Editing Sejm

{{Short description|Lower house of the parliament of Poland}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox legislature
|name = Sejm of the Republic of Poland
|native_name = <small>{{lang|pl|Sejm Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej}}</small>
|transcription_name = 
|legislature = [[10th term Sejm and 11th term Senate of Poland|10th term]]
|coa_pic =Sejm RP logo and wordmark.svg 
|coa_res = 200px
|house_type=Lower house
|body=Polish parliament
|foundation = 1493 ([[Sejm of the Kingdom of Poland|historical]])<br />28 November 1918 ([[History of Poland (1918–1939)|contemporary]])
|leader1_type = [[Marshal of the Sejm]]
|affiliations=|leader1 = [[Szymon Hołownia]]
|party1 = [[Poland 2050|PL2050]]
|election1 = 13 November 2023
|leader1_term=| leader2_type = [[Deputy Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland|Deputy Marshal of the Sejm]]
 | leader2 = [[Monika Wielichowska]], [[Civic Platform|PO]]<br>[[Dorota Niedziela]], [[Civic Platform|PO]]<br>[[Piotr Zgorzelski]], [[Polish People's Party|PSL]]<br>[[Włodzimierz Czarzasty]], [[New Left (Poland)|NL]]<br>[[Krzysztof Bosak]], [[National Movement (Poland)|RN]]
 | party2 = 
 | election2 = 13 November 2023
|leader3_type = [[Senior Marshal]]
|leader3 = [[Marek Sawicki]]
|party3 = [[Polish People's Party|PSL]]
|election3 = 13 November 2023
|leader4_type = [[Prime Minister of Poland|Prime Minister]]
|leader4 = [[Donald Tusk]] 
|party4 = [[Civic Platform (Poland)|PO]]
|election4 = 13 December 2023
|leader5_type = [[Leader of the Opposition]]{{efn|Though the by-laws of the Sejm do not mention such a position, the leader of the largest opposition party is called leader of the opposition by convention.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}}}
|leader5 = [[Jarosław Kaczyński]]
|party5 = [[Law and Justice|PiS]]
|election5 = 13 December 2023
| members = 460 deputies ''(231 majority)''
 | structure1 = 10th Term Sejm of Poland.svg
 | structure1_res = 250px
 | political_groups1 ='''[[Third Cabinet of Donald Tusk|Government]] (242)'''
* {{color box|{{party color|Civic Coalition (Poland)}}}} [[Civic Coalition (Poland)|KO]] (157){{efn|
* {{color box|{{party color|Civic Platform}}}} [[Civic Platform|PO]] (125)
* {{color box|{{party color|Modern (political party)}}}} [[Modern (political party)|.N]] (10)
* {{color box|{{party color|The Greens (Poland, 2022)}}}} [[The Greens (Poland)|Greens]] (3)
* {{color box|{{party color|Polish Initiative}}}} [[Polish Initiative|iPL]] (2)
* {{color box|{{party color|Yes! For Poland}}}} [[Yes! For Poland|T!DPL]] (2)
* {{color box|{{party color|AGROunia}}}} [[AGROunia|Au]] (1)
* {{color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (13)}}
* {{color box|{{party color|Poland 2050}}}} [[Poland 2050|PL2050]] – [[Third Way (Poland)|TD]] (32)
* {{color box|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}} [[Polish People's Party|PSL]] – [[Third Way (Poland)|TD]] (32){{efn|
* {{color box|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}} [[Polish People's Party|PSL]] (28)
* {{color box|#993333}} [[Centre for Poland|CdP]] (3)
* {{color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (1){{efn|[[Marek Biernacki]]}}}}
* {{color box|{{party color|The Left (Poland)}}}} [[The Left (Poland)|The Left]] (21){{efn|
* {{color box|{{party color|New Left (Poland)}}}} [[New Left (Poland)|NL]] (18)
* {{color box|{{party color|Independent}}}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (3){{efn|[[Daria Gosek-Popiołek]], [[Dorota Olko]], [[Joanna Wicha]]}}}}
'''[[Confidence and supply]] (1)'''
* {{color box|{{party color|Independent}}}} [[Independent politician|Non-aligned]] (1){{efn|Independent [[Adam Gomoła]] elected on [[Third Way (Poland)|Third Way]] list}}
'''Opposition (217)'''
* {{color box|{{party color|Law and Justice}}}} [[Law and Justice|PiS]] (190){{efn|
* {{color box|{{party color|Law and Justice}}}} [[Law and Justice|PiS]] (181)
* {{color box|{{party color|OdNowa RP}}}} [[Renewal of the Republic of Poland|ONRP]] (6)
* {{color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (3)}}
* {{color box|{{party color|Confederation Liberty and Independence}}}} [[Confederation Liberty and Independence|KWiN]] (16){{efn|
* {{color box|{{party color|KORWiN}}}} [[New Hope (Poland)|NN]] (8)
* {{color box|{{party color|National Movement (Poland)}}}} [[National Movement (Poland)|RN]] (7)
* {{color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (1){{efn|[[Andrzej Zapałowski]]}}}}
* {{color box|{{party color|Together Party}}}} [[Together Party|Razem]] (5)
* {{color box|{{party color|Free Republicans}}}} [[Free Republicans|WR]] (4){{efn|
* {{color box|{{party color|Kukiz'15}}}} [[Kukiz'15|K'15]] (3)
* {{color box|#1560BD}} [[Freedom and Prosperity (Poland)|WiD]] (1)}}
* {{color box|{{party color|Independent}}}} [[Independent politician|Non-aligned]] (2){{efn|
* {{color box|{{party color|Confederation of the Polish Crown}}}} [[Confederation of the Polish Crown|KKP]] (2)}}
| committees1 = {{Collapsible list
  |title = 31
  | titlestyle = font-weight: normal
  | bullets = true
  | Administration and Internal Affairs
  | Agriculture and Rural Development
  | Children and Youth Affairs
  | Constitutional Accountability
  | Culture and Media
  | Deputies' Ethics
  | Deregulation Affairs
  | Digitization, Innovation and Modern Technology
  | Economy and Development
  | Education and Science
  | Energy, Climate and State Assets
  | Environment Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry
  | European Union Affairs
  | Family and Women Rights
  | Foreign Affairs
  | Health
  | Infrastructure
  | Justice and Human Rights
  | Legislative
  | Liaison with Poles Abroad
  | Local Self-Government and Regional Policy
  | Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation
  | National and Ethnic Minorities
  | National Defense
  | Physic Education and Sport
  | Public Finances
  | Rules and Deputies' Affairs
  | Senior Policy
  | Social Policy and Family
  | Special Services
  | State Control
}}
|voting_system1 = [[Open list|Open-list]] [[proportional representation]] in [[Electoral districts of Poland|41 constituencies]] (5% national [[election threshold]]{{sup|a}})
|last_election1 = [[2023 Polish parliamentary election|15 October 2023]]
|next_election1 = [[Next Polish parliamentary election|On or before 11 November 2027]]
|session_room = Zgromadzenie Narodowe 4 czerwca 2014 Kancelaria Senatu 01.JPG
|session_res = 240px
|session_alt=The Sejm's Session Hall in National Assembly June 4, 2014|meeting_place = The [[Sejm and Senate Complex of Poland|Sejm and Senate Complex]], [[Warsaw]] 
|website = {{URL|sejm.gov.pl}}
|constitution=[[Constitution of Poland|The Constitution of the Republic of Poland]]|rules=[https://www.sejm.gov.pl/prawo/regulamin/kon7.htm Resolution of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland of 30 July 1992. Rules of Procedure of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland with subsequent amendments]|footnotes = {{sup|a}} 8% for coalitions, 0% for ethnic minority electoral committees
}}

The '''Sejm''' ({{IPA|pl|sɛjm|lang|Pl-Sejm-2.ogg}}), officially known as the '''Sejm of the Republic of Poland''' ({{langx|pl|Sejm Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej}}), is the [[lower house]] of the [[bicameralism|bicameral]] [[parliament of Poland]]. 

The Sejm has been the highest governing body of the [[Third Polish Republic]] since the [[Polish People's Republic|transition of government]] in 1989. Along with the [[upper house]] of parliament, the [[Senate of Poland|Senate]], it forms the national [[legislature]] in [[Poland]] known as [[Parliament of Poland#National Assembly|National Assembly]] ({{langx|pl|Zgromadzenie Narodowe|links=no}}). The Sejm comprises 460 [[Member of parliament|deputies]] (singular {{lang|pl|deputowany}} or {{lang|pl|poseł}}) elected every four years by [[Universal suffrage|universal ballot]]. The Sejm is presided over by a [[Speaker of parliament|speaker]], the "Marshal of the Sejm" ({{lang|pl|Marszałek Sejmu}}).

In the [[Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)|Kingdom of Poland]], the term ''Sejm'' referred to an entire two-[[Chambers of parliament|chamber]] parliament, comprising the Chamber of Deputies ({{lang|pl|Izba Poselska}}), the Senate and the King. It was thus a three-estate parliament. The 1573 [[Henrician Articles]] strengthened the assembly's jurisdiction, making Poland a [[elective monarchy|constitutional elective]] [[monarchy]]. Since the [[Second Polish Republic]] (1918–1939), ''Sejm'' has referred only to the lower house of parliament.

During the existence of the [[Polish People's Republic]], the Sejm, then a [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] parliament, was the [[Highest organ of state power|supreme organ of state power]] in the country. It was the only government branch in the state, and per the principle of [[unified power]], all state organs were subservient to it. However, in practice it was widely considered to be a [[Rubber stamp (politics)|rubber stamp]] legislature which existed to approve decisions made by the ruling party, the [[Polish United Workers' Party]] (PZPR) as a formality, and which had little or no real power of its own.

== History ==
=== Kingdom of Poland ===
{{Main|Sejm of the Kingdom of Poland}} 
[[File:The_First_Sejm_1182.jpg|thumb|left|The first Sejm in Łęczyca. Recording of laws. A.D. 1180]]

''Sejm'' (an ancient [[Lechitic languages|Proto-Lechitic]] word meaning "gathering" or "meeting") traces its roots to the King's Councils – ''[[wiec]]e'' – which gained authority during the time of [[Testament of Bolesław III Wrymouth|Poland's fragmentation]] (1146-1295). The 1180 Sejm in [[Łęczyca]] (known as the 'First Polish parliament') was the most notable, in that it established laws constraining the power of the ruler. It forbade arbitrary sequestration of supplies in the countryside and takeover of bishopric lands after the death of a bishop. These early ''Sejm''s only convened at the King's behest.

Following the 1493 ''Sejm'' in [[Piotrków Trybunalski|Piotrków]], it became a regularly convening body, to which indirect elections were held every two years. The [[bicameral system]] was also established; the ''Sejm'' then comprised two chambers: the ''Senat'' (Senate) of 81 bishops and [[Offices in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth#Senatorial offices|other dignitaries]]; and the Chamber of Deputies, made up of 54 envoys elected by smaller local ''sejmik'' ([[Sejmik|assemblies of landed nobility]]) in each of the Kingdom's provinces. At the time, Poland's nobility, which accounted for around 10% of the state's population (then the highest amount in Europe), was becoming particularly influential, and with the eventual development of the [[Golden Liberty]], the ''Sejm'''s powers increased dramatically.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web |url=http://opis.sejm.gov.pl/en/historiasejmu.php |title=Poznaj Sejm |website=opis.sejm.gov.pl |access-date=16 June 2013 |archive-date=15 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015145404/http://opis.sejm.gov.pl/en/historiasejmu.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth===
{{Main|Sejm of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth}}
[[File:Kazimierz Wojniakowski, Uchwalenie Konstytucji 3 Maja.jpg|thumb|left|In 1791, the "[[Great Sejm|Great ''Sejm'']]" or [[Four-Year Sejm|Four-Year ''Sejm'']] of 1788–1792 and Senate adopted the [[May 3rd Constitution]] at the [[Royal Castle, Warsaw|Royal Castle in Warsaw]]]] Over time, the envoys in the [[lower chamber]] grew in number and power as they pressed the king for more privileges. The ''Sejm'' eventually became even more active in supporting the goals of the privileged classes when the King ordered that the landed nobility and their estates (peasants) be drafted into [[Pospolite ruszenie|military service]]. 
{{Politics of Poland}}
The [[Union of Lublin]] in 1569, united the [[Kingdom of Poland (1385-1569)|Kingdom of Poland]] and the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] as one single state, the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]], and thus the ''Sejm'' was supplemented with new envoys from among the [[Lithuanian nobility]]. The Commonwealth ensured that the state of affairs surrounding the three-estates system continued, with the ''Sejm'', Senate and King forming the estates and supreme deliberating body of the state. In the first few decades of the 16th century, the Senate had established its precedence over the ''Sejm''; however, from the mid-1500s onwards, the ''Sejm'' became a very powerful representative body of the ''[[szlachta]]'' ("middle nobility"). Its chambers reserved the final decisions in legislation, taxation, [[budget]], and [[treasury]] matters (including military funding), [[foreign policy]], and the [[Ennoblement|confirment of nobility]].

The 1573 [[Warsaw Confederation]] saw the nobles of the ''Sejm'' officially sanction and guarantee [[religious tolerance]] in Commonwealth territory, ensuring a refuge for those fleeing the ongoing [[Protestant reformation|Reformation]] and [[Counter-Reformation]] wars in Europe.

Until the end of the 16th century, [[unanimity]] was not required, and the [[majority voting|majority-voting]] process was the most commonly used system for voting. Later, with the rise of the [[Polish magnate]]s and their increasing power, the unanimity principle was re-introduced with the institution of the nobility's right of ''[[liberum veto]]'' ([[Latin]]: "free [[veto]]"). Additionally, if the envoys were unable to reach a unanimous decision within six weeks (the time limit of a single session), deliberations were declared void and all previous acts passed by that ''Sejm'' were annulled. From the mid-17th century onward, any objection to a ''Sejm'' resolution, by either an envoy or a senator, automatically caused the rejection of other, previously approved resolutions. This was because all resolutions passed by a given session of the ''Sejm'' formed a whole resolution, and, as such, was published as the annual "constituent act" of the ''Sejm'', e.g. the "''[[Anno Domini]]'' 1667" act. In the 16th century, no single person or small group dared to hold up proceedings, but, from the second half of the 17th century, the ''liberum veto'' was used to virtually paralyze the ''Sejm'', and brought the Commonwealth to the brink of collapse.

The ''liberum veto'' was abolished with the adoption of the [[Constitution of 3 May 1791]], a piece of legislation which was passed as the "Government Act", and for which the ''Sejm'' required [[Great Sejm|four years to propagate and adopt]]. The constitution's acceptance, and the possible long-term consequences it may have had, is arguably the reason that the powers of [[Habsburg monarchy|Habsburg Austria]], [[Russian Empire|Russia]] and [[Prussia]] then decided to [[Partitions of Poland|partition the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]], thus putting an end to over 300 years of Polish parliamentary continuity. It is estimated that between 1493 and 1793, a ''Sejm'' was held 240 times, the total debate-time sum of which was 44 years.<ref name=autogenerated1/>

===Partitions===
After the fall of the [[Duchy of Warsaw]], which existed as a [[Napoleon]]ic [[client state]] between 1807 and 1815, and its short-lived [[Sejm of the Duchy of Warsaw|''Sejm'' of the Duchy of Warsaw]], the [[Sejm of Congress Poland|''Sejm'' of Congress Poland]] was established in [[Congress Poland]] of the Russian Empire; it was composed of the king (the Russian emperor), the upper house (Senate), and the lower house (Chamber of Deputies). Overall, during the period from 1795 until the re-establishment of Poland's sovereignty in 1918, little power was actually held by any Polish legislative body and the occupying powers of Russia, Prussia (later united [[German Empire|Germany]]) and Austria propagated legislation for their own respective formerly-Polish territories at a national level.<ref name="autogenerated1" /><gallery widths="240" heights="119">
File:Jan_Matejko_-_Upadek_Polski_(Reytan).jpg|[[Tadeusz Rejtan]] tries to prevent the legalisation of the [[Partitions of Poland|first partition of Poland]] by preventing the members of the ''Sejm'' from leaving the chamber (1773). [[Rejtan (painting)|Painting]] by [[Jan Matejko]]
</gallery>

====Congress Poland====
{{Main|Sejm of Congress Poland}}
The Chamber of Deputies, despite its name, consisted not only of 77 envoys (sent by local assemblies) from the hereditary nobility, but also of 51 [[Chamber of Deputies|deputies]], elected by the non-noble population. All deputies were covered by [[Parliamentary immunity]], with each individual serving for a term of office of six years, with third of the deputies being elected every two years. Candidates for deputy had to be able to [[Literacy|read and write]], and have a certain amount of wealth. The legal voting age was 21, except for those citizens serving in the military, the personnel of which were not allowed to vote. Parliamentary sessions were initially convened every two years, and lasted for (at least) 30 days. However, after many clashes between liberal deputies and conservative government officials, sessions were later called only four times (1818, 1820, 1826, and 1830, with the last two sessions being secret). The ''Sejm'' had the right to call for votes on [[Common law|civil]] and [[Administrative law|administrative]] legal issues, and, with permission from the king, it could also vote on matters related to the [[fiscal policy]] and the military. It had the right to exercise control over government officials, and to file [[petition]]s. The 64-member Senate on the other hand, was composed of ''[[voivode]]s'' and ''[[Castellan|kasztelan]]s'' (both types of provincial governors), Russian envoys, diplomats or princes, and nine bishops. It acted as the Parliamentary Court, had the right to control "citizens' books", and had similar [[Legislature|legislative]] rights as did the Chamber of Deputies.<ref name="autogenerated1" />

====Germany and Austria-Hungary====
In the [[Free City of Cracow]] (1815–1846), a unicameral Assembly of Representatives was established, and from 1827, a unicameral [[Sejm of the Grand Duchy of Posen|provincial ''sejm'']] existed in the [[Grand Duchy of Poznań]]. Poles were elected to and represented the majority in both of these legislatures; however, they were largely powerless institutions and exercised only very limited power. After numerous failures in securing legislative sovereignty in the early 19th century, many Poles simply gave up trying to attain a degree of independence from their foreign master-states. In the [[Austrian partition]], a relatively powerless [[Sejm of the Estates|''Sejm'' of the Estates]] operated until the time of the [[Revolutions of 1848|Spring of Nations]]. After this, in the mid to late 19th century, only in autonomous [[Galicia (Eastern Europe)|Galicia]] (1861–1914) was there a unicameral and functional National ''Sejm'', the [[Sejm of the Land|''Sejm'' of the Land]]. It is recognised today as having played a major and overwhelming positive role in the development of Polish national institutions.

In the second half of the 19th century, Poles were able to become members of the parliaments of Austria, Prussia and Russia, where they formed Polish Clubs. Deputies of Polish nationality were elected to the Prussian ''Landtag'' from 1848, and then to the German Empire's ''[[Reichstag (German Empire)|Reichstag]]'' from 1871. Polish Deputies were members of the Austrian State Council (from 1867), and from 1906 were also elected to the Russian Imperial State ''Duma'' (lower chamber) and to the State Council (upper chamber).<ref name=autogenerated1 />

===Second Polish Republic===
After the [[First World War]] and re-establishment of Polish independence, the convocation of parliament, under the democratic electoral law of 1918, became an enduring symbol of the new state's wish to demonstrate and establish continuity with the 300-year Polish parliamentary traditions established before the time of the partitions. Maciej Rataj emphatically paid tribute to this with the phrase: "There is Poland there, and so is the ''Sejm''".

During the [[interwar period]] of Poland's independence, the first [[1919 Polish legislative election|Legislative ''Sejm'' of 1919]], a Constituent Assembly, passed the [[Small Constitution of 1919]], which introduced a [[parliamentary republic]] and proclaimed the principle of the ''Sejm'''s [[sovereignty]]. This was then strengthened, in 1921, by the [[March Constitution of Poland|March Constitution]], one of the most democratic European constitutions enacted after the end of World War I. The constitution established a political system which was based on [[Montesquieu]]'s doctrine of separation of powers, and which restored the bicameral ''Sejm'' consisting of a chamber of deputies (to which alone the name of "''Sejm''" was from then on applied) and the Senate. In 1919, [[Roza Pomerantz-Meltzer]], a member of the [[Zionism|Zionist]] party, became the first woman ever elected to the ''Sejm''.<ref>{{cite book |title=God's Playground: A History of Poland |last=Davies |first=Norman |year=1982 |publisher=Columbia University Press |page=302}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Hostages of Modernization: Studies on Modern Antisemitism, 1870-1933/39 |last=Strauss |first=Herbert Arthur |year=1993 |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |page=985}}</ref>

The legal content of the March Constitution allowed for ''Sejm'' supremacy in the system of state institutions at the expense of the executive powers, thus creating a parliamentary republic out of the Polish state. An attempt to strengthen executive powers in 1926 (through the August Amendment) proved too limited and largely failed in helping avoid legislative grid-lock which had ensued as a result of too-great parliamentary power in a state which had numerous diametrically-opposed political parties sitting in its legislature. In 1935, the parliamentary republic was weakened further when, by way of, [[Józef Piłsudski]]'s [[May Coup (Poland)|May Coup]], the president was forced to sign the [[Polish Constitution of 1935|April Constitution of 1935]], an act through which the head of state assumed the dominant position in legislating for the state and the Senate increased its power at the expense of the ''Sejm''.

On 2 September 1939, the ''Sejm'' held its final pre-war session, during which it declared Poland's readiness to defend itself against invading German forces. On 2 November 1939, the President dissolved the ''Sejm'' and the Senate, which were then, according to plan, to resume their activity within two months after the end of the Second World War; this, however, never happened. During wartime, the National Council (1939–1945) was established to represent the legislature as part of the [[Polish Government in Exile]]. Meanwhile, in [[Nazi-occupied Poland]], the Council of National Unity was set up; this body functioned from 1944 to 1945 as the parliament of the [[Polish Underground State]]. With the cessation of hostilities in 1945, and subsequent rise to power of the Communist-backed [[Provisional Government of National Unity]], the [[Second Polish Republic]] legally ceased to exist.<ref name=autogenerated1 /><gallery widths="220" heights="169">
File:Dubois w Sejmie. 1-A-849-4.jpg|[[Stanisław Dubois]] speaking to envoys and diplomats in the ''Sejm'', 1931
File:Beck przemówienie.jpg|[[Józef Beck]], Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivers his famous Honour Speech in the ''Sejm'', 5 May 1939.
</gallery>

===Polish People's Republic===
The ''Sejm'' in the [[Polish People's Republic]] had 460 deputies throughout most of its history. At first, this number was declared to represent one deputy per 60,000 citizens (425 were elected in 1952), but, in 1960, as the population grew, the declaration was changed: The constitution then stated that the deputies were representative ''of'' the people and could be recalled ''by'' the people, but this article was never used, and, instead of the "[[five-point electoral law]]", a non-proportional, "four-point" version was used. Legislation was passed with majority voting.

Under the [[Constitution of the Polish People's Republic|1952 Constitution]], the Sejm was defined as "the highest organ of State authority" in Poland, as well as "the highest spokesman of the will of the people in town and country." On paper, it was vested with great lawmaking and oversight powers. For instance, it was empowered with control over "the functioning of other organs of State authority and administration," and ministers were required to answer questions posed by deputies within seven days.<ref name=PolandConstitutionChapter3>[http://libr.sejm.gov.pl/tek01/txt/kpol/e1952a-r3.html Chapter 3] of 1952 Constitution</ref> In practice, it did little more than rubber-stamp decisions already made by the Communist [[Polish United Workers Party]] and its executive bodies.<ref name=cs>[http://countrystudies.us/poland/80.htm Poland: a country study]. [[Library of Congress]] Federal Research Division, December 1989.</ref> This was standard practice in nearly all Communist regimes due to the principle of [[democratic centralism]].

The ''Sejm'' voted on the budget and on the periodic [[Planned economy|national plans]] that were a fixture of communist economies. The ''Sejm'' deliberated in sessions that were ordered to convene by the [[State Council of Poland|State Council]].

The ''Sejm'' also chose a ''[[Presidium|Prezydium]]'' ("presiding body") from among its members. The ''Prezydium'' was headed by the speaker, or [[Marshal of the Sejm|Marshal]], who was always a member of the [[United People's Party (Poland)|United People's Party]]. In its preliminary session, the ''Sejm'' also nominated the [[Prime Minister of Poland|Prime Minister]], the [[Council of Ministers of Poland]], and members of the State Council. It also chose many other government officials, including the head of the [[Supreme Audit Office (Poland)|Supreme Chamber of Control]] and members of the [[State Tribunal of Poland|State Tribunal]] and the [[Constitutional Tribunal of Poland|Constitutional Tribunal]], as well as the [[Polish Ombudsman|Ombudsman]] (the last three bodies of which were created in the 1980s).

When the Sejm was not in session, the State Council had the power to issue decrees that had the force of law. However, those decrees had to be approved by the Sejm at its next session.<ref name=PolandConstitutionChapter3/> In practice, the principles of democratic centralism meant that such approval was only a formality.

The [[Senate of Poland|Senate]] was abolished by the [[1946 Polish people's referendum|referendum]] in 1946, after which the ''Sejm'' became the sole legislative body in Poland.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> Even though the ''Sejm'' was largely subservient to the Communist party, one deputy, Romuald Bukowski (an independent) voted against the imposition of martial law in 1982.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/22/obituaries/romuald-bukowski-polish-legislator-64.html|title=Romuald Bukowski; Polish Legislator, 64|author=The Associated Press|date=22 October 1992|work=The New York Times|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

===Third Polish Republic===
After the [[Revolutions of 1989|end of communism]] in 1989, the Senate was reinstated as the second house of a bicameral [[National Assembly of Poland|national assembly]], while the ''Sejm'' remained the first house. The ''Sejm'' is now composed of 460 deputies elected by [[proportional representation]] every four years.

Between 7 and 20 deputies are elected from each constituency using the [[d'Hondt method]] (with one exception, in 2001, when the [[Sainte-Laguë method]] was used), their number being proportional to their constituency's population. Additionally, a threshold is used, so that candidates are chosen only from parties that gained at least 5% of the nationwide vote (candidates from ethnic-minority parties are exempt from this threshold).<ref name=autogenerated1 />

<gallery class="center">
Image:Sejm RP.jpg|The ''Sejm'' building in [[Warsaw]]
File:PolskiSejm007.jpg|The ''Sejm'''s main hall
File:PolskiSejm101.jpg|Sessions chamber in the ''Sejm''
File:Sejm Plenary Hall viewed from the rostrum.JPG|Sessions chamber viewed from the rostrum
Marshal's chair Sejm Plenary Hall.JPG|Marshal's chair in the sessions chamber
File:Sejm cross.JPG|[[Sejm cross|''Sejm'' cross]]
File:PolskiSejm010.jpg|Column hall in the ''Sejm''
</gallery>

== Historical composition of the Sejm ==
=== [[Second Polish Republic|Second Republic]] (1918–1939) ===
{| class="wikitable" width="100%" style="border:solid #000000 1px;font-size:95%;"
|-
| colspan="2" |
{| width="100%" style="font-size:90%;"
| width="40" |
|{{legend|{{party color|Communist Party of Poland}}|[[Communist Party of Poland|KPP]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Polish Socialist Party}}|[[Polish Socialist Party|PPS]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|National Workers' Union (Poland)}}|[[National Workers' Union (Poland)|NZR]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|National Workers' Party}}|[[National Workers' Party|NPR]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Peasant Party (Poland)}}|[[Peasant Party (Poland)|SCh]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Centrolew}}|[[Centrolew]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Polish People's Party "Left"}}|[[Polish People's Party "Left"|PSL "L"]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie"}}|[[Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie"|PSL "W"]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Polish People's Party "Piast"}}|[[Polish People's Party "Piast" (1913–1931)|PSL "P"]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Polish People's Union}}|[[Polish People's Union|PZL]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Bloc of National Minorities}}|[[Bloc of National Minorities|Minorities]]}}
|{{legend|#0038b8|Jews}}
|{{legend|{{party color|German Minority Electoral Committee}}|Germans}}
|{{legend|#ffd700|Ukrainians}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Independent politician}}|Others/Independent}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Polish Christian Democratic Party}}|Catholic Bloc}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Catholic People's Party (Poland)}}|[[Catholic People's Party (Poland)|SKL]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Christian Union of National Unity}}|[[Popular National Union|ZLN]]/[[Christian Union of National Unity|ChZJN]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government}}|[[Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government|BBWR]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Camp of National Unity}}|[[Camp of National Unity|OZN]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|National Party (Poland)}}|[[National Party (Poland)|SN]]}}
|}
|-
| width="40" | [[1919 Polish legislative election|1919]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish Socialist Party}};                                    width:  8.88%"| 35
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Workers' Union (Poland)}};                          width:  8.12%"| 32
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party "Left"}};                              width:  3.05%"| 12
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie"}};                        width: 14.97%"| 59
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party "Piast"}};                             width: 11.68%"| 46
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Union}};                                     width:  8.88%"| 35
| style="background-color: #0038b8;                                                                   width:  2.79%"| 11
| style="background-color: {{party color|German Minority Electoral Committee}};                       width:  0.51%"|  2
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}};                                    width:  1.02%"|  4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Catholic People's Party (Poland)}};                          width:  4.57%"| 18
| style="background-color: {{party color|Christian Union of National Unity}};                         width: 35.53%"|140
|}
|-
| [[1922 Polish legislative election|1922]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Communist Party of Poland}};                                 width:  0.45%"|  2
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish Socialist Party}};                                    width:  9.23%"| 41
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Workers' Party}};                                   width:  4.05%"| 18
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party "Left"}};                              width:  0.45%"|  2
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie"}};                        width: 11.04%"| 49
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party "Piast"}};                             width: 15.77%"| 70
| style="background-color: {{party color|Bloc of National Minorities}};                               width: 14.86%"| 66
| style="background-color: #0038b8;                                                                   width:  4.05%"| 18
| style="background-color: #ffd700;                                                                   width:  1.13%"|  5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}};                                    width:  2.25%"| 10
| style="background-color: {{party color|Christian Union of National Unity}};                         width: 36.71%"|163
|}
|-
| [[1928 Polish legislative election|1928]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Communist Party of Poland}};                                 width:  1.13%"|  5
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish Socialist Party}};                                    width: 14.41%"| 64
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Workers' Party}};                                   width:  2.48%"| 11
| style="background-color: {{party color|Peasant Party (Poland)}};                                    width:  5.86%"| 26
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie"}};                        width:  9.01%"| 40
| style="background-color: {{party color|Bloc of National Minorities}};                               width: 12.39%"| 55
| style="background-color: #0038b8;                                                                   width:  1.35%"|  6
| style="background-color: #ffd700;                                                                   width:  3.83%"| 17
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}};                                    width:  5.18%"| 23
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish Christian Democratic Party}};                         width:  7.66%"| 34
| style="background-color: {{party color|Christian Union of National Unity}};                         width:  8.56%"| 38
| style="background-color: {{party color|Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government}};      width: 28.15%"|125
|}
|-
| [[1930 Polish legislative election|1930]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Communist Party of Poland}};                                 width:  0.90%"|  4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Centrolew}};                                                 width: 17.79%"| 79
| style="background-color: {{party color|Bloc of National Minorities}};                               width:  1.13%"|  5
| style="background-color: #0038b8;                                                                   width:  1.58%"|  7
| style="background-color: #ffd700;                                                                   width:  4.73%"| 21
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}};                                    width:  0.45%"|  2
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish Christian Democratic Party}};                         width:  3.15%"| 14
| style="background-color: {{party color|Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government}};      width: 56.08%"|249
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Party (Poland)}};                                   width: 14.19%"| 63
|}
|-
| [[1935 Polish legislative election|1935]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Bloc of National Minorities}};                               width: 12.14%"| 25
| style="background-color: {{party color|Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government}};      width: 87.86%"|181
|}
|-
| [[1938 Polish legislative election|1938]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: #0038b8;                                                                   width:  2.40%"|  5
| style="background-color: #ffd700;                                                                   width:  8.65%"| 18
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}};                                    width: 10.10%"| 21
| style="background-color: {{party color|Camp of National Unity}};                                    width: 78.85%"|164
|}
|}

=== [[Polish People's Republic|PRL]] (1945–1989) ===
{| class="wikitable" width="100%" style="border:solid #000000 1px;font-size:95%;"
|-
| colspan="2" | 
{| width="100%" style="font-size:90%;"
| width="40" |
|{{legend|{{party color|Polish United Workers' Party}}|[[Polish Workers' Party|PPR]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Polish United Workers' Party}}|[[Polish United Workers' Party|PZPR]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Polish Socialist Party}}|[[Polish Socialist Party|PPS]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|United People's Party (Poland)}}|[[United People's Party (Poland)|SL/ZSL]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Polish People's Party "Nowe Wyzwolenie"}}|[[Polish People's Party "Nowe Wyzwolenie"|PSL "NW"]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Alliance of Democrats (Poland)}}|[[Alliance of Democrats (Poland)|SD]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Polish People's Party (1945–1949)}}|[[Polish People's Party (1945–1949)|PSL]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Independent politician}}|Independent}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Solidarity Citizens' Committee}}|[[Solidarity Citizens' Committee|KO "S"]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Labour Faction (1937)}}|[[Labour Faction (1937)|SP]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|PAX Association}}|[[PAX Association|PAX]]}}
|{{legend|#793415|{{ill|Christian-Social Union|lt=ChSS|pl|Chrześcijańskie Stowarzyszenie Społeczne}}}}
|{{legend|#4320DC|{{ill|Polish Catholic-Social Association|lt=PZKS|pl|Polski Związek Katolicko-Społeczny}}}}
|{{legend|#000000|[[Znak (association)|Znak]]}}
|}
|-
| width="40" | [[1947 Polish legislative election|1947]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish United Workers' Party}};                              width: 25.68%"|114
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish Socialist Party}};                                    width: 26.13%"|116
| style="background-color: {{party color|United People's Party (Poland)}};                            width: 24.55%"|109
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party "Nowe Wyzwolenie"}};                   width:  1.58%"|  7
| style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance of Democrats (Poland)}};                            width:  9.23%"| 41
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party (1945–1949)}};                         width:  6.31%"| 28
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}};                                    width:  0.68%"|  3
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Faction (1937)}};                                     width:  2.70%"| 12
|}
|-
| [[1952 Polish legislative election|1952]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish United Workers' Party}};                              width: 64.24%"|273
| style="background-color: {{party color|United People's Party (Poland)}};                            width: 21.18%"| 90
| style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance of Democrats (Poland)}};                            width:  5.88%"| 25
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}};                                    width:  8.71%"| 37
|}
|-
| [[1957 Polish legislative election|1957]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish United Workers' Party}};                              width: 52.07%"|239
| style="background-color: {{party color|United People's Party (Poland)}};                            width: 25.71%"|118
| style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance of Democrats (Poland)}};                            width:  8.50%"| 39
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}};                                    width: 12.64%"| 58
| style="background-color: #000000;                                                                   width:  1.09%"|  5
|}
|-
| [[1961 Polish legislative election|1961]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish United Workers' Party}};                              width: 55.65%"|256
| style="background-color: {{party color|United People's Party (Poland)}};                            width: 25.43%"|117
| style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance of Democrats (Poland)}};                            width:  8.48%"| 39
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}};                                    width:  8.04%"| 37
| style="background-color: {{party color|PAX Association}};                                           width:  0.65%"|  3
| style="background-color: #793415;                                                                   width:  0.65%"|  3
| style="background-color: #000000;                                                                   width:  1.09%"|  5
|}
|-
| [[1965 Polish legislative election|1965]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish United Workers' Party}};                              width: 55.43%"|255
| style="background-color: {{party color|United People's Party (Poland)}};                            width: 25.43%"|117
| style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance of Democrats (Poland)}};                            width:  8.48%"| 39
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}};                                    width:  7.83%"| 36
| style="background-color: {{party color|PAX Association}};                                           width:  1.09%"|  5
| style="background-color: #793415;                                                                   width:  0.65%"|  3
| style="background-color: #000000;                                                                   width:  1.09%"|  5
|}
|-
| [[1969 Polish legislative election|1969]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish United Workers' Party}};                              width: 55.43%"|255
| style="background-color: {{party color|United People's Party (Poland)}};                            width: 25.43%"|117
| style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance of Democrats (Poland)}};                            width:  8.48%"| 39
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}};                                    width:  8.04%"| 37
| style="background-color: {{party color|PAX Association}};                                           width:  1.09%"|  5
| style="background-color: #793415;                                                                   width:  0.43%"|  2
| style="background-color: #000000;                                                                   width:  1.09%"|  5
|}
|-
| [[1972 Polish legislative election|1972]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish United Workers' Party}};                              width: 55.43%"|255
| style="background-color: {{party color|United People's Party (Poland)}};                            width: 25.43%"|117
| style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance of Democrats (Poland)}};                            width:  8.48%"| 39
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}};                                    width:  8.04%"| 37
| style="background-color: {{party color|PAX Association}};                                           width:  1.09%"|  5
| style="background-color: #793415;                                                                   width:  0.43%"|  2
| style="background-color: #000000;                                                                   width:  1.09%"|  5
|}
|-
| [[1976 Polish legislative election|1976]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish United Workers' Party}};                              width: 56.74%"|261
| style="background-color: {{party color|United People's Party (Poland)}};                            width: 24.57%"|113
| style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance of Democrats (Poland)}};                            width:  8.04%"| 37
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}};                                    width:  8.04%"| 37
| style="background-color: {{party color|PAX Association}};                                           width:  1.09%"|  5
| style="background-color: #793415;                                                                   width:  0.43%"|  2
| style="background-color: #000000;                                                                   width:  1.09%"|  5
|}
|-
| [[1980 Polish legislative election|1980]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish United Workers' Party}};                              width: 56.74%"|261
| style="background-color: {{party color|United People's Party (Poland)}};                            width: 24.57%"|113
| style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance of Democrats (Poland)}};                            width:  8.04%"| 37
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}};                                    width:  6.96%;| 32
| style="background-color: {{party color|PAX Association}};                                           width:  1.52%"|  7
| style="background-color: #793415;                                                                   width:  1.09%"|  5
| style="background-color: #000000;                                                                   width:  1.09%"|  5
|}
|-
| [[1985 Polish legislative election|1985]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish United Workers' Party}};                              width: 53.26%"|245
| style="background-color: {{party color|United People's Party (Poland)}};                            width: 23.04%"|106
| style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance of Democrats (Poland)}};                            width:  7.61%"| 35
| style="background-color: {{party color|Independent politician}};                                    width: 11.52%"| 53
| style="background-color: {{party color|PAX Association}};                                           width:  1.96%"|  9
| style="background-color: #793415;                                                                   width:  1.52%"|  7
| style="background-color: #4320DC;                                                                   width:  1.09%"|  5
|}
|-
| [[1989 Polish legislative election|1989]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish United Workers' Party}};                              width: 37.61%"|173
| style="background-color: {{party color|United People's Party (Poland)}};                            width: 16.52%"| 76
| style="background-color: {{party color|Alliance of Democrats (Poland)}};                            width:  5.87%"| 27
| style="background-color: {{party color|Solidarity Citizens' Committee}};                            width: 35.00%"|161
| style="background-color: {{party color|PAX Association}};                                           width:  2.17%"| 10
| style="background-color: #793415;                                                                   width:  1.74%"|  8
| style="background-color: #4320DC;                                                                   width:  1.09%"|  5
|}
|}

=== Third republic (since 1989) ===
{| class="wikitable" width="100%" style="border:solid #000000 1px;font-size:95%;"
|-
| colspan="2" | 
{| width="100%" style="font-size:90%;"
| width="40" |
|{{legend|{{party color|Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland}}|[[Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland|SRP]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Labour Union (Poland)}}|[[Labour Union (Poland)|UP]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)}}|[[Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)|SLD]] / [[New Left (Poland)|NL]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Solidarity (Polish trade union)}}|[[Solidarity (Polish trade union)|"S"]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Palikot's Movement}}|[[Palikot's Movement|RP]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}|[[Polish People's Party|PSL]]{{efn|PSL was a left-wing party until about 2008,<ref name="gerber">{{cite thesis |title=Being Polish/Becoming European: Gender and The Limits of Diffusion in Polish Accession to the European Union |last=Gerber |first=Alexandra |url=https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/86261/alexaz_1.pdf?sequence=1 |degree=Doctor of Philosophy (Sociology) |publisher=University of Michigan |year=2011 |page=167 |location=Ann Arbor, Michigan}}</ref> and shifted towards the centre-right afterwards.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Ideologia Polskiego Stronnictwa Ludowego na początku XXI wieku |language=pl |first=Przemysław |last=Szustakiewicz |journal=Studia Politologiczne |volume=18 |issue=1 |page=232 |year=2010 |publisher=Instytut Nauk Politycznych Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego |url=http://cejsh.icm.edu.pl/cejsh/element/bwmeta1.element.desklight-bee53e15-34e1-4a69-8da4-4be1f7c9752e}}</ref>}} / [[Third Way (Poland)|TD]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|German Minority Electoral Committee}}|[[German Minority Electoral Committee|Germans]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Nonpartisan Bloc for Support of Reforms}}|[[Nonpartisan Bloc for Support of Reforms|BBWR]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Civic Platform}}|[[Civic Platform|PO]] / [[Civic Coalition (Poland)|KO]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Democratic Union (Poland)}}|[[Democratic Union (Poland)|UD]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Freedom Union (Poland)}}|[[Freedom Union (Poland)|UW]]}}
|{{legend|#808080|Others}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Modern (political party)}}|[[Modern (political party)|.N]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Liberal Democratic Congress}}|[[Liberal Democratic Congress|KLD]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Solidarity Electoral Action}}|[[Solidarity Electoral Action|AWS]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Polish Beer-Lovers' Party}}|[[Polish Beer-Lovers' Party|PPPP]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Peasants' Agreement}}|[[Peasants' Agreement|PL]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Centre Agreement}}|[[Centre Agreement|PC]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Christian National Union}}|[[Christian National Union|ZChN]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Law and Justice}}|[[Law and Justice|PiS]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Kukiz'15}}|[[Kukiz'15|K'15]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Confederation for an Independent Poland}}|[[Confederation for an Independent Poland|KPN]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|Confederation Liberty and Independence}}|[[Confederation Liberty and Independence|Konf]]}}
|{{legend|{{party color|League of Polish Families}}|[[League of Polish Families|LPR]]}}
|}
|-
| width="40" | [[1991 Polish parliamentary election|1991]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)}};                         width: 13.04%"| 60
| style="background-color: {{party color|Solidarity (Polish trade union)}};                           width:  5.87%"| 27
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party}};                                     width: 10.43%"| 48
| style="background-color: {{party color|German Minority Electoral Committee}};                       width:  1.52%"|  7
| style="background-color: #808080;                                                                   width:  7.83%"| 36
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Union (Poland)}};                                 width: 13.49%"| 62
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish Beer-Lovers' Party}};                                 width:  3.48%"| 16
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Congress}};                               width:  8.04%"| 37
| style="background-color: {{party color|Peasants' Agreement}};                                       width:  6.09%"| 28
| style="background-color: {{party color|Centre Agreement}};                                          width:  9.57%"| 44
| style="background-color: {{party color|Christian National Union}};                                  width: 10.65%"| 49
| style="background-color: {{party color|Confederation for an Independent Poland}};                   width: 10.00%"| 46
|}
|-
| [[1993 Polish parliamentary election|1993]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Union (Poland)}};                                     width:  8.91%"| 41
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)}};                         width: 37.17%"|171
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party}};                                     width: 28.70%"|132
| style="background-color: {{party color|German Minority Electoral Committee}};                       width:  0.87%"|  4
| style="background-color: {{party color|Nonpartisan Bloc for Support of Reforms}};                   width:  3.48%"| 16
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Union (Poland)}};                                 width: 16.09%"| 74
| style="background-color: {{party color|Confederation for an Independent Poland}};                   width:  4,78%"| 22
|}
|-
| [[1997 Polish parliamentary election|1997]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)}};                         width: 35.65%"|164
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party}};                                     width:  5.87%"| 27
| style="background-color: {{party color|German Minority Electoral Committee}};                       width:  0.43%"|  2
| style="background-color: #808080;                                                                   width:  1.30%"|  6
| style="background-color: {{party color|Freedom Union (Poland)}};                                    width: 13.04%"| 60
| style="background-color: {{party color|Solidarity Electoral Action}};                               width: 43,70%"|201
|}
|-
| [[2001 Polish parliamentary election|2001]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland}};                    width: 11.52%"| 53
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)}};                         width: 46.96%"|216
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party}};                                     width:  9.13%"| 42
| style="background-color: {{party color|German Minority Electoral Committee}};                       width:  0.43%"|  2
| style="background-color: {{party color|Civic Platform}};                                            width: 14.13%"| 65
| style="background-color: {{party color|Law and Justice}};                                           width:  9.57%"| 44
| style="background-color: {{party color|League of Polish Families}};                                 width:  8.26%"| 38
|}
|-
| [[2005 Polish parliamentary election|2005]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland}};                    width: 12.17%"| 56
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)}};                         width: 11.96%"| 55
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party}};                                     width:  5.43%"| 25
| style="background-color: {{party color|German Minority Electoral Committee}};                       width:  0.43%"|  2
| style="background-color: {{party color|Civic Platform}};                                            width: 28.91%"|133
| style="background-color: {{party color|Law and Justice}};                                           width: 33.70%"|155
| style="background-color: {{party color|League of Polish Families}};                                 width:  7.39%"| 34
|}
|-
| [[2007 Polish parliamentary election|2007]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)}};                         width: 11.52%"| 53
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party}};                                     width:  6.74%"| 31
| style="background-color: {{party color|German Minority Electoral Committee}};                       width:  0.22%"|  1
| style="background-color: {{party color|Civic Platform}};                                            width: 45.43%"|209
| style="background-color: {{party color|Law and Justice}};                                           width: 36.09%"|166
|}
|-
| [[2011 Polish parliamentary election|2011]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)}};                         width:  5.87%"| 27
| style="background-color: {{party color|Palikot's Movement}};                                        width:  8.70%"| 40
| style="background-color: {{party color|German Minority Electoral Committee}};                       width:  0.22%"|  1
| style="background-color: {{party color|Civic Platform}};                                            width: 45.00%"|207
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party}};                                     width:  6.09%"| 28
| style="background-color: {{party color|Law and Justice}};                                           width: 34.13%"|157
|}
|-
| [[2015 Polish parliamentary election|2015]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|German Minority Electoral Committee}};                       width:  0.22%"|  1
| style="background-color: {{party color|Civic Platform}};                                            width: 30.00%"|138
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party}};                                     width:  3.48%"| 16
| style="background-color: {{party color|Modern (political party)}};                                  width:  6.09%"| 28
| style="background-color: {{party color|Law and Justice}};                                           width: 51.09%"|235
| style="background-color: {{party color|Kukiz'15}};                                                  width:  9.13%"| 42
|}
|-
| [[2019 Polish parliamentary election|2019]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)}};                         width: 10.65%"| 49
| style="background-color: {{party color|German Minority Electoral Committee}};                       width:  0.22%"|  1
| style="background-color: {{party color|Civic Platform}};                                            width: 29.13%"|134
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party}};                                     width:  6.52%"| 30
| style="background-color: {{party color|Law and Justice}};                                           width: 51.09%"|235
| style="background-color: {{party color|Confederation Liberty and Independence}};                    width:  2.39%"| 11
|}
|-
| [[2023 Polish parliamentary election|2023]]
|
{| style="width:100%; text-align:center; font-weight:bold; color:white; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;"
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)}};                         width:  5.65%"| 26
| style="background-color: {{party color|Civic Platform}};                                            width: 34.13%"|157
| style="background-color: {{party color|Polish People's Party}};                                     width: 14.13%"| 65
| style="background-color: {{party color|Law and Justice}};                                           width: 42.17%"|194
| style="background-color: {{party color|Confederation Liberty and Independence}};                    width:  3.91%"| 18
|}
|}

== Standing committees ==
The Sejm has several [[standing committees]] with responsibilities in particular areas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Komisje stałe - Sejm Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej |url=https://www.sejm.gov.pl/sejm10.nsf/agent.xsp?symbol=KOMISJE_STALE&Nrkadencji=10 |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=www.sejm.gov.pl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Komisje nadzwyczajne - Sejm Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej |url=https://www.sejm.gov.pl/sejm10.nsf/agent.xsp?symbol=KOMISJE_NADZWYCZAJNE&NrKadencji=10 |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=www.sejm.gov.pl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Komisje śledcze - Sejm Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej |url=https://www.sejm.gov.pl/sejm10.nsf/agent.xsp?symbol=KOMISJE_SLEDCZE&Nrkadencji=10 |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=www.sejm.gov.pl}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=40em}}'''Permanent committees'''
* Administration and Internal Affairs 
* Agriculture and Rural Development
* Constitutional Accountability
* Culture and Media
* Deputies' Ethics
* Digitization, Innovation and Modern Technology
* Economy and Development
* Education, Science and Youth
* Energy, Climate and State Assets
* Environment Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry
* European Union Affairs
* Foreign Affairs
* Health
* Infrastructure
* Justice and Human Rights
* Legislative
* Liaison with Poles Abroad
* Local Self-Government and Regional Policy
* Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation
* National and Ethnic Minorities
* National Defense
* Petition
* Physical Education and Sport
* Public Finances
* Rules and Deputies' Affairs
* Senior Policy
* Social Policy and Family
* Special Services
* State Control
<br>
'''Extraordinary committees'''
* For changes in codification
* To consider draft laws regarding the right to terminate pregnancy
<br>
'''Investigative committees'''
* To investigate the legality, correctness, and purposefulness of actions taken with the goal of preparing and holding the Polish Presidential Elections in 2020 in the form of postal voting
* To investigate the legality, correctness and purposefulness of actions, as well as the occurrence of abuse, neglect, and omissions regarding the legalisation of stay for foreigners within the territory of the Republic of Poland between 12 November 2019 and 20 November 2023
* To investigate the legality, correctness, and purposefulness of operational and reconnaissance activities taken among others with the use of the "Pegasus" software by the members of the council of ministers, special forces, police, tax control authorities and customs control authorities, bodies established to prosecute criminals, and the proscecutor's office between 16 November 2015 and 20 November 2023
{{div col end}}

== Current standings ==
{{10th term Sejm and 11th term Senate of Poland}}

== See also ==
* [[Electoral districts of Poland (1935–39)]]
* [[Polish constitutional crisis, 2015]]
* [[National Assembly of the Republic of Poland]] {{smaller|(''Zgromadzenie Narodowe'')}}

===Types of ''sejm''===
<!--Alphabetical:-->
* [[Confederated sejm|Confederated ''sejm'']] {{smaller|(''Sejm skonfederowany'')}}
* [[Convocation sejm|Convocation ''sejm'']] {{smaller|(''Sejm konwokacyjny'')}}
* [[Coronation sejm|Coronation ''sejm'']] {{smaller|(''Sejm koronacyjny'')}}
* [[Election Sejm|Election ''sejm'']] {{smaller|(''Sejm elekcyjny'')}}
* ''[[Sejmik]]''
** [[Voivodeship sejmik|Voivodeship ''sejmik'']] {{smaller|(''Sejmik wojewódzki'')}}

===Notable ''sejm''s===
<!--Chronological:-->
* [[Silent Sejm|Silent ''Sejm'']] {{smaller|(''Sejm Niemy'' 1717)}}
* [[Convocation Sejm (1764)|Convocation ''Sejm'' (1764)]] {{smaller|(''Sejm konwokacyjny'')}}
* [[Repnin Sejm|Repnin ''Sejm'']] {{smaller|(''Sejm Repninowski'' 1767–1768)}}
* [[Partition Sejm|Partition ''Sejm'']] {{smaller|(''Sejm rozbiorowy'' 1773–1776)}}
* [[Great Sejm|Great ''Sejm'']] {{smaller|(''Sejm Wielki'' 1788–1792)}}
* [[Grodno Sejm|Grodno ''Sejm'']] {{smaller|(''Sejm grodzieński'' 1791)}}
* [[Silesian Sejm|Silesian ''Sejm'']] {{smaller|(''Sejm Śląski'' 1920–1939)}}
* [[Contract Sejm|Contract ''Sejm'']] {{smaller|(''Sejm Kontraktowy'' 1989)}}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|40em}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|sejm.gov.pl/english.html}}
* [http://www.sejm.gov.pl/english/sejm/sejm.htm Description of the modern Sejm's role in the Polish political system]
* [http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/election.watch/europe/poland3.html CNN Election Watch]

{{Sejms}}
{{National lower houses}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|52.2252|N|21.0280|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sejm Of The Republic Of Poland}}
[[Category:Sejm| ]]
[[Category:National lower houses|Poland]]