3.4 History of state administration

In the parliamentary period of the Republic of Latvia since 1918 till 1934, when Public Assembly and later Saeima was acting, the activity of the Cabinet of Ministers was regulated by the Law on the Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of 1925. On 15 May 1934 authoritarian government lead by Kārlis Ulmanis was established.

During the period of Soviet Union occupation USSR Constitution functioned in the territory of Latvia. In its framework "Public Saeima" established by Soviet power adopted the Constitution of the Latvia Soviet Socialistic Republic which regulated the activity of the Cabinet of Ministers during Soviet period. In 1978 the new Latvian SSR Constitution and the law "On the Council of Ministers" which were in force till renewal of the Republic of Latvia were adopted. In spring of 1990 the Supreme Council adopted the law "On the structure of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia" that stated that 19 ministries there have to be developed.  The Council of Ministers consisted of Chairman of the Council, two deputies of the chairman, ministers and minister of the government who controlled all the government apparatus. Since absolute independence of Latvia there was a transition period of reorganization of the government in August, 1991. The number of ministries was decreased to 16. The positions of the deputies of the Chairman and the minister of the government were abolished but the position of the State Minister was established.

After the election of the fifth Saeima in 1993 the Constitution of 1922 was completely renewed thus the government regained the name of "The Cabinet of Ministers" as well as the basis to work in the framework of the traditional parliamentary system. On 16 July 1993 the law "On the renewal of the 1 April 1925 law "Order of the Cabinet of Ministers"" was adopted (since 1 June 1996 this law goes by the name "Law of the order of the Cabinet of Ministers").

As the legislation comes into order gradually there are also fewer changes in the state civil service on the whole. On 31 December 2004 State Civil Service was enacted in 99 state administration institutions, where the general civil service is in 88, but the specific civil service in 11 state administration institutions. There are 31092 civil servant positions (data of 31 December 2004), 7662 of which are in the general civil service, but 23430 in the specific state civil service. The most significant administration function of the State Civil Service is general and disciplinary control of the service which is included in the State Civil Service Law as the mechanism of legal application of the principles and norms. State Civil Service Administration reviews disciplinary cases, claims and gives explanation of the legal norms acting as the pre-trial institution.

Relevant legislative documents and institutions

Law on Structure of the Cabinet (adopted 01.04.1925; renewed 15.07.1993), link to text in English: www.mk.gov.lv/en/mk/darbibu-reglamentejosie-dokumenti/mk-iekartas-likums/

Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers Nr.111 "Rules of Procedure of the Cabinet of Ministers" (adopted 12.03.2002), link to text in English: www.mk.gov.lv/en/mk/darbibu-reglamentejosie-dokumenti/kartibas-rullis/

State Administration Structure Law (adopted 21.06.2002), link to the text in English: www.ttc.lv/index.php?&id=10&tid=59&l=LV&seid=down&itid=13801

Structure of Ministries Law (adopted 6.02.1997), link to text in English:

www.ttc.lv/index.php?&id=10&tid=59&l=LV&seid=down&itid=13704

The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia: www.mk.gov.lv

State Civil Service Law (adopted 7.09.2000), link to text in English:

www.ttc.lv/index.php?&id=10&tid=59&l=LV&seid=down&itid=13756

State Civil Service Administration www.vcp.gov.lv