The legislative competence of the Senate: the scope of the amendments to the political practice and jurisdiction of the Constitutional Tribunal

The amendments proposed by the Senate from an important element in terms of legislative proceedings. The current arrangements specified in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland regarding the Senate are raising many doubts, as they are clearly creating uncertainty about the authority of this body. This is being demonstrated in the jurisdictional practice of the Constitutional Tribunal, as well as in the political practice. The origin of the scope of the issue of the amendments can be found in the disputes over authority between the Sejm and the Senate after 1989. The jurisdiction of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal over the body in question has been exercised in a way which has significantly influenced the process of limiting the Upper Chamber’s authority. The current experience regarding the amendments proposed by the Senate shows that this aspect of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland needs to be reformed.