It states that Poland is a parliamentary republic. The constitution reinforces local self-government and prohibits parties whose programmes are based on Nazism, Fascism and Communism. The relationship with the Catholic Church is determined by a special treaty concluded with the Holy See and by statute. Representatives are elected under a complicated system of proportional representation to serve four-year terms. The electoral threshold is set at 5 percent of the votes cast.
Major parties benefit from the distribution of surplus votes.
In the case of party coalitions at elections, the electoral threshold is set at 8 percent of the vote. The 100 hundred Senate members are elected by a majority vote on a provincial basis. The Senate scrutinises the actions of the Sejm. The Council of Ministers is accountable to the Sejm. The President is elected directly for a five-year term.