The Government and Political System in Poland

The government of Poland is a parliamentary democratic republic as stated in the Polish Constitution. The Prime Minister acts as the leader of the state and a multi-party system. Executive power is implemented by the government; Legislative power is exercised through the government and the 2 assemblies of parliament, Sejim and Senate; the Judiciary power is autonomous of the executive and legislature.

The Prime Minister heads a council of ministers which are generally selected from a majority coalition in the lower house parliament (Sejim). The President is elected for a 5-year term and appoints the prime minister. As the head of the state the president has the power to reject legislation approved by the parliament. Members of the parliament are elected every 4 years through proportional representation. The Lower House consists of 460 members while the Upper House (Senate) has 100 members. Non-ethnic minority parties should get at least 5% of the general vote to make it to the lower house. The National Electoral Commission oversees general elections since 1991.

Poland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1999 and became an associate part of the European Union in 2004. The nation has engaged in various friendship treaties with its neighbors over the past years. But Denmark and Poland has yet to resolve its issues in defining its maritime borders. Demark agrees to a half-way border split while Poland claims a bigger part.