The direct application of the constitutional provisions gives rise to many problems due to the particularities involved. These problems can be encountered not only in a judicial, but also in a managerial type of law application. Within the framework of the last model, the application of the constitutional provisions has to be considered through the Sejm of the Republic of Poland. The constitutional law focuses on the institutions of the political system.It determines the structure, functions, the competencies and the relationship between them. Taking into consideration the fact that the parliament has an important influence on the functioning of governance, the issue of the direct application of constitutional provisions by that authority is taking on new significance. The issue of the application of the constitutional rules relating to the Sejm internal organisation and its political functions has to be considered as relevant. The order of the direct application of the constitution indicates not only the necessity of application of the regulations, which define its organisation, operation and the subject of activity, but also these, which express so-called principles and values. Their full normative content is generally determined in jurisdiction of Constitutional Tribunal, which in turn obliges the Sejm and its authorities to apply these regulations in a manner which takes into account the judicial acquis of this organ.

The right to a fair trial in the European Convention on Human Rights, in the Fundamental Rights of the European Union and in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland – selected issues (part II)

The purpose of this paper is the presentation of some selected issues connected with the right to a fair trial (the right to court, the right to legal proceedings), which is a key element of human rights protection and serves to provide procedural means to safeguard the rule of law. The right to a fair trial is generally guaranteed in acts of international law and in democratic constitutions. The Author of this paper compares regulations of this issue in the European Convention on Human Rights, in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. Because of the extent of the presented subject, article was divided into two parts – the first one, which contains the introduction to the subject of the right to a fair trial and the analysis of this issue in the European Convention on Human Rights and the second part, which presents the regulation of the right to a fair trial in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland.

Direct application of Article 45 paragraph 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland

The problem of direct application of constitutional regulation is related to the role of the Constitution as a legal act in the legal system and the practice of its application. Article 45.1 of the Constitution is applied both by the Constitutional Tribunal and courts. In constitutional proceedings the Article is considered to be a standalone benchmark for establishing if the regulation is in accordance with the Constitution, whereas courts usually apply it jointly with given acts, interpreting them in such a way that leads to be within the Constitution. Direct application of Article 45.1 of the Constitution results in transmission of rules and requirements related to constitutional right to judgement (including a constitutional case) and ensuant guarantees to judicature.

The Democratic State Ruled by Law Clause as a Fundamental Rule of Limiting Restrictions on Constitutional Rights and Freedoms

Despite the introduction to the Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 1997 of a number of detailed regulations (principles) previously derived from the democratic state ruled by law clause, its importance for the discourse around the limits of legislative interference in the sphere of individual rights and freedoms remains relevant. The author of this text focuses on the analysis of the multifaceted nature of the impact of this fundamental principle on the process of interpretation and application of legal provisions. The text outlines the issues related not only to the scope of direct application of Article 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, but also its importance for reasoning about the constitutional axiology which significance for the assessment of the legality (proportionality) of interference by the legislative authority with the domain of constitutional rights and freedoms is becoming ever clearer.