Building the constitutional order in Poland: Legal and political processes

Abstract:

The article concerns the preparation and adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, which is the culmination of a relatively long process of systemic transformation. Two basic aspects of work on the constitution should be noted. One has a formal dimension and concerns the normative procedure for the preparation and adoption of the constitution. It was based, at the essential stage of works, on the provisions of the constitutional act of 1992. The second dimension is political. The constitution had to be the result of a political compromise, which was not easy to find in the politically diverse Polish parliament. A significant role – apart from the current political positions and systemic visions – was also played by the issues of historical divisions, the attitude towards the People’s Republic of Poland or the role of the Catholic Church in state life.