Citizen’s rights and obligations
Citizenship is the status of a person recognized under the law as being a legal member of a sovereign state.
The existence of citizenship results in mutual rights and obligations between individuals and states they are citizens of.
You will be able to explain how human dignity is the foundation for human rights and freedoms.
You will be able to explain what personal, political, economic, social and cultural rights and freedoms a Polish citizen enjoys, as well as what obligations to the Polish state he has.
You will be able to explain when and to what extent the citizen’s rights and freedoms may be limited.
The principle of human dignity is the foundation for constitutional rights and freedoms. It is referred to twice in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland - in the preamble and article 30. Article 30 states that dignity is inherent (that is, resulting from having been born a human being) and inalienableinalienable (that is, one can not be depriveddeprived of it). It is also inviolableinviolable and remains a source of freedom and human and civil rights. This article also imposes a dutyimposes a duty to respect and protect human dignity on public authorities.
The Constitution of the Republic of PolandPreamble
(...) We call upon all those who will apply this Constitution for the good of the Third Republic to do so paying respect to the inherentinherent dignity of the person, his or her right to freedom, the obligation of solidarity with others, and respect for these principles as the unshakeableunshakeable foundation of the Republic of Poland.
Article 30
The inherent and inalienable dignity of the person shall constitute a source of freedoms and rights of persons and citizens. It shall be inviolable. The respect and protection thereof shall be the obligation of public authorities.
Source: The Constitution of the Republic of Poland.
It is impossible to formulate a precise legal definition of the concept of „dignity”, rather it is the subject of philosophical debates. However, there are some of the most important elements of this rule:
the source of human dignity is the natural law, and thus it belongs to man regardless of whether the law explicitlyexplicitly refers to this principle;
it is inalienable – a man cannot renouncerenounce it,
it is inviolable – the legislator cannot abolishabolish, limit or suspendsuspend it,
every man is entitled to it equally, regardless of sex, race, nationality, citizenship, education, religion or social position,
it is the foundation of the constitutional order - other norms and values contained in this order must be referred to the principle of dignity.
Citizens' rights enshrinedenshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland
Limitations on the rights and liberties
The rights and freedoms of citizens in the modern world are subject to restrictions, among others due to the rights and freedoms of other people or other important public interest (e.g. state security). However, the scope of these restrictions cannot be the effect of arbitraryarbitrary decisions of the authorities, but should result from existing legal regulations and be subject to parliamentary control.
The Constitution of the Republic of PolandArticle 31
3. Any limitation upon the exercise of constitutional freedoms and rights may be imposed only by statute, and only when necessary in a democratic state for the protection of its security or public order, or to protect the natural environment, health or public morals, or the freedoms and rights of other persons. Such limitations shall not violate the essence of freedoms and rights.
Source: The Constitution of the Republic of Poland.
Obligations of Polish citizens
The catalog of civic duties, enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland, is relatively limited.
The Constitution of the Republic of PolandArticle 82
Loyalty to the Republic of Poland, as well as concern for the common good, shall be the duty of every Polish citizen.
Article 83
Everyone shall observe the law of the Republic of Poland.
Article 84
Everyone shall complycomply with his responsibilities and public duties, including the payment of taxes, as specified by statutespecified by statute.
Article 85
It shall be the duty of every Polish citizen to defend the Homeland.
The nature of military service shall be specified by statute.
Any citizen whose religious convictionsconvictions or moral principles do not allowallow him to perform military service may be obliged to perform substitute service in accordance with principles specified by statute.
Article 86
Everyone shall care for the quality of the environment and shall be held responsibleheld responsible for causing its degradationdegradation. The principles of such responsibility shall be specified by statute.The system of civil rights and freedoms in force in Poland after the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland in 1997 refers to international systems for the protection of human and civil rights developed after the second world war.
Source: The Constitution of the Republic of Poland.
Read the text carefully and fill in the gaps.
rights, responsibilities, the right to vote, personal, the right to life, second, the right to education
The Polish state guarantees its citizens a number of ............................................, but also imposes certain ............................................. Both of them were regulated in the ............................................ chapter of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland – The Freedoms, Rights and Obligations of Persons and Citizens. The rights of Polish citizens may be divided into three groups: ............................................, political and economic, social and cultural rights. An example of the first ones is ............................................, the second ones – ............................................, and the third ones – .............................................
Create a multiple-choice test question on the rights and obligations of Polish citizens. Then give them to other students to solve.
Question: ...
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Listen to the abstract recording to review the material and new vocabulary. Then do the vocabulary exercise. Match the pairs: English and Polish words.
środki utrzymania, znieść, bez względu, określone ustawowo, nienaruszalny, niezbywalny, zawiesić, nieodłączny, przyrodzony
to abolish | |
to suspend | |
means of support | |
irrespective of | |
statutorily specified | |
inherent | |
inalienable | |
inviolable |
Keywords
human dignity, personal freedoms and rights (right to life, personal integrity, right to fair trial, right to privacy protection, freedom of movement, freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of speech), political rights and civil liberties (right to participate in public life, freedom of assembly, freedom of association), economic, social and cultural rights (right to property, rights at work, right to social security, right to health protection, right to education, right to information about the state and protection of the environment), limitations on the rights and liberties, obligations of Polish citizens
Glossary
nieodłączny, przyrodzony
niezbywalny
nienaruszalny
narzucić (obowiązek)
niezachwiana
wyraźnie
wyrzec się, zrzec się
znieść
zawiesić
poniżające
kara cielesna
pozbawienie
pomieszczenia
nieuzasadniona zwłoka
bezstronny
wychowywać (dzieci)
przekonanie
wychowanie
pobyt
rozpowszechniać (informacje)
pełniący
osiągnąć
zlecone
związek zawodowy
własność, posiadanie
dziedziczenie
gonić, dążyć do
określone ustawowo
ubezwłasnowolniony
odruchowo, bez udziału woli lub wbrew woli
środki utrzymania
bez względu
obowiązkowa
pozwalać
odgórny, arbitralny
zapisane
zgadzać się z
ponieść odpowiedzialność