Lithuanians

ETHNONYMS: Lietuva, Litawen, Litva, Litwa

Kinship

Lithuanian kinship is bilateral and follows the Eskimo kinship system. In earlier times a quite extensive system of kin terms distinguishing categories based on marriage and sex (e.g., dédiené, father's brother's wife) existed. These terms varied regionally. Today kin terms have been reduced, reflecting the predominance of the nuclear family.

Sociopolitical Organization

Lithuania is a democracy governed by a parliament, known as the Seimas; its president, the head of state, selects the prime minister (subject to the approval of parliament).

DANIEL STROUTHES AND KRISTINA KELERTAS