Normative collective memory in preambles  to constitution of post-communist states

Preambles are parts of constitutions, which are visibly neglected in legal theory and constitutional law. They are defined as solemn introductions to constitutions, which indicate the sovereign, historical and political context of increasing the new constitutional order, main aims and principles – the foundation of constitution. Such elements are also commonly apparent in most of post-communist constitutions of European states. The article shows the integrative function of these preambles, achieved by using clauses creating and maintaining the identity of political community. The clauses with this function are identified as: statements regarding national and cultural heritage and fundamental principles of community. The article investigates these elements in preambles texts of post-communist constitutions and indicates their role as tending to create the national identity.

The article concerns the dilemmas of building Polish constitutional identity after 1989. The hypothesis assumes that after the initial twenty years of consolidation and Europeanization of constitutional democracy, there was an attempt at undermining the adopted political order. The policy of the ruling camp after 2015 is a striking proof of this crisis.

This article is the result of the scientific meeting organized by the KUL, in June 2021, concerning the topic of the constitutional identity. One of the intriguing problems in constitutional law is just the problem of constitutional identity. Constitutional Identity has three functions. The most important consistent that identity determines the “core” or “nucleus” of each constitution. The answer to radical question “what is the preambule to the Polish Constitution for?” should be that it mostly serves to express constitutional identity. This the basic function of this part of the Polish Constitution. Above all, constitutional identity “emerges” from national identity. Both identities are connected with each other in the preambule of the Polish Constitution.