Ustavení parlamentu při vyhlášení samostatného Československa a Polska: Dvě různé cesty s týmž cílem
Establishing of the parliament during the process of declaring independence of Czechoslovakia and Poland: Two different ways with the same goal

Summary/Abstract: This article compares the way, how the first parliaments were established in newly declared Czechoslovakia and Poland in 1918. The Czechoslovakian political representation decided for indirect way of establishing the parliament, which was even entitled to adopt the final constitution for the new state. On the other Polish politicians decided to establish the first parliament through the general elections. Both ways were different from the point of view of legitimacy. If we understand the legitimacy derived directly from the people as the superior form, then the Polish way was formally better. On the other hand there are also different sources of legitimacy, which are acceptable in the democratic states The lack of direct legitimacy could be overcome by time. The status quo or e.g. the constitution adopted by the indirectly established parliament may be understood as accepted by the people, if it is not changed later by the parliament elected directly in general elections. That was the Czechoslovak situation. Poland, which decided in favour of direct elections from the very start point, faced huge complications and was not able to provide the elections at the entire territory, as the new state was forces to conquer it firstly in many areas, which demanded in the moment of its proclamation. The Czechoslovak and Polish solution was thus different, but the result was very similar. Nonetheless, later in crucial moments of their histories both states tended to copy their first decision. Thus there could be seen some differences in their attitudes and political traditions.

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