Golden Liberty
During its Golden Age, the Commonwealth was regarded as one of the most powerful states in Europe. It had a unique system of government, known as Golden Liberty, in which all the nobility ("szlachta"), regardless of economic status, were considered equal and enjoyed extensive legal rights and privileges. One of the system's features was the liberum veto, used for the first time in 1653. The nobility, comprising "szlachta" and magnates, made up some 8-10% of the Commonwealth's population.