Constitution of the Republic of Poland

The 1997 constitution consolidating postcommunist democratic transformation.

Overview

Approved by a narrow referendum in May 1997, the Polish Constitution replaced the heavily amended communist era text and the provisional 1992 Small Constitution. It establishes a mixed parliamentary presidential system with a strong Sejm, a president directly elected with foreign policy and veto roles, and a Constitutional Tribunal that emerged as one of Europes most significant rights courts. Its preamble balances patriotic and universal values and the text includes social market economy principles and chapter two rights. Judicial reforms after 2015 triggered sustained conflict over judicial independence, making the constitution central to Polish political debate.