W przededniu pierwszego konfliktu ustrojowego. Debata w Radzie Administracyjnej Królestwa Polskiego o usamodzielnieniu radców stanu w komisjach rządowych na przełomie 1815 i 1816 r
On the eve of the first political conflict. Debate in the Administrative Council of the Kingdom of Poland on the autonomy of the counselors of state at the turn of 1815 and 1816

Summary/Abstract: Right at the end of 1815, the constitutional authorities of the Kingdom of Poland – Administrative Council and the General Assembly of the Council of State – were established. Soon there after, they undertook some intensive work on developing constitutional provisions. Their priority was the organization of governmental commissions. The Minister of Internal Affairs and Police, Tadeusz Mostowski presented a draft concerning the Principles of organization of ministerial authorities just at the second session of the Administrative Council, held on 31 December 1815. In the course of discussions on the draft , which ultimately was not sanctioned by the viceroy and was not submitted for further proceedings, the ministers focused on the issue of giving more autonomy to state counselors who headed individual divisions in governmental commissions, as well as on “grading the authorities”. The analysis of this debate is the main focus of the present article. While viceroy Józef Zajączek was against granting autonomy to state counselors and strove for the concentration of administrative power in the hands of ministers, his opponents – mainly Tadeusz Matuszewicz advocated the idea. The polarization of the opinions in this matter marked the prelude to a subsequent dispute on collegiality in governmental commissions – the very first battle about the interpretation of the Kingdom constitution, waged by the viceroy against the majority of its members at the Council of State.

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