On 1 May 1920, in Riga’s former House of the Livonian Knighthood, the Latvian Constitutional Assembly convened for its first ceremonial sitting – Latvia’s first parliament elected by the whole people. Chosen just after the War of Independence, this legislature symbolically transferred state-building from provisional institutions to citizens’ representatives. Jānis Čakste was elected its president and also performed the functions of head of state, while the Assembly’s great task was to draft the Constitution and consolidate a democratic, law-governed Republic of Latvia.

The Constitutional Assembly opened the practical work of Latvia’s parliamentary democracy after the war and during the difficult early phase of consolidating the state internationally. It adopted the Constitution, built state administration, the financial system, and other foundations of an independent republic.