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Let’s talk about the authorities

Links to lessons: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Links to the abstracts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Before you start you should know
  • You are able to explain the competences of the President of the Republic of Poland and the Prime Minister.

  • You are able to describe and explain the process of forming the Council of Ministers, describe its structure and name its competences. You are able to explain the political and constitutional responsibility of the executive power. You are able to explain the relations between the executive bodies and the legislative in Poland.

  • You are able to explain who can be elected to the Sejm and the Senate, and how the elections are organized.

  • You are able to name and explain the functions of the parliament, and to describe the internal organization of both chambers of the Polish parliament.

  • You are able to explain the difference between a formal and material immunity of deputies and senators, as well as discuss the advantages and disadvantages of granting immunity to our representatives in the parliament.

  • You are able to describe the court system in Poland and explain the jurisdiction of each of the courts: common, military and administrative.

  • You are able to name and explain the competences of the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Tribunal, and the Tribunal of State.

You will learn
  • You will talk and discuss topics from the given themes.

  • You will consolidate the material from the lesson „What do we need the President for?”, „To be the Prime Minister”, „The legislative power – the Sejm and the Senate”, „The executive power – the President of the Republic of Poland and the Council of Ministers”, „The judicial power – courts and tribunals”.

  • You will ask questions and answer your friends' questions.

  • You will consolidate the vocabulary learned during the lesson.

Before you begin solving the exercises, review abstracts „What do we need the President for?”, „To be the Prime Minister”, „The legislative power – the Sejm and the Senate”, „The executive power – the President of the Republic of Poland and the Council of Ministers”, „The judicial power – courts and tribunals” to recall the most important information and vocabulary. Then you will be able to check your knowledge. Good luck!

Exercise 1
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Ćwiczenie alternatywne: If there was going to be a test on the material „To be the Prime Minister”, what questions do you think would you have to answer? Give your suggestions.
Exercise 2

Listen to the recording „What do we need the President for?” and write down questions you could ask your friend or colleague to check if he understood the text. Also note the expected answers. You can also read the contents of the abstract „What do we need the President for?”.

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nagranie abstraktu
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Question (Uzupełnij). Expected answer (Uzupełnij).
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Exercise 3
Do you know which categories the presented competencies of the President of the Republic of Poland belong to? Match the pairs. Convening the Cabinet Council (the Council of Ministers meeting presided over by the President, convened in matters of particular importance to the State). Możliwe odpowiedzi: 1. competencies towards the Council of Ministers, 2. competencies towards the Sejm and the Senate, 3. competencies in terms of authority over the armed forces and state security, 4. competencies in terms of foreign affairs Ordering the promulgation (publication) of a statute or an international agreement in the Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland. Możliwe odpowiedzi: 1. competencies towards the Council of Ministers, 2. competencies towards the Sejm and the Senate, 3. competencies in terms of authority over the armed forces and state security, 4. competencies in terms of foreign affairs Receiving Letters of Credence and recall of diplomatic representatives of other states and international organizations accredited to him. Możliwe odpowiedzi: 1. competencies towards the Council of Ministers, 2. competencies towards the Sejm and the Senate, 3. competencies in terms of authority over the armed forces and state security, 4. competencies in terms of foreign affairs In times of peace exercising command over the Armed Forces through the Minister of National Defence. Możliwe odpowiedzi: 1. competencies towards the Council of Ministers, 2. competencies towards the Sejm and the Senate, 3. competencies in terms of authority over the armed forces and state security, 4. competencies in terms of foreign affairs
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Exercise 4
Do you know the rules which govern the elections to the Sejm and the Senate? Match the statements below to an appropriate group. The rules of elections to the Sejm of the Republic of Poland Możliwe odpowiedzi: 1. Committees of national minorities are exempt from the necessity of exceeding the electoral threshold., 2. After determining how many mandates the election committee has received in a specific district, the mandates are given to those candidates from the district who received the most indications on the list., 3. Candidates are elected in 41 districts. In each district, 7 to 19 deputies are elected., 4. The elections are carried out according to another ordinance – a majoritarian vote., 5. Candidates are elected in 100 single-mandate districts. The rules of elections to the Senate of the Republic of Poland Możliwe odpowiedzi: 1. Committees of national minorities are exempt from the necessity of exceeding the electoral threshold., 2. After determining how many mandates the election committee has received in a specific district, the mandates are given to those candidates from the district who received the most indications on the list., 3. Candidates are elected in 41 districts. In each district, 7 to 19 deputies are elected., 4. The elections are carried out according to another ordinance – a majoritarian vote., 5. Candidates are elected in 100 single-mandate districts.
Exercise 5
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Ćwiczenie alternatywne. Complete a multiple-choice test question for the lesson „The executive power – the President of the Republic of Poland and the Council of Ministers”. Prepare four answers, including two correct ones. Then exchange your questions with a classmate.
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Exercise 6
Przypomnij sobie strukturę sądów powszechnych w Polsce. Jakie sądy znajdują się na każdym z jej szczebli?
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Exercise 7
Ćwiczenie alternatywne. Review what the common, military and administrative courts do. Listen the text carefully and answer the questions. Common courts settle, among others, criminal, civil, family and guardianship, and labour law cases, as well as all other matters that are not reserved for the jurisdiction of other courts. Military courts deal first and foremost with matters related to offences committed by soldiers in active service. Administrative courts primarily control the activities of public administration bodies, both governmental and self‑governmental (local governments). The control applies to, among others, administrative decisions, resolutions issued in administrative proceedings or complaints about inactivity of administrative bodies. Questions: What are the common courts dealing with? What are the military courts deciding about? What do administrative courts control first of all?
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Exercise 8
Ćwiczenie alternatywne: Listen to the abstract recording to review the material and new vocabulary. Explain the meaning of following words: to discharge (functions); issue (regulations); eligible; chamber; to convene; hearing; offence; elections. If it's too difficult, use lesson's glossary.

Keywords

the law‑making process, introduce legislation, veto, bill, the Constitutional Tribunal, executive power, head of government, the cabinet, exposé, state power ministries, the Council of Ministers, the Sejm, the Senate, deputy, senator, parliamentary club, deputies’ group, the Marshal, the Presidium, the Council of Elders, committees, legislative/scrutiny/European function of the parliament, formal/material immunity, vote on non‑confidence, Council of Ministers, the Prime Minister, vote of (no-)confidence, department ministers, ministers without portfolio, political responsibility, regulations, executive branch, judicial, jurisdiction, common/military/administrative courts, the Supreme Court, the Tribunal of State, constitutional accountability

Glossary

observance
observance
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Nagranie słówka: observance

przestrzeganie

sovereignty
sovereignty
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Nagranie słówka: sovereignty

suwerenność

inviolability
inviolability
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Nagranie słówka: inviolability

nienaruszalność

to assure
to assure
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Nagranie słówka: to assure

zapewnić

reconsideration
reconsideration
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Nagranie słówka: reconsideration

ponowne rozpatrzenie

statutory
statutory
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Nagranie słówka: statutory

ustawowa

conformity
conformity
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Nagranie słówka: conformity

zgodność

according to
according to
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Nagranie słówka: according to

zgodnie z

to create the cabinet
to create the cabinet
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Nagranie słówka: to create the cabinet

stworzyć rząd

to take into consideration
to take into consideration
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Nagranie słówka: to take into consideration

wziąć pod uwagę

to faint
to faint
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Nagranie słówka: to faint

zemdleć

to be remembered for
to be remembered for
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Nagranie słówka: to be remembered for

być zapamiętanym za (coś)

hyperinflation
hyperinflation
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Nagranie słówka: hyperinflation

hiperinflacja

Minister of Labour
Minister of Labour
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Nagranie słówka: Minister of Labour

minister pracy

Ministry of Internal Affairs
Ministry of Internal Affairs
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Nagranie słówka: Ministry of Internal Affairs

Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych

Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence
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Nagranie słówka: Ministry of Defence

Ministerstwo Obrony

to be vested in
to be vested in
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Nagranie słówka: to be vested in

być powierzony (w posiadaniu)

gentry
gentry
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Nagranie słówka: gentry

szlachta

thus
thus
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Nagranie słówka: thus

a zatem, w ten sposób

eligible
eligible
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Nagranie słówka: eligible

uprawniony

to attain
to attain
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Nagranie słówka: to attain

osiągać

legal incapacitation
legal incapacitation
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Nagranie słówka: legal incapacitation

ubezwłasnowolnienie

intentional indictable offence
intentional indictable offence
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Nagranie słówka: intentional indictable offence

przestępstwo umyślne ścigane z oskarżenia publicznego

chamber
chamber
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Nagranie słówka: chamber

izba

to convene
to convene
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Nagranie słówka: to convene

zwoływać

to impose
to impose
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Nagranie słówka: to impose

nakładać

vacated
vacated
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Nagranie słówka: vacated

opróżniony

advisory
advisory
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Nagranie słówka: advisory

doradczy

consultative
consultative
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Nagranie słówka: consultative

konsultacyjny

subsidiary
subsidiary
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Nagranie słówka: subsidiary

pomocniczy

scrutiny
scrutiny
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Nagranie słówka: scrutiny

kontrola, nadzór

primarily
primarily
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Nagranie słówka: primarily

przede wszystkim

subordinate to
subordinate to
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Nagranie słówka: subordinate to

podporządkowany

dismissal
dismissal
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Nagranie słówka: dismissal

zwolnienie, dymisja

so‑called
so‑called
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Nagranie słówka: so‑called

tak zwany

to be held accountable for
to be held accountable for
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Nagranie słówka: to be held accountable for

zostać pociągniętym do odpowiedzialności

scope
scope
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Nagranie słówka: scope

zakres

thereof
thereof
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Nagranie słówka: thereof

odtąd, tego, z tego, od tego

to infringe
to infringe
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Nagranie słówka: to infringe

naruszyć

expiry
expiry
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Nagranie słówka: expiry

wygaśnięcie

consent
consent
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Nagranie słówka: consent

zgoda

instituted
instituted
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Nagranie słówka: instituted

ustanowiony

statute of limitation
statute of limitation
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Nagranie słówka: statute of limitation

przedawnienie, bieg przedawnienia

equivalent
equivalent
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Nagranie słówka: equivalent

równowartość

to be brought to criminal accountability
to be brought to criminal accountability
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Nagranie słówka: to be brought to criminal accountability

zostać pociągniętym do odpowiedzialności karnej

instance
instance
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Nagranie słówka: instance

wypadek, przypadek

to detain
to detain
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Nagranie słówka: to detain

zatrzymywać

apprehended in the commission of an offence
apprehended in the commission of an offence
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Nagranie słówka: apprehended in the commission of an offence

złapany na gorącym uczynku

to release
to release
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Nagranie słówka: to release

zwalniać, uwalniać

virtually
virtually
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Nagranie słówka: virtually

niemal, praktycznie, właściwie

exclusively
exclusively
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Nagranie słówka: exclusively

wyłącznie

contrary to
contrary to
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Nagranie słówka: contrary to

sprzeczne z

to discharge (functions)
to discharge (functions)
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Nagranie słówka: to discharge (functions)

rozdzielać (funkcje)

allocated
allocated
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Nagranie słówka: allocated

przedzielony

to originate from
to originate from
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Nagranie słówka: to originate from

pochodzić z

designated to
designated to
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Nagranie słówka: designated to

wyznaczony do/na

issue (regulations)
issue (regulations)
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Nagranie słówka: issue (regulations)

wydawać (rozporządzenia)

supervision
supervision
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Nagranie słówka: supervision

nadzór

superior
superior
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Nagranie słówka: superior

wyższego rzędu

resign
resign
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Nagranie słówka: resign

zrezygnować, podać się do dymisji

to implement (policies)
to implement (policies)
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Nagranie słówka: to implement (policies)

wdrażać (politykę)

jurisdiction
jurisdiction
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Nagranie słówka: jurisdiction

jurysdykcja, zakres rozstrzyganych spraw

hearing
hearing
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Nagranie słówka: hearing

proces

undue delay
undue delay
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Nagranie słówka: undue delay

zbędna zwłoka, nieuzasadnione opóźnienie

impartial
impartial
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Nagranie słówka: impartial

bezstronny

to settle
to settle
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Nagranie słówka: to settle

rozstrzygać

family and guardianship law
family and guardianship law
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Nagranie słówka: family and guardianship law

prawo rodzinne i opiekuńcze

first and foremost
first and foremost
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Nagranie słówka: first and foremost

przede wszystkim

offence
offence
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Nagranie słówka: offence

naruszenie prawa

resolution in administrative proceeding
resolution in administrative proceeding
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Nagranie słówka: resolution in administrative proceeding

postanowienie w postępowaniu administracyjnym

legal remedies (against court rulings)
legal remedies (against court rulings)
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Nagranie słówka: legal remedies (against court rulings)

środki odwoławcze (wobec orzeczeń sądu)

discrepancy
discrepancy
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Nagranie słówka: discrepancy

rozbieżność

jurisprudence
jurisprudence
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Nagranie słówka: jurisprudence

prawoznawstwo

validity
validity
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Nagranie słówka: validity

ważność

draft bill
draft bill
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Nagranie słówka: draft bill

projekt ustawy

to adjudicate
to adjudicate
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Nagranie słówka: to adjudicate

orzekać

inferior
inferior
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Nagranie słówka: inferior

niższego rzędu

to cease
to cease
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Nagranie słówka: to cease

zaprzestać

complaint concerning infringements of the Constitution
complaint concerning infringements of the Constitution
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Nagranie słówka: complaint concerning infringements of the Constitution

skarga konstytucyjna

infringement
infringement
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Nagranie słówka: infringement

naruszenie

orders and decorations
orders and decorations
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Nagranie słówka: orders and decorations

ordery i odznaczenia

State Treasury
State Treasury
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Nagranie słówka: State Treasury

Skarb Państwa

National Bank of Poland
National Bank of Poland
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Nagranie słówka: National Bank of Poland

Narodowy Bank Polski

Supreme Chamber of Control
Supreme Chamber of Control
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Nagranie słówka: Supreme Chamber of Control

Najwyższa Izba Kontroli

National Council of Radio Broadcasting and Television
National Council of Radio Broadcasting and Television
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Nagranie słówka: National Council of Radio Broadcasting and Television

Krajowa Rada Radiofonii i Telewizji

Commander‑in‑Chief of the Armed Forces
Commander‑in‑Chief of the Armed Forces
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Nagranie słówka: Commander‑in‑Chief of the Armed Forces

Naczelny Dowódca Sił Zbrojnych