Info
Electoral Systems
ES001
Head of State
Question: How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):
c . Directly elected in general elections (absolute majority with 2nd round if necessary)
Comments: The President of the Republic shall be elected by the Nation, in universal, equal and direct elections, conducted by secret ballot.
A candidate who has received more than half of the valid votes shall be considered elected President of the Republic. If none of the candidates has received the required majority of votes, then a repeat ballot shall be held on the 14th day after the first vote.
The two candidates who have received the largest number of votes in the first ballot shall participate in a repeat ballot. If one of the two such candidates withdraws his consent to candidacy, forfeits his electoral rights or dies, he shall be replaced in the repeat ballot by the candidate who received the next highest consecutive number of votes in the first ballot. In such case, the date of the repeat ballot shall be extended by a further 14 days.
The candidate who receives the higher number of votes in the repeat ballot shall be elected President of the Republic.
Source: The Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 2nd April, 1997, as amended in 2009, article 127: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Poland_2009
Verified: 2024/11/13
ES002
Head of Government
Question: How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:
e . Appointed
Comments: The President of the Republic shall nominate a Prime Minister who shall propose the composition of a Council of Ministers. The President of the Republic shall, within 14 days of the first sitting of the Sejm or acceptance of the resignation of the previous Council of Ministers, appoint a Prime Minister together with other members of a Council of Ministers and accept the oaths of office of members of such newly appointed Council of Ministers.
Source: The Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 2nd April, 1997, as amended in 2009, article 154 (1): https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Poland_2009
Verified: 2024/11/13
ES003
President
Question: Does the country have a president?
Answer:
a . Yes
Comments: The President of the Republic of Poland shall be the supreme representative of the Republic of Poland and the guarantor of the continuity of State authority.
Source: The Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 2nd April, 1997, as amended in 2009: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Poland_2009
Verified: 2024/11/13
ES004
Number of Chambers
Question: The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:
b . Two chambers
Comments: Legislative power in the Republic of Poland shall be exercised by the Sejm and the Senate.
Source: The Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 2nd April, 1997, as amended in 2009, article 95 (1): https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Poland_2009
Verified: 2024/11/13
ES005
Electoral System (Chamber 1)
Question: What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):
g . List Proportional Representation
Comments: Article 192: "Elections to the Sejm shall be universal, equal, direct and proportional and shall be conducted through a secret vote".
Article 193(1): "460 deputies are elected to the Sejm from the lists of candidates for deputies in the multi-member electoral constituencies".
Source: Election Code: Act of 5 January 2011 on Election Code to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and to the Senate of the Republic of Poland, article 192 and 193 (1): https://legislationline.org/sites/default/files/documents/40/POL_Election%20Code.pdf
Verified: 2024/11/13
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