Country report, gender equality :How are EU rules transposed into national law? : Poland 2024

Poland is a unified state with a uniform, continental legal system. The supreme legal act in Poland is the 1997 Constitution, which, among other things, declares that the Republic of Poland is a democratic state that follows the rule of law, implementing the principles of social justice (Article 2). The Constitution also determines the state model, the powers of individual state organs, the relevant sources of law, as well as declaring the freedoms, rights and obligations of persons and citizens. Other universal sources of law are laws (parliamentary acts), ordinances (executive acts) and ratified international agreements (Article 87 of the Constitution). According to Article 95 of the Constitution, legislative power in the Republic of Poland is exercised by the Parliament, consisting of two chambers (the Sejm and the Senate). Legislative initiative is mostly exercised by the Government. Draft laws may also be presented by groups of 15 deputies or 15 senators, as well as the President and at least 100 000 citizens (Article 118 of the Constitution). In order for a draft to become law, it has to be passed by a regular majority of votes by both chambers of Parliament. If the Senate rejects a bill adopted by the Sejm, or proposes an amendment to it, the Sejm requires an absolute majority of votes, in the presence of at least half the statutory number of deputies, to pass the bill or reject the amendment. After the act is passed by the Parliament, it is presented to the President for signature, who is also the body ordering its promulgation in the Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland (Dziennik Ustaw, or Dz.U.; hereafter JoL). The President may refuse to sign the law and refer the bill with his reasoned objections back to the Sejm for reconsideration; the presidential veto might be overridden by the Sejm with a qualified majority. The Council of Ministers (the Prime Minister and particular ministers) are authorised to enact executive ordinances when there is a specific legal basis (delegation) for it in an act issued by Parliament (Article 92 of the Constitution).