Poland · Government
Government and administration in Poland
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Head of State — President of the Republic
- Directly elected for five years; holds a suspensive veto.
- Executive — Council of Ministers under the Prime Minister
- Answerable to the Sejm through a constructive vote of no confidence.
- Legislative — Sejm (460) and Senate (100)
- The Sejm can override Senate amendments by absolute majority.
- Judicial — Common, administrative and military courts
- Judges appointed by the President on National Council nomination.
How legislation is made
A bill passes three readings in the Sejm, goes to the Senate, which may amend or reject within 30 days, returns to the Sejm, and is then signed by the President — who may instead veto it or refer it to the Constitutional Tribunal.
Enforcement institutions
- National Public Prosecutor’s Office
- Directs criminal prosecution nationwide.
- Policja
- National police service under the Ministry of the Interior.
- Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA)
- Investigates corruption and economic crime.
Government bodies and regulators
- executiveMinistry of Justice (Ministerstwo Sprawiedliwości)Administers the courts, registers and criminal records.
- executiveNational Revenue Administration (KAS)Assesses and collects taxes and customs duties.
- executiveSocial Insurance Institution (ZUS)Collects contributions and pays social insurance benefits.
- independentCommissioner for Human Rights (Rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich)Protects the rights and freedoms set out in the Constitution.
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