Comparative Law Review 22 2016 Nicolaus Copernicus University http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/CLR.2016.011 Michał Huzarski Michał Pyrz MARSHAL OF THE SEJM AS A CONSTITUTIONAL BODY OF THE STATE Abstract This article aims to examine more closely the functioning of the office of Marshal of the Sejm in Poland. Presented as one of the research methods namely, historical-legal, it aims to show the evolution of the office of the Marshal in Poland. The paper also presents the legal status of the Marshal of the Sejm, his functions, and the powers of Parliament. Owing to the large spectrum of the subject we chose only those issues that most clearly show the Marshal of the Sejm as a constitutional body. Keywords Marshal of the Sejm – the Parliament – the Sejm – constitutional body * Michał Huzarski is preparing a doctoral thesis in the field of constitutional law. An employee of local self-government units; e-mail:
[email protected]. ** Michał Pyrz – PhD student in the Department of Civil Procedure, Faculty of Law, Administration, and Economy, University of Wroclaw; e-mail:
[email protected]. 116 | Michał Huzarski, Michał Pyrz 1. ORIGINS OF THE OFFICE OF THE MARSHAL. HISTORICAL VIEW The Marshal of the Sejm in Poland is traditionally a single executive body of the Chamber and a constitutional body of the state. The origins of the institution of the Marshal are associated with the earliest history of Polish parliamentarianism. Although during its history the importance of this body and the position of the Marshal in the political system have changed, the position has always been endowed with high prestige and esteem, which sometimes also involved its holders1.