104TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 165
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas, on May 3, 1996, Polish people around the world,
including Americans of Polish descent, will celebrate the
205th anniversary of the adoption of the first Polish con-
stitution;
Whereas American Revolutionary War hero Thaddeus
Kosciuszko introduced the concept of constitutional de-
mocracy to his native country of Poland;
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Whereas the Polish constitution of 1791 was the first liberal
constitution in Europe and represented Central-Eastern
Europe’s first attempt to end the feudal system of gov-
ernment;
Whereas this Polish constitution was designed to protect Po-
land’s sovereignty and national unity and to create a pro-
gressive constitutional monarchy;
Whereas this Polish constitution was the first constitution in
Central-Eastern Europe to secure individual and religious
freedom for all persons in Poland;
Whereas this Polish constitution formed a government com-
posed of distinct legislative, executive, and judicial pow-
ers;
Whereas this Polish constitution declared that ‘‘all power in
civil society should be derived from the will of the peo-
ple’’;
Whereas this Polish constitution revitalized the parliamentary
system by placing preeminent lawmaking power in the
House of Deputies, by subjecting the Sejm to majority
rule, and by granting the Sejm the power to remove min-
isters, appoint commissars, and choose magistrates;
Whereas this Polish constitution provided for significant eco-
nomic, social, and political reforms by removing inequal-
ities between the nobility and the bourgeoisie, by rec-
ognizing town residents as ‘‘freemen’’ who had judicial
autonomy and expanded rights, and by extending the pro-
tection of the law to the peasantry who previously had no
recourse against the arbitrary actions of feudal lords;
Whereas, although this Polish constitution was in effect for
less than 2 years, its principles endured and it became
the symbol around which a powerful new national con-
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sciousness was born, helping Poland to survive long peri-
ods of misfortune over the following 2 centuries; and
Whereas, in only the last 5 years, Poland has realized the
promise held in the Polish constitution of 1791, has
emerged as an independent nation after its people led the
movement that resulted in historic changes in Central-
Eastern Europe, and is moving toward full integration
with the Euro-Atlantic community of nations: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That—
(1) the people of the United States salute and
congratulate Polish people around the world, includ-
ing Americans of Polish descent, on the adoption of
the first Polish constitution;
(2) the people of the United States recognize
Poland’s rebirth as a free and independent nation in
the spirit of the legacy of the Polish constitution of
1791; and
(3) the Congress authorizes and urges the
President of the United States to call upon the Gov-
ernors of the States, the leaders of local govern-
ments, and the people of the United States to join
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in this recognition with appropriate ceremonies and
activities.
Passed the House of Representatives May 21, 1996.
Attest:
Clerk.