The Second Chamber of the Polish Parliament in the Concepts of the Polish People’s Movement

The objective of the article “The second chamber of the Polish parliament in the concepts of the Polish people’s movement” is to analyze the issue of the Second Chamber of the Polish Parliament in the political thought of the People’s movement. The People’s Party supported a unicameral parliament. The Second Chamber reappeared in the 1930s as a Chamber of Commerce or Local Government (similarly in the Third Polish Republic). However, in practice, they voted for the adoption of subsequent constitutions, in which the Senate was present. This was not the expression of their political thought, but of their ability to make compromises and put the interests of the state above party particularism.

Maciej Rataj, The Marshal of the Polish Parliament (1884–1940)

The article presents the life and activities of Maciej Rataj (1884–1940). He was a leading politician of the people’s movement, a trained teacher and classical philologist. He served as a member of parliament (1919–1930 and 1934– 1935), minister of religious denominations and public education (1920–1921) and speaker of the Sejm (1922–1928), including twice acting president of the Republic of Poland (1922 and 1926). During the Legislative Sejm, he was one of the co-authors of the March 1921 constitution. In the years 1935–1939, he held the position of president of SL, replacing Wincenty Witos, who was in exile. During World War II, he was the leading creator of the Polish Underground State. For his patriotic attitude, he was murdered by the Germans in Palmiry.