Politics of Poland

The Government of Poland takes the form of a unitary parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the President is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government.[1][2] However, its form of government has also been identified as semi-presidential.[3][4][5][6]

Quick facts: Politics of Poland Polityka polska (Polish),... ▼

Politics of Poland Polityka polska (Polish)
Coat of arms of Poland
Polity type	Unitary parliamentary constitutional republic (de jure) Unitary semi-presidential constitutional republic (de facto)
Constitution	1997 Constitution of Poland
Legislative branch
Name	Parliament
Type	Bicameral
Meeting place	Sejm and Senate Complex of Poland
Upper house
Name	Senate of Poland
Presiding officer	Tomasz Grodzki, Marshal of the Senate
Appointer	First-past-the-post
Lower house
Name	Sejm
Presiding officer	Elżbieta Witek, Marshal of the Sejm
Appointer	Open-list proportional representation in 41 constituencies (5% national election threshold)
Executive branch
Head of State
Title	President
Currently	Andrzej Duda
Appointer	Direct popular vote
Head of Government
Title	Prime Minister
Currently	Mateusz Morawiecki
Appointer	President
Cabinet
Name	Government of the Republic of Poland
Current cabinet	Cabinet of Mateusz Morawiecki
Leader	Prime Minister
Deputy leader	Piotr Gliński, Deputy Prime Minister
Appointer	President
Headquarters	Sejm and Senate Complex of Poland
Ministries	37
Judicial branch
Name	Judiciary of Poland
Constitutional Tribunal
Chief judge	Julia Przyłębska

Politics of Poland
Government Constitution of Poland Law Human rights
Legislature Parliament of Poland Current Parliament Sejm Marshal Elżbieta Witek (PiS) Deputy Marshals Senate Marshal Tomasz Grodzki (PO) Deputy Marshals
Executive President of Poland Andrzej Duda (I) Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki (PiS) Cabinet Ministries
Judiciary Supreme Court of Poland First President Małgorzata Manowska Constitutional Tribunal President Julia Przyłębska Supreme Administrative Court State Tribunal
Elections Presidential Parliamentary Local Referendums
Political parties Major parties Law and Justice Civic Platform Other parties
Administrative divisions Voivodeship voivodes marshals Counties (powiat) Communes (gmina) Cities and towns
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Zbigniew Rau Diplomatic missions of / in Poland Ambassadors
Related topics Economy History (political) Armed forces
Poland portal Other countries
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Executive power is exercised, within the framework of a multi-party system, by the President and the Government, which consists of the Council of Ministers led by the Prime Minister. Its members are typically chosen from the majority party or coalition, in the lower house of parliament (the Sejm), although exceptions to this rule are not uncommon. The government is formally announced by the President, and must pass a motion of confidence in the Sejm within two weeks.

Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of parliament, Sejm and Senate. Members of Sejm are elected by proportional representation, with the proviso that non-ethnic-minority parties must gain at least 5% of the national vote to enter the lower house. Currently five parties are represented. Parliamentary elections occur at least every four years.

The president, as the head of state, is the supreme commander of the Armed Forces, has the power to veto legislation passed by parliament, which may be overridden by a majority of three fifths, and can dissolve the parliament under certain conditions.[4][5][6] Presidential elections occur every five years. When a majority of voters support the same candidate, that candidate is declared the winner, while when there is no majority, the top two candidates participate in a runoff election.

The political system is defined in the Polish Constitution, which also guarantees a wide range of individual freedoms. The judicial branch plays a minor role in politics, apart from the Constitutional Tribunal, which can annul laws that violate the freedoms guaranteed in the constitution.