Conditions of the expiry of the mandate of a municipal (city) councilor in the light of the Provisions of the electoral code and the case law of administrative courts Cover Image

Przesłanki wygaśnięcia mandatu radnego gminy (miasta) w świetle przepisów kodeksu wyborczego i orzecznictwa sądów administracyjnych
Conditions of the expiry of the mandate of a municipal (city) councilor in the light of the Provisions of the electoral code and the case law of administrative courts

Author(s): Anna Rytel-Warzocha
Subject(s): Electoral systems, Politics and law
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego
Keywords: electoral system; electoral code; administrative courts;

Summary/Abstract: Polish legislator has adopted the concept of a “free mandate” of municipal councilors.According to art. 23 of the Law on Municipal Self-government, councilors are independent in their activities, they cannot be bounded by the instructions of their electorate and they cannot be recalled. In the most typical case, the termination of the mandate of councilors takes place at the end of the term of office of the municipal council, which as a rule lasts four years. However, in certain circumstances provided in art. 383 of the Electoral Code it may also happen earlier. First of all, the councilor’s mandate will expire in case of the non-compliance of requirements necessary to candidate for a municipal council because of the loss of this right during the term of office of the council or proving the lack of this right already on the election day. Secondly, it will also happen in case of the councilor’s statement that he waives the mandate or refuses to take the oath. In the light of art. 383 § 1p. 7 of the Electoral Code, the expiry of the mandate of a councilor is also the consequence of the failure to submit a financial (income) declaration. Finally, the expiry of the mandate of a councilor is connected with the violation of the incompatibility principle, meaning the prohibition of simultaneous exercise of the function of a councilor and certain positions or public offices. The list of cases provided by the art. 383 of the Electoral Code is supplemented by art. 390, according to which the expiry of the mandate may also occur as a result of changes in the territorial division of the state.

  • Issue Year: 2015
  • Issue No: XXXIV
  • Page Range: 153-166
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Polish