The April Constitution of Poland (Polish: Ustawa konstytucyjna 23 IV 1935 or Konstytucja kwietniowa) was the general law passed by the act of the Polish Sejm on 23 April 1935. It established a presidential system in the Second Polish Republic with strong executive powers. The adoption of the constitution did not fully adhere to the procedures outlined in the previous March Constitution of 1921 or the parliamentary rules of procedure, leading to objections from parts of the opposition to the Sanacja government.
Summary
The act introduced the idea that the state is a common good of all citizens. It adjusted the balance of power by limiting the authority of the Sejm and Senate while strengthening the role of the President of Poland. The President was granted significant executive powers, described as holding "single and indivisible state power," and was stated to be responsible "only to God and history." The government, parliament, armed forces, courts, and oversight bodies were placed under his authority.
The election of the President took place through a special Assembly of Electors, consisting of 80 members, including five of the highest state officials, 50 electors chosen from among members of the Sejm, and 25 from the Senate. The President had the right to propose his own candidate for the office. His term lasted seven years, and he held the power to appoint and dismiss government members, who were accountable both to him and to the parliament. Additionally, the President could dissolve parliament before the end of its term, appoint a third of the senators, the commander-in-chief of the Polish Army, and the General Inspector of the Armed Forces. He also had the authority to issue decrees and veto legislation passed by the Sejm.
One of the notable provisions of the constitution was the President's right to designate a successor in the event of war, which later served as the legal basis for the continuity of the Polish Government in Exile during and after World War II. The constitution was officially nullified on 22 July 1944 by the Polish Committee of National Liberation through their manifesto, which temporarily reinstated the March Constitution before the adoption of the socialist constitution in 1952. The government-in-exile continued to operate under the April Constitution until December 1990, when it transferred its authority to Lech Walesa following his election as Poland's first noncommunist president in 46 years.
See also
References
- Ajnenkiel, Andrzej (1983). Polskie konstytucje. Warszawa: Wiedza Powszechna. ISBN 83-214-0256-9.
- Full text of April Constitution.
DOC Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu (in Polish)
External links