Constitutionality Control in Polish Law – Between Common Law and Continental Systems Cover Image

Kontrola konstytucyjności w polskim prawie – między systemem common law a systemem kontynentalnym
Constitutionality Control in Polish Law – Between Common Law and Continental Systems

Author(s): Michał Koniecko
Subject(s): Constitutional Law, Philosophy of Law
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku
Keywords: constitution; constitutionality; constitutionality control;

Summary/Abstract: In the doctrine of Polish constitutional law and in the jurisprudence, there has been a dispute for many years as to whether common and administrative courts are entitled to examine, in the course of adjudication, the compliance of regulations with the Constitution. A negative answer to this question would lead to the conclusion that the only body authorised to do so is the Constitutional Tribunal. This issue is connected to the system of state bodies, their systemic position and the competencies ascribed to them. Furthermore, the adoption of the view that the judiciary is authorised to control the normative compliance of acts of a lower order, would result in a more frequent application of that act in practice, which would undoubtedly correspond to the principle of supremacy and direct applicability of the Constitution. The Constitution would thus be applied not only in the relations between the organs of public authority and the organs and citizens, but also in the horizontal relations, between the subjects of private law. The aim of this paper was to analyse and systematise the presented views concerning the admissibility of the application of diffused control in Polish law, and to answer the question, which of the positions should be upheld. For this purpose it has become necessary to explain such notions as the constitution, compliance with the constitution, as well as to present the characteristics of different types and models of constitutionality control.

  • Issue Year: 21/2022
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 397-429
  • Page Count: 33
  • Language: Polish