Conceptions of the head of state in drafts of the Polish Constitution of 1918–1921

The article deals with a conception of the head of state while working on the March Constitution. The first part presents motives for adopting a republican form of the future system of Poland and describes draft constitutions drawn up by the Constitutional Bureau of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers. The second part presents characteristics of a political status of the head of state in the draft of the so-called “Survey,” the draft of W. Wakar as well as the governmental “Constitutional Declaration” and the draft of the Popular National Union. Moreover, it describes controversies connected with the titles of “Chief” and “President.” The third part presents a description of views on the head of state revealed during the works of the Constitutional Committee as well as in the second draft drawn up by the Council of Ministers, along with amendments made by the Skulski’s government. The last, 4th part discusses causes which influenced the final shape of the office of President in the March Constitution.

The finality of judgments of the Constitutional Court in the regulations  before 1997 and concepts of finality of judgments of the  Constitutional Court during the work of the Constitutional Commission  of the National Assembly and in the drafts of Constitution

The aim of this publication is to discuss issues of finality of judgments of the Constitutional Court. Noticeable date in the history of this matter is year 1997, which is associated with the enactment of the Constitution. From beginning of the constitutional judiciary (since 1982) until the enactment of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, a view of lack of need for any extra-parliamentary (and even more independent of parliament) forms of the constitutionality of legislation dominated the scene. And it was conditioned by the political system. This meant that the Constitutional Tribunal’s ruling of non-compliance with the provisions of the constitutional laws have been subjected to the control of the legislature. Work towards adoption of the new Constitution began as a result of a major political changes after 1989. Actual beginning of the work is dated on 7 December 1989, when Constitutional Commissions of each of the houses of the Parliament were appointed, and later on the Constitutional Commission of the National Assembly. It was during the work of the Constitutional Commission of the National Assembly when issue of finality of judgments was discussed. In this article I will discuss that discussion and introduce concepts of finality of judgments of the Constitutional Court in the drafts of Constitution, to finally present a model of finality of judgements adopted in the Constitution of 1997.