of Lithuania should be linked to the need, fostered by aristocracy, for the GDL to have its own distinct identity, though having a separate ruler was important also for practical reasons: the unquestioned centralized government accelerated the defence mechanisms of the state. A contemporary observer testifies that, when the ruler was absent, the Lithuanian lords "did not know what to do, remained undecided and did nothing." The ruling elite of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, both in their actions and in what they wrote (in the Lithuanian chronicles and elsewhere), unequivocally showed that no agreements with the Polish Crown bound them. The role of the aristocracy in the political emancipation of the lesser nobility and the importance of the latter for the maturing of the Lithuanian-Polish Union are issues that still require further research. Jonas Jonaitis Zaberezinskis gave some of his nobles personal freedom and economic autonomy, which can be regarded as a precondition for political emancipation.

Every human being living in the State of Nature had equal opportunities. Because of the growth of human race, this state altered and the interests of each individual person began to intersect, especially when talking about property. As a result, the rights and freedoms of each individual person were taken under threat. Therefore people began to organize themselves into societies in order to solve collective issues of society all together. When they had elected the most competent representatives, able to represent the interests of all Nation the best they could, people living in the State of Nature voluntarily waived their rights for handling particular issues in collective manner. The first aim of the representatives was the welfare of people. Thus the fundamental institute of the highest government was born. However, decisions taken in the name of all the people would have no power if they could not be enforced and would not reflect interests of the Nation. Seeking to implement supervision, the executive power was established which took care of the general welfare and the realization of all decisions. Thus, having a different purpose in society, legislature and executive authorities acted solely for their own sphere. Therefore, legislature and executive authorities could represent and work for the people as fair as possible. This is the basic idea of the historical division of powers which, variously modified or pure, as the security of democracy, was adopted by the majority of the most developed states in Western Europe and other states. Thus, the aim of every up-to-date democratic and, in particular, postcommunistic regime state is to establish a framework of powers which would perfectly guarantee the rights and freedoms of ordinary member of society and would not revive undemocratic governance trends, when power is concentrated in the hands of the central government. According to the division of powers doctrine stated in the founding works, the governance of state must be established as three divided powers - legislative, executive and judicial powers. As it was mentioned before, each branch of government has only the powers assigned to it and they can neither delegate nor take over functions from the other branches of government. In no way the one branch of government can be interblended with other. However, separation of powers does not mean that legislative, executive and judicial powers are autonomous - this means that they cooperate in a manner seeking to reach the level of balance that no power has an advantage over the other. This principle has to be continuously carried out in respect of parliamentary control of government. Only this way will properly safeguard the Nation's rights and freedoms. Based on the experience of legal history in Lithuania and other foreign countries there was implemented the principle of division of powers. However, the framework of constitutional division of powers in the Republic of Lithuania has a modified nature. This conclusion can be made on the basis of the Lithuanian Constitutional Court ruling where unreasoned finding was made that the member of Seimas at the same time in accordance with the exception to the principle of division of powers provided in the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania may be appointed to do duties as a member of the executive branch of government (the Government). In this way, the situation arises where such member of Seimas, taking the parliamentary control and having responsibility to monitor the activities of the executive branch, controls himself. This could result in the abuse of power and dissipation of resources. In this instance, a person being the member of Seimas and also a member of executive branch, shall receive the Constitution set salary for both possitions. Typically, such member of Seimas does not participate in the plenary sittings of Seimas because of the workload in the Government. This problem to be solved is in a competence of Constitutional Court but its power under the doctrine of the division of powers is limited because it would have the opportunity to speak only if called upon by a group of persons referred to in the Constitution. In addition, Constitutional Court has the competence to state only in the limits of the Constitution. As a result, the exceptions stated by Constitutional Court as being established in the Constitution, the principle of division of powers will be implemented in a manner mentioned above. Another possibility to solve this problem is in the prerogative of people or the representatives of people. The Constitution enshrines the opportunity for the members of Seimas to discuss people's concerns and the adoption of the laws limiting the interblending of powers, (whereas the Constitution provides for only the possibility of merger), or to initiate constitutional amendments immediately. If this possibility is not used by the members of Seimas, people can use it by themselves under manner established in the Constitution. The hypothesis (an appointment of the member of Seimas at the same time to do duties as a member of the executive branch contradicts the principle of division of powers estableshed in the Constitution) put forward in this study is denied based on the following considerations: 1. By the consensus of society in the State of Nature it has been decided to delegate own personal rights to the representatives of people. In this way legislature was founded, which meets interests of the people. Enforcement of judgments and accounting of resources have been transmitted for the executive. There was such a framework of governments and balance designed which could ensure the restriction of legislative powers to adopt decisions in excessive waste of the society goods and rapid and qualitative implementation of the rules of executive. Consequently, the merger of governments is not possible. 2. In Lithuania's history of constitutional law, the principle of division of powers in line with the historical principle of the division of powers was implemented in the Constutions of 1922 and 1990. These constitutions have been secured through the implementation of democracy. Constitutions of 1928 and 1938, were drawn in the interest of autocratic regimes. 3. The Constitutional Court decides the constitutionality of acts only according to the limits provided in the Constitution. Since the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania is a single act, the constitutionality of legislation is addressed not only expletively, but also implicitly. Therefore, the Constitutional Court found an exception from the principle of division of powers, which allows the member of Seimas, being appointed to do duties as a member of the executive branch of goverment, to work two jobs at once. As a consequence, the activity of the member of Seimas in a given position in the Government do not contradict the principle of division of powers stated in the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania. It is important to notice that the Constitutional Court shall have the right to decide the constitutionality of legislation only upon the request, but not on its own initiative. The exemption established by the Constitutional Court was declared without initial request. However, under the Constitution, this decision is necessarily enforceable. It is important to mention that the nation or its representatives also has the power to initiate amendments to the Constitution. Therefore it can be assumed that such exception could be the primary expression of the will of nation. 4. On the grounds of the competence of legislative branch, the Seimas has a duty to combine the exeption established and the principle of division of powers. Therefore some issues must be solved concerning compulsory participation of the member of Seimas in plenary sittings, workload, quality of the duties performed, salary for the duties performed and parlamentary control. Under these circumstances, the member of Seimas at the same time in the position of a member of the executive branch has the right not to participate in plenary sittings, exceed the competence, get salary for the both positions despite the fact that some duties as being the member of Seimas is not carried out and act without adequate control. This clearly contradicts the priciple of division of powers. In summary this condition is legitimized by the Constitutional Court and the issue raised is whether the principle of division of powers as established in the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania does not contradict to the historical concept of the principle of separation of powers? The answer can be provided only by the nation or its representatives – the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.

Every human being living in the State of Nature had equal opportunities. Because of the growth of human race, this state altered and the interests of each individual person began to intersect, especially when talking about property. As a result, the rights and freedoms of each individual person were taken under threat. Therefore people began to organize themselves into societies in order to solve collective issues of society all together. When they had elected the most competent representatives, able to represent the interests of all Nation the best they could, people living in the State of Nature voluntarily waived their rights for handling particular issues in collective manner. The first aim of the representatives was the welfare of people. Thus the fundamental institute of the highest government was born. However, decisions taken in the name of all the people would have no power if they could not be enforced and would not reflect interests of the Nation. Seeking to implement supervision, the executive power was established which took care of the general welfare and the realization of all decisions. Thus, having a different purpose in society, legislature and executive authorities acted solely for their own sphere. Therefore, legislature and executive authorities could represent and work for the people as fair as possible. This is the basic idea of the historical division of powers which, variously modified or pure, as the security of democracy, was adopted by the majority of the most developed states in Western Europe and other states. Thus, the aim of every up-to-date democratic and, in particular, postcommunistic regime state is to establish a framework of powers which would perfectly guarantee the rights and freedoms of ordinary member of society and would not revive undemocratic governance trends, when power is concentrated in the hands of the central government. According to the division of powers doctrine stated in the founding works, the governance of state must be established as three divided powers - legislative, executive and judicial powers. As it was mentioned before, each branch of government has only the powers assigned to it and they can neither delegate nor take over functions from the other branches of government. In no way the one branch of government can be interblended with other. However, separation of powers does not mean that legislative, executive and judicial powers are autonomous - this means that they cooperate in a manner seeking to reach the level of balance that no power has an advantage over the other. This principle has to be continuously carried out in respect of parliamentary control of government. Only this way will properly safeguard the Nation's rights and freedoms. Based on the experience of legal history in Lithuania and other foreign countries there was implemented the principle of division of powers. However, the framework of constitutional division of powers in the Republic of Lithuania has a modified nature. This conclusion can be made on the basis of the Lithuanian Constitutional Court ruling where unreasoned finding was made that the member of Seimas at the same time in accordance with the exception to the principle of division of powers provided in the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania may be appointed to do duties as a member of the executive branch of government (the Government). In this way, the situation arises where such member of Seimas, taking the parliamentary control and having responsibility to monitor the activities of the executive branch, controls himself. This could result in the abuse of power and dissipation of resources. In this instance, a person being the member of Seimas and also a member of executive branch, shall receive the Constitution set salary for both possitions. Typically, such member of Seimas does not participate in the plenary sittings of Seimas because of the workload in the Government. This problem to be solved is in a competence of Constitutional Court but its power under the doctrine of the division of powers is limited because it would have the opportunity to speak only if called upon by a group of persons referred to in the Constitution. In addition, Constitutional Court has the competence to state only in the limits of the Constitution. As a result, the exceptions stated by Constitutional Court as being established in the Constitution, the principle of division of powers will be implemented in a manner mentioned above. Another possibility to solve this problem is in the prerogative of people or the representatives of people. The Constitution enshrines the opportunity for the members of Seimas to discuss people's concerns and the adoption of the laws limiting the interblending of powers, (whereas the Constitution provides for only the possibility of merger), or to initiate constitutional amendments immediately. If this possibility is not used by the members of Seimas, people can use it by themselves under manner established in the Constitution. The hypothesis (an appointment of the member of Seimas at the same time to do duties as a member of the executive branch contradicts the principle of division of powers estableshed in the Constitution) put forward in this study is denied based on the following considerations: 1. By the consensus of society in the State of Nature it has been decided to delegate own personal rights to the representatives of people. In this way legislature was founded, which meets interests of the people. Enforcement of judgments and accounting of resources have been transmitted for the executive. There was such a framework of governments and balance designed which could ensure the restriction of legislative powers to adopt decisions in excessive waste of the society goods and rapid and qualitative implementation of the rules of executive. Consequently, the merger of governments is not possible. 2. In Lithuania's history of constitutional law, the principle of division of powers in line with the historical principle of the division of powers was implemented in the Constutions of 1922 and 1990. These constitutions have been secured through the implementation of democracy. Constitutions of 1928 and 1938, were drawn in the interest of autocratic regimes. 3. The Constitutional Court decides the constitutionality of acts only according to the limits provided in the Constitution. Since the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania is a single act, the constitutionality of legislation is addressed not only expletively, but also implicitly. Therefore, the Constitutional Court found an exception from the principle of division of powers, which allows the member of Seimas, being appointed to do duties as a member of the executive branch of goverment, to work two jobs at once. As a consequence, the activity of the member of Seimas in a given position in the Government do not contradict the principle of division of powers stated in the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania. It is important to notice that the Constitutional Court shall have the right to decide the constitutionality of legislation only upon the request, but not on its own initiative. The exemption established by the Constitutional Court was declared without initial request. However, under the Constitution, this decision is necessarily enforceable. It is important to mention that the nation or its representatives also has the power to initiate amendments to the Constitution. Therefore it can be assumed that such exception could be the primary expression of the will of nation. 4. On the grounds of the competence of legislative branch, the Seimas has a duty to combine the exeption established and the principle of division of powers. Therefore some issues must be solved concerning compulsory participation of the member of Seimas in plenary sittings, workload, quality of the duties performed, salary for the duties performed and parlamentary control. Under these circumstances, the member of Seimas at the same time in the position of a member of the executive branch has the right not to participate in plenary sittings, exceed the competence, get salary for the both positions despite the fact that some duties as being the member of Seimas is not carried out and act without adequate control. This clearly contradicts the priciple of division of powers. In summary this condition is legitimized by the Constitutional Court and the issue raised is whether the principle of division of powers as established in the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania does not contradict to the historical concept of the principle of separation of powers? The answer can be provided only by the nation or its representatives – the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.

Every human being living in the State of Nature had equal opportunities. Because of the growth of human race, this state altered and the interests of each individual person began to intersect, especially when talking about property. As a result, the rights and freedoms of each individual person were taken under threat. Therefore people began to organize themselves into societies in order to solve collective issues of society all together. When they had elected the most competent representatives, able to represent the interests of all Nation the best they could, people living in the State of Nature voluntarily waived their rights for handling particular issues in collective manner. The first aim of the representatives was the welfare of people. Thus the fundamental institute of the highest government was born. However, decisions taken in the name of all the people would have no power if they could not be enforced and would not reflect interests of the Nation. Seeking to implement supervision, the executive power was established which took care of the general welfare and the realization of all decisions. Thus, having a different purpose in society, legislature and executive authorities acted solely for their own sphere. Therefore, legislature and executive authorities could represent and work for the people as fair as possible. This is the basic idea of the historical division of powers which, variously modified or pure, as the security of democracy, was adopted by the majority of the most developed states in Western Europe and other states. Thus, the aim of every up-to-date democratic and, in particular, postcommunistic regime state is to establish a framework of powers which would perfectly guarantee the rights and freedoms of ordinary member of society and would not revive undemocratic governance trends, when power is concentrated in the hands of the central government. According to the division of powers doctrine stated in the founding works, the governance of state must be established as three divided powers - legislative, executive and judicial powers. As it was mentioned before, each branch of government has only the powers assigned to it and they can neither delegate nor take over functions from the other branches of government. In no way the one branch of government can be interblended with other. However, separation of powers does not mean that legislative, executive and judicial powers are autonomous - this means that they cooperate in a manner seeking to reach the level of balance that no power has an advantage over the other. This principle has to be continuously carried out in respect of parliamentary control of government. Only this way will properly safeguard the Nation's rights and freedoms. Based on the experience of legal history in Lithuania and other foreign countries there was implemented the principle of division of powers. However, the framework of constitutional division of powers in the Republic of Lithuania has a modified nature. This conclusion can be made on the basis of the Lithuanian Constitutional Court ruling where unreasoned finding was made that the member of Seimas at the same time in accordance with the exception to the principle of division of powers provided in the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania may be appointed to do duties as a member of the executive branch of government (the Government). In this way, the situation arises where such member of Seimas, taking the parliamentary control and having responsibility to monitor the activities of the executive branch, controls himself. This could result in the abuse of power and dissipation of resources. In this instance, a person being the member of Seimas and also a member of executive branch, shall receive the Constitution set salary for both possitions. Typically, such member of Seimas does not participate in the plenary sittings of Seimas because of the workload in the Government. This problem to be solved is in a competence of Constitutional Court but its power under the doctrine of the division of powers is limited because it would have the opportunity to speak only if called upon by a group of persons referred to in the Constitution. In addition, Constitutional Court has the competence to state only in the limits of the Constitution. As a result, the exceptions stated by Constitutional Court as being established in the Constitution, the principle of division of powers will be implemented in a manner mentioned above. Another possibility to solve this problem is in the prerogative of people or the representatives of people. The Constitution enshrines the opportunity for the members of Seimas to discuss people's concerns and the adoption of the laws limiting the interblending of powers, (whereas the Constitution provides for only the possibility of merger), or to initiate constitutional amendments immediately. If this possibility is not used by the members of Seimas, people can use it by themselves under manner established in the Constitution. The hypothesis (an appointment of the member of Seimas at the same time to do duties as a member of the executive branch contradicts the principle of division of powers estableshed in the Constitution) put forward in this study is denied based on the following considerations: 1. By the consensus of society in the State of Nature it has been decided to delegate own personal rights to the representatives of people. In this way legislature was founded, which meets interests of the people. Enforcement of judgments and accounting of resources have been transmitted for the executive. There was such a framework of governments and balance designed which could ensure the restriction of legislative powers to adopt decisions in excessive waste of the society goods and rapid and qualitative implementation of the rules of executive. Consequently, the merger of governments is not possible. 2. In Lithuania's history of constitutional law, the principle of division of powers in line with the historical principle of the division of powers was implemented in the Constutions of 1922 and 1990. These constitutions have been secured through the implementation of democracy. Constitutions of 1928 and 1938, were drawn in the interest of autocratic regimes. 3. The Constitutional Court decides the constitutionality of acts only according to the limits provided in the Constitution. Since the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania is a single act, the constitutionality of legislation is addressed not only expletively, but also implicitly. Therefore, the Constitutional Court found an exception from the principle of division of powers, which allows the member of Seimas, being appointed to do duties as a member of the executive branch of goverment, to work two jobs at once. As a consequence, the activity of the member of Seimas in a given position in the Government do not contradict the principle of division of powers stated in the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania. It is important to notice that the Constitutional Court shall have the right to decide the constitutionality of legislation only upon the request, but not on its own initiative. The exemption established by the Constitutional Court was declared without initial request. However, under the Constitution, this decision is necessarily enforceable. It is important to mention that the nation or its representatives also has the power to initiate amendments to the Constitution. Therefore it can be assumed that such exception could be the primary expression of the will of nation. 4. On the grounds of the competence of legislative branch, the Seimas has a duty to combine the exeption established and the principle of division of powers. Therefore some issues must be solved concerning compulsory participation of the member of Seimas in plenary sittings, workload, quality of the duties performed, salary for the duties performed and parlamentary control. Under these circumstances, the member of Seimas at the same time in the position of a member of the executive branch has the right not to participate in plenary sittings, exceed the competence, get salary for the both positions despite the fact that some duties as being the member of Seimas is not carried out and act without adequate control. This clearly contradicts the priciple of division of powers. In summary this condition is legitimized by the Constitutional Court and the issue raised is whether the principle of division of powers as established in the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania does not contradict to the historical concept of the principle of separation of powers? The answer can be provided only by the nation or its representatives – the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.

Relevance of the research problem. Sport is a value of every nation, which includes the system of physical, spiritual and cultural education, sports achievements, scientific knowledge, international communication (Karoblis, 2005). High level sport is inseparable from competitive activities, the pursuit of sports results (Hargreaves & MacDonald, 2000; Karoblis, 2005). The special training of athletes in the chosen sports is a part of general education of personality, which has a close connection with social, educational, political, economic issues of humanity development (Johnson et al., 2007). The athlete training process is a multi-year educational process of a specific structure and organizational form, which develops physical characteristics of an athlete, determines his activity, behavior, independence and responsibility, promotes to achieve excellent results. However, optimization of athlete training technology, construction of training system and its filling with full content still have the greatest impact on the improvement of sports results (Bompa & Buzzichelli, 2018; Karoblis, 2005; Платонов, 2004). Management of high-performance athlete training is related to prognostication, individual model characteristics of sport fitness, general and special load ratio, search for new effective directions of workout methodology, modeling of competition activity indicators, workout process planning, competition program conclusion, sport training adjustment (Karoblis, Raslanas, Steponavičius, 2002). Track-and-field athletics is integral sports that combine cyclic and acyclic exercise competitions: running, throws, vertical and horizontal jumps (Armonavičius, 1995). Short distance running is one of the most prestigious track-and-field athletics competitions. An exceptional short distance motor feature is the maximum intense activity of the whole body, especially the nervous and muscular systems, lasting from 0.1 to 40–50 s (Stanislovaitis et al., 2008). The ever-improving sports results reveal new human mental and physical abilities, vast resources of the body that could not even be dreamed of before. The organization of exercise, methodology, their scope and intensity, their combination with the means of recovery according to the main laws of phenotypic adaptation form the basis for the training of high-performance athletes (Платонов, 2004; Stonkus, 2000; Issurin, 2008; Krylovas, Kosareva, Dadelienė, & Dadelo, 2020). The particularity of the sport is based on competition. The results recorded in sport receive global recognition and become a true human achievement standard. In the world, they are constantly progressing, promoting the development of the sport community, therefore the greatest human intellectual and material resources are directed to the training of high-performance athletes (Skernevičius, 2015; Krylovas, Kosareva, Dadelienė, & Dadelo, 2020). However, the results of a research conducted by scientists showed that over the past nearly 20 years, elite athletes, including Olympic, world champions and prizewinners, have achieved personal best results in key competitions of the season by only in 50 percent cases (Yakimovich & Ovchinnikov, 2016). This shows that the opinion that contemporary coaches are high-performance and knowledgeable in the training of elite athletes and immaculately control and manage the process of sport training of athletes is not sufficiently substantiated. It has been established that the development of high-performance sprinters depends on many factors, the most important of which is the directionality of the training process, its management, taking into account the individual characteristics of the athlete's body adaptation to workout and competition loads (Stanislovaitis, 2008; Бондаренко, 1999; Нбанекова, Филин, 1995). The training of sprinters and their competitive activities have been extensively studied not only by foreign (Smith, 2005; Doscher, 2009; Kale & Bayrak, 2009; Prins, Murata, Derenne, Morgan, & Solomon, 2010; Dickin, Reyes, & Dolny, 2009; Nelson, Landin, Young, & Schexnayder, 2008; Eikenberry, Mcauliffe, Welsh, Zerpa, Mcpherson, & Newhouse, 2008; Oзoлин, 1986), but also by Lithuanian sport scientists (Stanislovaitis, 2008, 2006, 2005; Grūnovas, 2006; Butkus, 2006, 1995; Skurvydas, 1999, 2003; Bradauskienė, 2006). Although the world record of female sprinters in a 100 m distance is quite high (10.49 s), the search for new training methods and their application in the process of female sprinter workouts continues. Scientists are not only analyzing and evaluating existing workout methodological tools, but also looking for new methods for an advanced sprinter training process. Thus, in search of new methods to increase running speed, through more research and the application of the latest training technologies, methods can be discovered to help athletes to become faster and to develop a running speed, which has never been achieved before. Recently, in a 100 m running, as in many track-and-field athletics competitions, the results of athletes are progressing rapidly. That progress depends heavily on the selection of talented athletes, scientifically and practically sound and effective workout methodologies, the selection and application of remedial measures, the material compensation of athletes, which greatly increases motivation of athletes, and etc. Therefore, in order to achieve good results and prizes in high rank competition in contemporary sport, it is necessary to know the peculiarities of the application of training methodology, to properly select the most important starts of the annual training cycle, taking into account all conditions at the place and time of competition. An athlete and a coach must not only follow the innovations of training methodology, science and medicine, but also look back, be able to analyze his own results and the results of athletes, who have shown significant results theretofore, the peculiarities of workout tools and methods applied by them, the reasons for successful and unsuccessful starts, and then all this to apply to the management of his own training process. Discovering, revealing and learning about new technologies through the theory and didactics of sport workout is the most important function of sport science (Mester, 2003), and it is important for a coach to be able to use scientific results and recommendations, be insightful and be able to successfully model the training of elite athletes (Karoblis, Raslanas, Poteliūnienė, Steponavičius, Petkus, & Žilinskienė, 2011). The purposeful training of female sprinters and the search for effective technologies in order to increase the maximum running speed become a scientific problem. The presented scientific problem is relevant for the following reasons: ● It is important to analyze the change in results in terms of age and to determine the age, at which the highest results are achieved; ● It is important to research and theoretically substantiate, which components determine the sports result in short distance running; ● To research the effectiveness of training measures in order to increase maximum running speed; ● The contribution of running at maximum speed to the sports result in a 100 m run has not been sufficiently researched; ● It is important to establish criteria that affect the progress of athletes' mastery and the change of sport performance. Hypothesis. It is likely that sports results of female sprinters are not improving due to the integrated and concentrated training models applied separately. A universal speed training model is more effective. Object of the research is the process of female sprinter training. Aim is to identify the peculiarities of optimizing the training of high-performance female sprinters. Objectives of the research: 1. On the basis of the data of the theoretical analysis of scientific sources, to reveal the change of the results of high-performance female sprinters in terms of age. 2. To perform a comparative analysis of the preparation of high-performance female spriners for the Athens, Beijing, London and Rio Olympic Games. 3. To review the technologies of sports training of female sprinters and to examine the factors influencing their results. 4. To determine the effectiveness of a universal method for training the speed of high-performance female sprinters. 5. To reveal/identify the opinion of high-performance female sprinters about the factors determining their training system. Theoretical and practical significance Researching the structure and content of sports training for female sprinters of different ages and sports mastery, analyzing the change of sports results in terms of age, evaluating workout methods, running speed components, the provisions for effective running speed increase were identified: ● Running speed is determined by the speed of muscle contraction, the length of leg support, the frequency of steps, and the sports result in a 100-meter run depends mainly on the maximum running speed. ● In order to improve the results of the maximum running speed of female sprinters, it is important to apply a universal, combined method in the workout process, running with weight and stretching with an elastic band. These provisions are relevant to the theory and practice of female sprinter training. The results of the study can be used in the development of training programs for sports schools and high-performance female sprinters. CONCLUSIONS 1. The age for achieving the best personal result in the women's 100 m running competition is 24.69 ± 3.27 year. The best Lithuanian sprinter L. Grinčikaitė-Samuolė achieved her best result in this running competition at the age of 25 – 11.19 s. At the beginning of their athletic career, American sprinters had the highest running scores and dominated until the age of 17, however later is observed leadership of the Caribbean Region female sprinters up to the age of 35. The results of European sprinters were average in almost all age groups. 2. Analysis of the four Olympic Games revealed a significant improvement in the results of the 100 m running and starting reaction speed (p < 0.05). In order to get to in the 100 m running final, athletes should run an average of 10.96 ± 0.03 s, and to become the prizewinners of the competition – 10.86 ± 0.08 s. Sprinters become the prizewinners of the 100 m run at the age of 25.42 ± 3.18 year. 3. Lithuanian female sprinters lose to the best sprinters of Europe and the world in the competition requiring the maximum running speed – 40 m in acceleration (11.99 %). The best Lithuanian sprinter L. Grinčikaitė-Samuolė reduces this difference to 4.05 % in the 100 m running distance, the gap between Europe's and the world's best female sprinters is gradually declining due to improved European sprinters' maximum running speed results. 4. The resisted/assisted running method is the most effective way to increase the running speed and starting acceleration, as this speed training method significantly improves the values of step length and support duration than running normally. 5. High-performance female sprinters lack attention to an important component of training – psychological training – in the process of their sports training. It was found out that their sports training and improvement of results are more influenced by external (monetary prizes, premiums) than internal motives (desire to improve results, honor to represent their country). A coach's personality also has impact. The coach is valued not only as a specialist, but distinguishing his personal qualities, such as sincerity, friendliness, motivation, promotion is considered an integral part of the training process.

Relevance of the research problem. Sport is a value of every nation, which includes the system of physical, spiritual and cultural education, sports achievements, scientific knowledge, international communication (Karoblis, 2005). High level sport is inseparable from competitive activities, the pursuit of sports results (Hargreaves & MacDonald, 2000; Karoblis, 2005). The special training of athletes in the chosen sports is a part of general education of personality, which has a close connection with social, educational, political, economic issues of humanity development (Johnson et al., 2007). The athlete training process is a multi-year educational process of a specific structure and organizational form, which develops physical characteristics of an athlete, determines his activity, behavior, independence and responsibility, promotes to achieve excellent results. However, optimization of athlete training technology, construction of training system and its filling with full content still have the greatest impact on the improvement of sports results (Bompa & Buzzichelli, 2018; Karoblis, 2005; Платонов, 2004). Management of high-performance athlete training is related to prognostication, individual model characteristics of sport fitness, general and special load ratio, search for new effective directions of workout methodology, modeling of competition activity indicators, workout process planning, competition program conclusion, sport training adjustment (Karoblis, Raslanas, Steponavičius, 2002). Track-and-field athletics is integral sports that combine cyclic and acyclic exercise competitions: running, throws, vertical and horizontal jumps (Armonavičius, 1995). Short distance running is one of the most prestigious track-and-field athletics competitions. An exceptional short distance motor feature is the maximum intense activity of the whole body, especially the nervous and muscular systems, lasting from 0.1 to 40–50 s (Stanislovaitis et al., 2008). The ever-improving sports results reveal new human mental and physical abilities, vast resources of the body that could not even be dreamed of before. The organization of exercise, methodology, their scope and intensity, their combination with the means of recovery according to the main laws of phenotypic adaptation form the basis for the training of high-performance athletes (Платонов, 2004; Stonkus, 2000; Issurin, 2008; Krylovas, Kosareva, Dadelienė, & Dadelo, 2020). The particularity of the sport is based on competition. The results recorded in sport receive global recognition and become a true human achievement standard. In the world, they are constantly progressing, promoting the development of the sport community, therefore the greatest human intellectual and material resources are directed to the training of high-performance athletes (Skernevičius, 2015; Krylovas, Kosareva, Dadelienė, & Dadelo, 2020). However, the results of a research conducted by scientists showed that over the past nearly 20 years, elite athletes, including Olympic, world champions and prizewinners, have achieved personal best results in key competitions of the season by only in 50 percent cases (Yakimovich & Ovchinnikov, 2016). This shows that the opinion that contemporary coaches are high-performance and knowledgeable in the training of elite athletes and immaculately control and manage the process of sport training of athletes is not sufficiently substantiated. It has been established that the development of high-performance sprinters depends on many factors, the most important of which is the directionality of the training process, its management, taking into account the individual characteristics of the athlete's body adaptation to workout and competition loads (Stanislovaitis, 2008; Бондаренко, 1999; Нбанекова, Филин, 1995). The training of sprinters and their competitive activities have been extensively studied not only by foreign (Smith, 2005; Doscher, 2009; Kale & Bayrak, 2009; Prins, Murata, Derenne, Morgan, & Solomon, 2010; Dickin, Reyes, & Dolny, 2009; Nelson, Landin, Young, & Schexnayder, 2008; Eikenberry, Mcauliffe, Welsh, Zerpa, Mcpherson, & Newhouse, 2008; Oзoлин, 1986), but also by Lithuanian sport scientists (Stanislovaitis, 2008, 2006, 2005; Grūnovas, 2006; Butkus, 2006, 1995; Skurvydas, 1999, 2003; Bradauskienė, 2006). Although the world record of female sprinters in a 100 m distance is quite high (10.49 s), the search for new training methods and their application in the process of female sprinter workouts continues. Scientists are not only analyzing and evaluating existing workout methodological tools, but also looking for new methods for an advanced sprinter training process. Thus, in search of new methods to increase running speed, through more research and the application of the latest training technologies, methods can be discovered to help athletes to become faster and to develop a running speed, which has never been achieved before. Recently, in a 100 m running, as in many track-and-field athletics competitions, the results of athletes are progressing rapidly. That progress depends heavily on the selection of talented athletes, scientifically and practically sound and effective workout methodologies, the selection and application of remedial measures, the material compensation of athletes, which greatly increases motivation of athletes, and etc. Therefore, in order to achieve good results and prizes in high rank competition in contemporary sport, it is necessary to know the peculiarities of the application of training methodology, to properly select the most important starts of the annual training cycle, taking into account all conditions at the place and time of competition. An athlete and a coach must not only follow the innovations of training methodology, science and medicine, but also look back, be able to analyze his own results and the results of athletes, who have shown significant results theretofore, the peculiarities of workout tools and methods applied by them, the reasons for successful and unsuccessful starts, and then all this to apply to the management of his own training process. Discovering, revealing and learning about new technologies through the theory and didactics of sport workout is the most important function of sport science (Mester, 2003), and it is important for a coach to be able to use scientific results and recommendations, be insightful and be able to successfully model the training of elite athletes (Karoblis, Raslanas, Poteliūnienė, Steponavičius, Petkus, & Žilinskienė, 2011). The purposeful training of female sprinters and the search for effective technologies in order to increase the maximum running speed become a scientific problem. The presented scientific problem is relevant for the following reasons: ● It is important to analyze the change in results in terms of age and to determine the age, at which the highest results are achieved; ● It is important to research and theoretically substantiate, which components determine the sports result in short distance running; ● To research the effectiveness of training measures in order to increase maximum running speed; ● The contribution of running at maximum speed to the sports result in a 100 m run has not been sufficiently researched; ● It is important to establish criteria that affect the progress of athletes' mastery and the change of sport performance. Hypothesis. It is likely that sports results of female sprinters are not improving due to the integrated and concentrated training models applied separately. A universal speed training model is more effective. Object of the research is the process of female sprinter training. Aim is to identify the peculiarities of optimizing the training of high-performance female sprinters. Objectives of the research: 1. On the basis of the data of the theoretical analysis of scientific sources, to reveal the change of the results of high-performance female sprinters in terms of age. 2. To perform a comparative analysis of the preparation of high-performance female spriners for the Athens, Beijing, London and Rio Olympic Games. 3. To review the technologies of sports training of female sprinters and to examine the factors influencing their results. 4. To determine the effectiveness of a universal method for training the speed of high-performance female sprinters. 5. To reveal/identify the opinion of high-performance female sprinters about the factors determining their training system. Theoretical and practical significance Researching the structure and content of sports training for female sprinters of different ages and sports mastery, analyzing the change of sports results in terms of age, evaluating workout methods, running speed components, the provisions for effective running speed increase were identified: ● Running speed is determined by the speed of muscle contraction, the length of leg support, the frequency of steps, and the sports result in a 100-meter run depends mainly on the maximum running speed. ● In order to improve the results of the maximum running speed of female sprinters, it is important to apply a universal, combined method in the workout process, running with weight and stretching with an elastic band. These provisions are relevant to the theory and practice of female sprinter training. The results of the study can be used in the development of training programs for sports schools and high-performance female sprinters. CONCLUSIONS 1. The age for achieving the best personal result in the women's 100 m running competition is 24.69 ± 3.27 year. The best Lithuanian sprinter L. Grinčikaitė-Samuolė achieved her best result in this running competition at the age of 25 – 11.19 s. At the beginning of their athletic career, American sprinters had the highest running scores and dominated until the age of 17, however later is observed leadership of the Caribbean Region female sprinters up to the age of 35. The results of European sprinters were average in almost all age groups. 2. Analysis of the four Olympic Games revealed a significant improvement in the results of the 100 m running and starting reaction speed (p < 0.05). In order to get to in the 100 m running final, athletes should run an average of 10.96 ± 0.03 s, and to become the prizewinners of the competition – 10.86 ± 0.08 s. Sprinters become the prizewinners of the 100 m run at the age of 25.42 ± 3.18 year. 3. Lithuanian female sprinters lose to the best sprinters of Europe and the world in the competition requiring the maximum running speed – 40 m in acceleration (11.99 %). The best Lithuanian sprinter L. Grinčikaitė-Samuolė reduces this difference to 4.05 % in the 100 m running distance, the gap between Europe's and the world's best female sprinters is gradually declining due to improved European sprinters' maximum running speed results. 4. The resisted/assisted running method is the most effective way to increase the running speed and starting acceleration, as this speed training method significantly improves the values of step length and support duration than running normally. 5. High-performance female sprinters lack attention to an important component of training – psychological training – in the process of their sports training. It was found out that their sports training and improvement of results are more influenced by external (monetary prizes, premiums) than internal motives (desire to improve results, honor to represent their country). A coach's personality also has impact. The coach is valued not only as a specialist, but distinguishing his personal qualities, such as sincerity, friendliness, motivation, promotion is considered an integral part of the training process.