Open AccessLiberal-democratic values of the Polish Сonstitution of 1921
Author(s) -
Liudmyla Protosavitska
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
naukovij vìsnik užgorodsʹkogo nacìonalʹnogo unìversitetu. serìâ pravo
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2664-6153
pISSN - 2307-3322
DOI - 10.24144/2307-3322.2021.64.8
Subject(s) - constitution , parliament , law , democracy , state (computer science) , political science , legislature , politics , presidency , victory , constitutionalism , power (physics) , sociology , physics , algorithm , quantum mechanics , computer science
Examining the liberal-democratic values of the Polish Сonstitution of 1921, the author clarified the conditions under which the Polish state was formed in 1918. In general, the paper examines all sections of the constitution of March 17, 1921, carried out an article-by-article analysis of the basic law of the Polish state.
Polish statehood was restored as a result of geopolitical changes following the First World War, including the victory of the Entente. Based on the guarantees contained in Woodrow Wilson's program, the Poles restored the Polish state.
The Polish state in the postwar period faced a large number of political, social, economic and psychological problems that stood in the way of land integration and overcoming the gap with Western European states.
It was found that the Constitution of March 17, 1921, in contrast to previous constitutional acts, established a clear division of power into legislative, executive and judicial, proclaimed the rights and freedoms of citizens. The Constitution stated that the supreme power in the republic belongs to the people. Both houses of parliament - the Seimas and the Senate - were not equal under the 1921 Constitution. Constitutional powers enabled parliament to revise and amend the constitution.
It is noted that the executive power belonged to the President together with the relevant ministers. As for the judiciary, it belonged to independent courts. The constitution guaranteed broad rights to its citizens, as well as clearly defining the range of responsibilities that everyone had to perform properly.
Thus, on the basis of the analysis conducted by the author, it was found that the Polish state adopted the model of the democratic system of France, and in terms of legislative activity also Weimar Germany. The Constitution of Poland incorporates such values as citizenship and responsibility of the citizen, constitutionalism, freedom of speech, human dignity, honor and tolerance, freedom of conscience and justice, social order and equality.