“ The Republic of Poland shall guarantee to its citizens the inviolability of the person. A citizen may be deprived of his freedom only in cases specified by law. A detained person shall be set free unless a warrant of arrest issued by a court or by a prosecutor has been served on him within forty-eight hours beginning with the moment of his detention. ”

“ Citizens of the Republic of Poland, irrespective of nationality, race or religion, shall enjoy equal rights in all fields of public, political, economic, social and cultural life. Infringement of this principle by any direct or indirect privileges or restrictions of rights by reference to nationality, race or religion shall be punishable. ”

“ The Council of Ministers may, in well-founded instances, declare a bill introduced by itself as urgent, with the exception of drafts of constitutional acts, the draft Budget, tax bills, bills governing elections to the Presidency of the Republic of Poland, to the Sejm, to the Senate and to local government organs, bills governing the structure, jurisdiction and procedures of State and local government organs ”

“ Every citizen who has attained the age of twenty one years shall be qualified to be elected to the Sejm and Senate, provided he has been permanently resident on the territory of the Republic of Poland for a period of at least 5 years. ”

“ The Republic of Poland shall concern itself with the development of literature and arts which express the needs and aspirations of the Nation, and which are in keeping with the best progressive traditions of Polish creativity. ”

“ Supreme power in the Republic of Poland shall be vested in the Nation.
2. The Nation shall exercise its power through its representatives elected to the Sejm and to the Senate. The exercise of such power may also be implemented by means of a referendum. The principles and the methods of holding a referendum shall be established by law. ”

“ Deputies and Senators, persons who are members of the Council of Ministers, as well as other persons who hold offices or perform public functions on behalf of the State, as specified in the Constitutional Act. are forbidden to engage in any activity inconsistent with exercising a mandate, office or function within the scope and under penalties determined by law. ”

“ Political parties shall be formed voluntarily and shall be based upon the equality of all citizens of the Republic of Poland. Their purpose shall be to influence the formulation of the policy of the State by democratic means. ”

“ The President may, in the event of State security being endangered by external forces, introduce martial law in a part of or upon the whole territory of the Republic of Poland, and may also declare a partial or general mobilization.
2. The organization of the authorities of the State during a period of martial law. and other legal consequences of such declaration of martial law, shall be established by statute. ”

“ Citizens of the Republic of Poland shall participate in exercising social control, in consultations and discussions upon important issues concerning the development of the country, and may submit their suggestions. ”

“ The Republic of Poland shall guarantee freedom of conscience and religion to its citizens. The Church and other religious organizations shall freely exercise their religious functions. Citizens shall not be prevented from taking part in religious activities and rites. No one may be compelled to participate in religious activities or rites. ”

“ The Republic of Poland shall protect ownership and the right of succession and shall guarantee comprehensive protection of personal property. Expropriation may be allowed exclusively for public purposes and for just compensation. ”

“ A Deputy shall not be held accountable for his activities resulting from the exercise of his mandate within the period of such mandate or after its expiry, unless he has violated the personal rights of other persons. ”

“ A Minister directing a government administration department, in the course of his/her business, shall act within the framework of powers specified by the relevant laws, and shall, on the grounds of the authority granted to him/her by these laws, issue regulations and executive orders with a view to the implementation of these laws. ”

“ The Republic of Poland, being mindful of the interests of the family, shall strive to improve housing conditions, and, in cooperation with citizens, shall develop and promote various forms of residential construction, especially those promoted by cooperative societies, and shall show care in the proper management of housing resources. ”

“ A Deputy shall be neither criminally liable, nor arrested nor detained without the authorization of the Sejm given by a two-thirds majority vote in the presence of at least half of the total number of Deputies. ”

“ Notes
↑ Voivodeship - a unit of central governmental administration covering a specified geographical area. At present, there are 49 such voivodeships in Poland.↑ Whenever the male term is used in the text, it should be understand to refer also to the female.↑ The title of Chapter 4 is as specified by Article 1, para. 1 of the Act of 15th October, 1992 on Amendment of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland (Dziennik Ustaw of 1993, No. 7, item 33) which entered into force on 13th February, 1993.↑ Article 36b supplemented by Article 1, para. ”