Omar Bennett
On May 3, 1791, the Sejm (parliament) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth adopted the Constitution of May 3, 1791, also known as the Governance Act. This was the second written constitution in the world and the first in Europe. The constitution was a result of nearly half a century of attempts to reform the country and was shaped by enlightenment thought and local political experience. It was intended to address political questions following a period of political agitation and gradual reform, and it abolished the union of Poland and Lithuania in favour of a unitary state. The primary sources related to the constitution include the text of the constitution itself, as well as the Declaration of the Assembled Estates (Deklaracja Stanów Zgromadzonych) of May 5, 1791, and the Mutual Pledge of the Two Nations (Zaręczenie Wzajemne Obojga Narodów) of October 22, 1791, which affirmed the unity and indivisibility of Poland and Lithuania within a single state.
Explore related products
![New Constitution of the Government of Poland : Established by the Revolution, the Third of May, 1791 1791 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/617DLHXyzlL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
- The May 3rd Constitution was the second written constitution in the world
- It was the first constitution in Europe
- It was passed by the sejm (parliament) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
- The constitution was intended to address political questions following a period of political agitation
- It was influenced by enlightenment thought and local political experience
The May 3rd Constitution was the second written constitution in the world
The May 3rd Constitution, also known as the Governance Act, was the second written constitution in the world and the first in Europe. It was adopted by the Great Sejm (parliament) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1791, following nearly half a century of attempts to reform the country. The Commonwealth was a dual monarchy comprising the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
The May 3rd Constitution was shaped by enlightenment thought and local political experience. It was influenced by the idea of a contractual state, the concept of individual liberties, and the notion that the monarch owed duties to their subjects. This system, known as the "nobles' democracy", primarily benefited the Polish-Lithuanian nobility (szlachta). The Constitution sought to implement a more effective constitutional monarchy, introduced political equality between townspeople and nobility, and placed peasants under the government's protection, mitigating the worst abuses of serfdom.
The May 3rd Constitution included a tripartite separation of powers, with a dominant role for the Sejm and limited power for the elected king. The Sejm court was the highest tribunal for "crimes against the state", and the government commissions also had certain judicial powers. The Constitution also addressed foreign dispatches informing about the possible partition of the Commonwealth, which heated the atmosphere surrounding its adoption.
The May 3rd Constitution was in force for less than 19 months before being declared null and void by the Grodno Sejm in 1793. Despite its short duration, it became a symbol of strength and the will of the Polish nation. It was celebrated as a national holiday, Constitution Day, on May 5th, 1791, and later reinstated in April 1919 after Poland regained its independence. The legacy of the May 3rd Constitution helped sustain Polish and Lithuanian aspirations for the eventual restoration of their sovereignty.
The Evolution of US Governance: Constitutional Transformations
You may want to see also
It was the first constitution in Europe
The Constitution of 3 May 1791, also known as the Government Act, was the first constitution in Europe. It was a written constitution for the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, a dual monarchy comprising the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The constitution was adopted by the Great Sejm that met between 1788 and 1792.
The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was one of Europe's largest countries and was inhabited by many nationalities, including Poles, Lithuanians, Ruthenians, Jews, Germans, and Tatars. The Commonwealth was formed as a result of the Union of Lublin in 1569 and was distinguished by its religious tolerance and unique law with a dominant role of the parliament (sejm) and limited power of the elected king.
The Constitution of 3 May 1791 was the culmination of nearly half a century of attempts to reform the country. It was shaped by Enlightenment thought and local political experience. The constitution sought to implement a more effective constitutional monarchy, introduced political equality between townspeople and nobility, and placed the peasants under the government's protection, mitigating the worst abuses of serfdom. It also guaranteed freedom to all religious denominations, though Catholicism remained the state religion.
The Constitution of 3 May 1791 was a significant event in the history of Poland and Europe. It was the second written constitution in the world, after that of the United States, and it played a crucial role in the development of parliamentary democracy and the protection of individual liberties in the region. The constitution was passed as a result of a compromise, taking advantage of the absence of some members of parliament who were opposed to the Government Act. The official reason for organizing the session was to discuss foreign dispatches informing about the possible partition of the Commonwealth.
Texas Red Light Laws: What Drivers Should Know
You may want to see also
It was passed by the sejm (parliament) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
On May 3, 1791, the sejm (parliament) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth adopted the Constitution of the 3rd of May, also known as the Governance Act. This event took place in Warsaw and was the culmination of nearly half a century of attempts to reform the country. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, formed in 1569 through the Union of Lublin, was one of Europe's largest countries and was inhabited by many nationalities, including Poles, Lithuanians, Ruthenians, Jews, Germans, and Tatars. The Commonwealth was a dual monarchy, consisting of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and was distinguished by its religious tolerance and unique law granting dominant power to the parliament (sejm) while limiting the power of the elected king.
The Constitution of 3 May 1791 was the second written constitution in the world, after that of the United States, and the first in Europe. It was a revolutionary document, representing a significant milestone in the development of democratic ideals in the Western world. The constitution sought to establish a more effective constitutional monarchy, introduced political equality between townspeople and nobility, and placed peasants under the government's protection, mitigating the worst abuses of serfdom. It was shaped by Enlightenment thought and local political experience, and its authors, Ignacy Potocki and Hugo Kołłątaj, described it as "the last will and testament of the expiring Homeland".
The adoption of the constitution by the sejm was a significant event. Supporters of the constitution took advantage of the absence of some members of parliament who opposed it, ensuring its passage. The new constitution was met with enthusiasm, especially by the Friends of the Constitution (Zgromadzenie Przyjaciół Konstytucji Rządowej), which included many participants in the Great Sejm and is regarded as the first modern-style political party in Poland's history. The response in the provinces was less enthusiastic, where the Hetmans' Party held considerable influence. However, the support of the middle nobility was crucial in ensuring the constitution's overall acceptance.
The Constitution of 3 May 1791 had a lasting impact on Poland's political aspirations and played a role in nurturing the political will of successive generations of Polish citizens. It was translated into French, German, and English, and praised by prominent figures such as Thomas Paine and Edmund Burke for its progressive nature. The constitution's legacy continued to inspire, even after the Third Partition of Poland in 1797, which erased Poland's territory from the map of Europe. Poland's independence was eventually restored in 1918, leading to a revisiting, updating, and revising of the May 1791 Constitution.
Understanding Mutual Acceptance in Real Estate Deals
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The constitution was intended to address political questions following a period of political agitation
The Constitution of 3 May 1791, also known as the Government Act, was a written constitution for the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Commonwealth was a dual monarchy comprising the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The new constitution was intended to address political questions following a period of political agitation and gradual reform that began with the Convocation Sejm of 1764 and the election of the Commonwealth's last monarch, Stanisław August Poniatowski, in the same year.
The Constitution was the culmination of nearly half a century of attempts to reform the country. It was shaped by enlightenment thought and local political experience. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was one of Europe's largest countries and was inhabited by many nationalities, including Poles, Lithuanians, Ruthenians, Jews, Germans, and Tatars. The Commonwealth was distinguished by its religious tolerance and its unique law, which gave a dominant role to the parliament (sejm) and limited the power of the elected king.
The Constitution sought to implement a more effective constitutional monarchy, introduced political equality between townspeople and nobility, and placed the peasants under the government's protection, mitigating the worst abuses of serfdom. The court system was to be based on the election of judges by the representative bodies of nobles and burghers respectively. However, the separation of powers was not absolute: the Sejm court constituted the highest tribunal for “crimes against the State”, and the government commissions also had certain judicial powers. Little changed regarding the legal status of the peasants.
The Constitution was passed by the Great Sejm that met between 1788 and 1792. It was declared a Polish holiday (Constitution Day) on 5 May 1791, just two days after its adoption. However, the document's existence was short-lived. It was nullified by the Grodno Sejm that met in 1793, and the Second and Third Partitions of the Commonwealth (1793 and 1795) ended Poland's and Lithuania's sovereign existence. Despite its short lifespan, the Constitution of 3 May 1791 is remembered as a progressive document for its time and a symbol of the strength and will of the Polish nation.
Supreme Court's Sway: Interpreting the Constitution
You may want to see also
It was influenced by enlightenment thought and local political experience
The Constitution of May 3, 1791, was a written constitution for the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, also known as the Governance Act. It was adopted by the Great Sejm, which met between 1788 and 1792. The constitution was influenced by enlightenment thought and local political experience, and it was the culmination of nearly half a century of attempts to reform the country.
The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was formed in 1569 through the Union of Lublin. It was one of the largest countries in Europe and was inhabited by diverse nationalities, including Poles, Lithuanians, Ruthenians, Jews, Germans, and Tatars. The Commonwealth was characterised by religious tolerance and a unique political system, with a dominant parliament (Sejm) and a limited monarch. This system primarily benefited the Polish-Lithuanian nobility, or "szlachta", and came to be known as the "nobles' democracy".
The Constitution of May 3, 1791, sought to build upon this foundation by creating a more effective constitutional monarchy. It introduced political equality between townspeople and nobility, and it placed peasants under the government's protection, mitigating the worst abuses of serfdom. The constitution also featured a system of checks and balances and a tripartite separation of powers, although this separation was not absolute. For example, the Sejm court constituted the highest tribunal for "crimes against the State," and government commissions retained certain judicial powers.
The Constitution of May 3, 1791, was a significant political achievement, recognised as an expression of remarkable political will during challenging times. It was one of the earliest written constitutions in the world, following only the Constitution of the United States of America, and it represented a crucial milestone in the development of democratic ideals in the Western world. The memory of this constitution nurtured the political aspirations of successive generations of Poland's citizens, eventually leading to the restoration of Poland's independence in 1918.
Kansas Voters: Lecompton Constitution Rejection Outcome
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The May 3, 1791 constitution, also known as the Governance Act, was a written constitution for the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was the second written constitution in the world and the first in Europe.
The constitution was significant because it was the first modern, codified constitution in Europe, possessing checks and balances and a tripartite separation of powers. It was also a symbol of the strength and will of the nation, inspiring political aspirations among Polish citizens for generations.
The constitution sought to establish a more effective constitutional monarchy, introduced political equality between townspeople and nobility, and placed peasants under the government's protection. It also abolished the union of Poland and Lithuania, creating a unitary state.
