Prace parlamentarne nad reformą prawa wyborczego w Sejmie III kadencji (1930–1935)

Abstract

The article presents the process of preparing and enacting electoral regulations in the Sejm of the third term (1930–1935) in the Second Republic of Poland. The reform of electoral law constituted the last stage of changes in the political system of the state, the consequence of which was the establishment of an authoritarian system. The elimination of political parties from par-ticipating in the election in favour of social organizations and local government bodies fulfilled one of the most important objectives of the rule of „Sanacja”. Moreover the introduction of the elements of indirect election through the appointment of one third of the Senate, [the upper house of the Polish parliament] by the president and the selection of the rest of its members by regional election boards, reinforced the superiority of the head of state and con-firmed the omnipotence of the Pilsudski Camp in political life. Apart from the description of the rules of the new electoral law, the text mentions the major concepts on its changes which were shaped in the Polish politico-legal thought at the turn of the 1920s and 1930s. Furthermore, some disputes over the proceedings of the submitted projects were highlighted, which was also important for the whole process and hitherto parliamentary practice.