Editing Poland (section)

== Government and politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Poland}}{{Multiple image
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| align             = left
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| image1            = President of Poland Andrzej Duda (cropped).jpg
| image2            = Donald Tusk KPRM HQ.jpg
| caption1          = [[Andrzej Duda]]<br /><small>[[President of Poland|President]] since 2015</small>
| caption2          = [[Donald Tusk]]<br /><small>[[Prime Minister of Poland|Prime Minister]] since 2023</small>
}}
Poland is a [[Unitary state|unitary]] [[semi-presidential republic]]{{refn|name=SEMIPRES}} and a [[representative democracy]], with a [[President of the Republic of Poland|president]] as the [[head of state]].<ref name="Serwis Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej">{{Cite web |last=Serwis Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej |date=n.d. |title=Civil Service; Basic information about Poland |url=https://www.gov.pl/web/civilservice/basic-information-about-poland |access-date=8 March 2022 |website=www.gov.pl |publisher=Government of the Republic of Poland |language=en |archive-date=30 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530233041/https://www.gov.pl/web/civilservice/basic-information-about-poland |url-status=live }}</ref> The executive power is exercised further by the [[Council of Ministers of the Republic of Poland|Council of Ministers]] and the [[Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland|prime minister]] who acts as the [[head of government]].<ref name="Serwis Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej" /> The council's individual members are selected by the prime minister, approved by parliament and sworn in by the president.<ref name="Serwis Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej" /> The head of state is elected by [[Direct election|popular vote]] for a five-year term.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stanisz |first=Piotr |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e4MSEAAAQBAJ&q=duda&pg=PT14 |title=Religion and Law in Poland |date=2020 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-94-035-2973-8 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |page=13 |language=en |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235947/https://books.google.com/books?id=e4MSEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT14&q=duda |url-status=live }}</ref> The current president is [[Andrzej Duda]] and the prime minister is [[Donald Tusk]].

Poland's [[Legislature|legislative]] assembly is a [[bicameralism|bicameral]] parliament consisting of a 460-member lower house ([[Sejm]]) and a 100-member upper house ([[Senate of the Republic of Poland|Senate]]).<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zJROEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22sejm%2B460%2B%2Bsenate%2B100%22&pg=PA127 |title=Foundations of Law: The Polish Perspective |date=2021 |publisher=Wolters Kluwer Polska |isbn=978-83-8223-173-1 |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |page=127 |language=en |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180451/https://books.google.com/books?id=zJROEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA127&dq=%22sejm+460++senate+100%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Sejm is elected under [[proportional representation]] according to the [[d'Hondt method]] for vote-seat conversion.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gwiazda |first=Anna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VBk-CgAAQBAJ&dq=%22sejm%2B%2Bd%2527Hondt%22&pg=PA67 |title=Democracy in Poland: Representation, participation, competition and accountability since 1989 |date=2015 |publisher=Taylor and Francis |isbn=978-1-315-68011-8 |location=Florence |page=67 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180453/https://books.google.com/books?id=VBk-CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA67&dq=%22sejm++d%27Hondt%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Senate is elected under the [[first-past-the-post]] electoral system, with one senator being returned from each of the one hundred constituencies.<ref name="Granat 2021">{{Cite book |last1=Granat |first1=Mirosław |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AJzGDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22poland%2Bsenate%2Bfirst-past-the-post%2B100%22&pg=PA52 |title=The Constitution of Poland: A Contextual Analysis |last2=Granat |first2=Katarzyna |date=2021 |publisher=Hart Publishing |isbn=978-1-5099-1394-7 |location=Oxford |pages=51, 52, 221 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180456/https://books.google.com/books?id=AJzGDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA52&dq=%22poland+senate+first-past-the-post+100%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Senate has the right to amend or reject a statute passed by the Sejm, but the Sejm may override the Senate's decision with a majority vote.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Piotr Machnikowski |title=Contract law in Poland |last2=Justyna Balcarczyk |last3=Monika Drela |date=2017 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-90-411-8933-2 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |language=en |chapter=Political System (III) |oclc=1046634087 |chapter-url={{GBurl|id=OI2WDwAAQBAJ|dq=poland+voting+age+eighteen|pg=PT19}}}}</ref>

[[File:2024-09 Sejm RP Sala Posiedzeń (4).jpg|thumb|right|The [[Sejm]] is the [[lower house]] of the [[parliament of Poland]].]]

With the exception of ethnic minority parties, only candidates of [[List of political parties in Poland|political parties]] receiving at least 5% of the total national vote can enter the Sejm.<ref name="Granat 2021" /> Both the lower and upper houses of parliament in Poland are elected for a four-year term and each member of the Polish parliament is guaranteed [[parliamentary immunity]].<ref name="Jasinski 2019">{{Cite book |last1=Jasiński |first1=Wojciech |title=Criminal law in Poland |last2=Kremens |first2=Karolina |date=2019 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-94-035-1324-9 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |language=en |chapter=Political System and Administrative Structure (IV) |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DSysDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22sejm%2Bpoland%2Bfour%2Byear%22&pg=PT21 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180452/https://books.google.com/books?id=DSysDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT21&dq=%22sejm+poland+four+year%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> Under current legislation, a person must be 21 years of age or over to assume the position of deputy, 30 or over to become senator and 35 to run in a presidential election.<ref name="Jasinski 2019" />

Members of the Sejm and Senate jointly form the [[National Assembly of the Republic of Poland]].<ref name="Bien-Kacala 2021">{{Cite book |last1=Bień-Kacała |first1=Agnieszka |title=Constitutional law in Poland |last2=Młynarska-Sobaczewska |first2=Anna |date=2021 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-94-035-3300-1 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |language=en |chapter=The Speaker, Presidium, and Convent of Seniors, Parliamentary Committees (II), s. 281 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lNstEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22national%2Bassembly%2Bpoland%2B%2Bpresident%2Boath%22&pg=PT126 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180508/https://books.google.com/books?id=lNstEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT126&dq=%22national+assembly+poland++president+oath%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The National Assembly, headed by the [[marshal of the Sejm]], or [[marshal of the Senate]] in their absence, is formed on three occasions – when a new president takes the [[oath of office]]; when an indictment against the president is brought to the [[State Tribunal (Poland)|State Tribunal]]; and in case a president's permanent incapacity to exercise his duties due to the state of his health is declared.<ref name="Bien-Kacala 2021" />

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Poland}}

Poland is divided into 16 provinces or states known as [[Voivodeships of Poland|voivodeships]].<ref name="Teryt 2022">{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Liczba jednostek podziału terytorialnego kraju |url=https://eteryt.stat.gov.pl/eteryt/raporty/WebRaportZestawienie.aspx |access-date=16 March 2022 |website=TERYT |publisher=Statistics Poland (Główny Urząd Statystyczny GUS) |language=pl |archive-date=21 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621043312/https://eteryt.stat.gov.pl/eteryt/raporty/WebRaportZestawienie.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2022, the voivodeships are subdivided into 380 counties (''[[powiat]]s''), which are further fragmented into 2,477 municipalities (''[[gmina]]s'').<ref name="Teryt 2022" /> Major cities normally have the status of both ''gmina'' and ''powiat''.<ref name="Teryt 2022" /> The provinces are largely founded on the borders of [[Polish historical regions|historic regions]], or named for individual cities.<ref name="Marti-Henneberg 2021">{{Cite book |last=Martí-Henneberg |first=Jordi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=itM-EAAAQBAJ&dq=%22voivodeships%2Bcities%2Bbased%2Bon%2Bhistoric%2Bregions%2Bof%2BPoland%22&pg=PA271 |title=European Regions, 1870–2020: A Geographic and Historical Insight into the Process of European Integration. |date=2021 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-030-61537-6 |location=Cham |pages=259–271 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180455/https://books.google.com/books?id=itM-EAAAQBAJ&pg=PA271&dq=%22voivodeships+cities+based+on+historic+regions+of+Poland%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> Administrative authority at the voivodeship level is shared between a government-appointed governor ([[Voivodes of Poland (since 1999)|voivode]]), an elected regional assembly ([[Voivodeship sejmik|sejmik]]) and a [[voivodeship marshal]], an executive elected by the assembly.<ref name="Marti-Henneberg 2021" />

{|
|-
|
{{Image label begin|image=Map of Poland colorful.png|width=410|float=left|padding=15px}} <!--
===== Polish Regions =====
-->{{Image label small|x=0.37|y=0.140|scale=410|text ={{flagicon|Pomeranian Voivodeship}}<br />'''[[Pomeranian Voivodeship|Pomeranian]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.11|y=0.20|scale=410| text= {{flagicon|West Pomeranian Voivodeship}}<br />'''[[West Pomeranian Voivodeship|West<br /> Pomeranian]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.61|y=0.17|scale=410|text={{flagicon|Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship}}<br />'''[[Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship|Warmian-Masurian]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.84|y=0.28|scale=410| text={{flagicon|Podlaskie Voivodeship}}<br />'''[[Podlaskie Voivodeship|Podlaskie]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.670|y=0.43|scale=410|text={{flagicon|Masovian Voivodeship}}<br />'''[[Masovian Voivodeship|Masovian]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.41|y=0.30|scale=410|text={{flagicon|Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship}}<br />'''[[Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship|Kuyavian-<br />Pomeranian]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.26|y=0.42|scale=410|text ={{flagicon|Greater Poland Voivodeship}}<br />'''[[Greater Poland Voivodeship|Greater Poland]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.11|y=0.46|scale=410|text ={{flagicon|Lubusz Voivodeship}}<br />'''[[Lubusz Voivodeship|Lubusz]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.17|y=0.60|scale=410|text ={{flagicon|Lower Silesian Voivodeship}}<br />'''[[Lower Silesian Voivodeship|Lower Silesian]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.55|y=0.53|scale=410|text={{flagicon|Łódź Voivodeship}}<br />'''[[Łódź Voivodeship|Łódź]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.37|y=0.70|scale=410|text={{flagicon|Opole Voivodeship}}<br />'''[[Opole Voivodeship|Opole]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.86|y=0.60|scale=410|text={{flagicon|Lublin Voivodeship}}<br />'''[[Lublin Voivodeship|Lublin]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.60|y=0.80| scale=410|text={{flagicon|Lesser Poland Voivodeship}}<br />'''[[Lesser Poland Voivodeship|Lesser<br />Poland]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.75|y=0.78| scale=410|text={{flagicon|Podkarpackie Voivodeship}}<br />'''[[Subcarpathian Voivodeship|Subcarpathian]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.64|y=0.67| scale=410|text={{flagicon|Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship}}<br />'''[[Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship|Holy Cross]]'''}}
{{Image label small|x=0.46|y=0.74| scale=410|text={{flagicon|Silesian Voivodeship}}<br />'''[[Silesian Voivodeship|Silesian]]'''}}
{{Image label end}}
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:85%;"
|- style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"
!colspan="2"| [[Voivodeships of Poland|Voivodeship]] !!rowspan="2"| [[List of cities and towns in Poland|Capital city]]|| Area || Population
|-
! ''[[English language|in English]]'' !! ''[[Polish language|in Polish]]'' !! km<sup>2</sup><ref name="Voivodeships">{{Cite web |last=Government of Poland |date=2021 |title=Powierzchnia i ludność w przekroju terytorialnym w 2021 roku |url=https://stat.gov.pl/download/gfx/portalinformacyjny/pl/defaultaktualnosci/5468/7/18/1/powierzchnia_i_ludnosc_w_przekroju_terytorialnym_w_2021_roku_tablice.xlsx |access-date=23 March 2022 |publisher=Statistics Poland (Główny Urząd Statystyczny) |language=pl |archive-date=25 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325091206/https://stat.gov.pl/download/gfx/portalinformacyjny/pl/defaultaktualnosci/5468/7/18/1/powierzchnia_i_ludnosc_w_przekroju_terytorialnym_w_2021_roku_tablice.xlsx |url-status=live }}</ref> !! 2021<ref name="Voivodeships" />
|-
| [[Greater Poland Voivodeship|Greater Poland]]|| ''Wielkopolskie''|| [[Poznań]]|| 29,826||3,496,450
|- 
| [[Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship|Kuyavian-Pomeranian]]|| ''Kujawsko-Pomorskie''|| [[Bydgoszcz]] & [[Toruń]]|| 17,971||2,061,942
|-
| [[Lesser Poland Voivodeship|Lesser Poland]]|| ''Małopolskie''|| [[Kraków]]|| 15,183||3,410,441
|-
| [[Łódź Voivodeship|Łódź]]|| ''Łódzkie''|| [[Łódź]] || 18,219||2,437,970
|-
| [[Lower Silesian Voivodeship|Lower Silesian]]|| ''Dolnośląskie''|| [[Wrocław]]|| 19,947||2,891,321
|-
| [[Lublin Voivodeship|Lublin]]|| ''Lubelskie''|| [[Lublin]]|| 25,123||2,095,258
|-
| [[Lubusz Voivodeship|Lubusz]]|| ''Lubuskie''|| [[Gorzów Wielkopolski]] &<br />[[Zielona Góra]]|| 13,988||1,007,145
|-
| [[Masovian Voivodeship|Masovian]]|| ''Mazowieckie''|| [[Warsaw]]|| 35,559||5,425,028
|-
| [[Opole Voivodeship|Opole]]|| ''Opolskie''|| [[Opole]]|| 9,412||976,774
|-
| [[Podlaskie Voivodeship|Podlaskie]]|| ''Podlaskie''|| [[Białystok]]|| 20,187||1,173,286
|-
| [[Pomeranian Voivodeship|Pomeranian]]|| ''Pomorskie''|| [[Gdańsk]]|| 18,323||2,346,671
|-
| [[Silesian Voivodeship|Silesian]]|| ''Śląskie''|| [[Katowice]]|| 12,333||4,492,330
|-
| [[Subcarpathian Voivodeship|Subcarpathian]]|| ''Podkarpackie''|| [[Rzeszów]]|| 17,846||2,121,229
|-
| [[Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship|Holy Cross]]|| ''Świętokrzyskie''|| [[Kielce]]|| 11,710||1,224,626
|-
| [[Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship|Warmian-Masurian]]|| ''Warmińsko-Mazurskie''|| [[Olsztyn]]|| 24,173||1,416,495
|-
| [[West Pomeranian Voivodeship|West Pomeranian]]|| ''Zachodniopomorskie''|| [[Szczecin]]|| 22,905||1,688,047
|}
|}

=== Law ===
{{Main|Law of Poland}}
[[File:Manuscript of the Constitution of the 3rd May 1791.PNG|thumb|right|upright|The [[Constitution of May 3, 1791|Constitution of 3 May]] adopted in 1791 was the first modern constitution in Europe.]]

The [[Constitution of Poland]] is the enacted supreme law, and Polish judicature is based on the principle of civil rights, governed by the code of [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kamarad |first1=Ewa |title=Private International Law in Poland |last2=Wysocka-Bar |first2=Anna |date=2020 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-94-035-2961-5 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |language=en |chapter=General Introduction, s. 3 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f4MSEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Supreme%2BAdministrative%2BCourt%2Bsupreme%2Bcourt%2Bconstitutional%2Btribunal%2Bpoland%22&pg=PT16 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180451/https://books.google.com/books?id=f4MSEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT16&dq=%22Supreme+Administrative+Court+supreme+court+constitutional+tribunal+poland%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The current democratic constitution was adopted by the [[National Assembly of Poland]] on 2 April 1997; it guarantees a [[multi-party state]] with freedoms of religion, speech and gatherings, prohibits the practices of forced [[medical experimentation]], torture or [[corporal punishment]], and acknowledges the inviolability of the home, the right to form trade unions, and the right to [[Strike action|strike]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sejm of the Republic of Poland |title=Dziennik Ustaw nr 78: The Constitution of the Republic of Poland |url=http://www.sejm.gov.pl/prawo/konst/angielski/kon1.htm |access-date=9 March 2022 |website=sejm.gov.pl |publisher=National Assembly (Zgromadzenie Narodowe) |language=en |archive-date=6 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906025331/https://www.sejm.gov.pl/prawo/konst/angielski/kon1.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Judiciary of Poland|judiciary]] in Poland is composed of the [[Supreme Court of Poland|Supreme Court]] as the country's highest judicial organ, the [[Supreme Administrative Court of Poland|Supreme Administrative Court]] for the judicial control of public administration, Common Courts ([[District Court|District]], [[Regional Court (Poland)|Regional]], [[Appellate court|Appellate]]) and the [[Court-martial|Military Court]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kamarad |first1=Ewa |title=Private International Law in Poland |last2=Wysocka-Bar |first2=Anna |date=2020 |publisher=Kluwer Law International |isbn=978-94-035-2961-5 |location=Alphen aan den Rijn |language=en |chapter=General Introduction, s. 2 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f4MSEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Supreme%2BAdministrative%2BCourt%2Bsupreme%2Bcourt%2Bconstitutional%2Btribunal%2Bpoland%22&pg=PT16 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180451/https://books.google.com/books?id=f4MSEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT16&dq=%22Supreme+Administrative+Court+supreme+court+constitutional+tribunal+poland%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Constitutional Tribunal (Poland)|Constitutional]] and State Tribunals are separate judicial bodies, which rule the constitutional liability of people holding the highest offices of state and supervise the compliance of [[statutory law]], thus protecting the Constitution.<ref name="Jaremba 2013">{{Cite book |last=Jaremba |first=Urszula |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CcXMAQAAQBAJ&dq=%22judges%2Bappointed%2Bby%2Bpresident%2Bof%2Bpoland%22&pg=PA129 |title=National Judges As EU Law Judges: The Polish Civil Law System |date=2013 |publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers |isbn=978-1-306-07095-9 |location=Boston |pages=126–129 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180506/https://books.google.com/books?id=CcXMAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA129&dq=%22judges+appointed+by+president+of+poland%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> Judges are nominated by the [[National Council of the Judiciary]] and are appointed for life by the [[president of Poland|president]].<ref name="Jaremba 2013" /> With the approval of the Senate, the Sejm appoints an [[ombudsman]] for a five-year term to guard the observance of social justice.<ref name="Granat 2021" />

Poland has a low [[homicide]] rate at 0.7 murders per 100,000 people, as of 2018.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nations |first=United |date=2020 |title=Human Development Indicators – Poland |url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/POL |publisher=United Nations Development Programme |access-date=16 December 2020 |website=Human Development Reports |archive-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128095417/http://www.hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/POL |url-status=live }}</ref> Rape, assault and violent crime remain at a very low level.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=Victims of intentional homicide 1990–2018 – Poland |url=https://dataunodc.un.org/content/data/homicide/homicide-rate |access-date=16 December 2020 |website=Data UNODC |publisher=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime |archive-date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328012947/https://dataunodc.un.org/content/data/homicide/homicide-rate |url-status=live }}</ref> The country has imposed strict regulations on [[Abortion in Poland|abortion]], which is permitted only in cases of rape, incest or when the woman's life is in danger; [[congenital disorder]] is not covered by the law, prompting some women to seek abortion abroad.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Zsuzsa Csergo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ibgzEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22poland%2Babortion%2Brape%2Bincest%2Bdanger%22&pg=PA168 |title=Central and East European Politics: Changes and Challenges |last2=Daina Stukuls Eglitis |last3=Paula M Pickering |date=2021 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-5381-4279-0 |location=Lanham, Maryland |page=168 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180457/https://books.google.com/books?id=ibgzEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA168&dq=%22poland+abortion+rape+incest+danger%22 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Historically, the most significant Polish legal act is the [[Constitution of 3 May 1791]]. Instituted to redress long-standing political defects of the [[federation|federative]] [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] and its [[Golden Liberty]], it was the first modern constitution in Europe and influenced many later [[democratic movement]]s across the globe.<ref name="Davies 1996" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Norman Davies |url=https://archive.org/details/europehistory00davi_0 |title=Europe: A History |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-19-820171-7 |page=[https://archive.org/details/europehistory00davi_0/page/699 699] |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gierowski |first=Józef Andrzej |url={{GBurl|id=IBNjywAACAAJ}} |title=Historia Polski, 1505–1764 |publisher=Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe |year=1986 |isbn=978-83-01-03732-1 |page=251 |language=pl |trans-title=History of Poland, 1505–1764 |author-link=Józef Andrzej Gierowski |access-date=26 October 2014}}</ref> In 1918, the [[Second Polish Republic]] became one of the first countries to introduce universal [[women's suffrage]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Berglund |first=Sten |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DOAEFRDAEi4C&dq=%22%2522poland%2522%2Bone%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bfirst%2Bcountries%2Bto%2Bwomen%2527s%2Bsuffrage%2B1918%22&pg=PA46 |title=The Making of the European Union: Foundations, Institutions and Future Trends |date=2006 |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing Press |isbn=978-1-84542-025-3 |location=Cheltenham |page=46 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180451/https://books.google.com/books?id=DOAEFRDAEi4C&pg=PA46&dq=%22%22poland%22+one+of+the+first+countries+to+women%27s+suffrage+1918%22 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Poland|List of diplomatic missions of Poland}}
[[File:Ministerstwo Spraw Zagraniczych al. Szucha 23.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Poland)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]], located in [[Warsaw]]]]
Poland is a [[middle power]] and is transitioning into a [[regional power]] in Europe.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Glazebrook |first=G. deT. |date=June 1947 |title=The Middle Powers in the United Nations System |journal=[[International Organization (journal)|International Organization]] |publisher=[[University of Wisconsin Press]] |volume=1 |pages=307–315 |doi=10.1017/S0020818300006081 |jstor=2703870 |s2cid=154796013 |number=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bindi |first=Federiga |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FnR0DwAAQBAJ&dq=%22poland%2Bis%2Bbecoming%2Ba%2B%2522regional%2Bpower%2522%22&pg=PA6 |title=Europe and America: the end of the transatlantic relationship? |date=2019 |publisher=Brookings Institution Press |isbn=978-0-8157-3281-5 |location=Washington, D.C. |page=6 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180452/https://books.google.com/books?id=FnR0DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA6&dq=%22poland+is+becoming+a+%22regional+power%22%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> It has a total of 53 representatives in the [[European Parliament]] as of 2024. [[Warsaw]] serves as the headquarters for [[Frontex]], the European Union's agency for external border security as well as [[ODIHR]], one of the principal institutions of the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=De Londras |first1=Fiona |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AYMGCAAAQBAJ&dq=%22frontex%2Bwarsaw%2Bbased%22&pg=PA58 |title=The impact, legitimacy and effectiveness of EU counter-terrorism |last2=Doody |first2=Josephine |date=2015 |publisher=Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group |isbn=978-1-138-09795-7 |location=London |page=58 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180454/https://books.google.com/books?id=AYMGCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA58&dq=%22frontex+warsaw+based%22 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Weissbrodt |first1=David S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RaU1U-4gBCkC&dq=%22ODIHR%2Bheadquartered%2Bwarsaw%22&pg=PA324 |title=International Human Rights Law: An Introduction |last2=Vega |first2=Connie |date=2010 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |isbn=978-0-8122-2120-6 |location=Philadelphia |page=324 |orig-date=2007 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180449/https://books.google.com/books?id=RaU1U-4gBCkC&pg=PA324&dq=%22ODIHR+headquartered+warsaw%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> Apart from the European Union, Poland has been a member of [[NATO]], the United Nations, and the [[World Trade Organization|WTO]].

In recent years, Poland significantly strengthened its [[Poland–United States relations|relations]] with the United States, thus becoming one of its closest [[alliance|allies]] and strategic partners in Europe.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Deni |first=John R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B6QQEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22decades%2Bclosest%2Ballies%2Bus%2Bpoland%22&pg=PA148 |title=Coalition of the unwilling and unable: European realignment and the future of American geopolitics |date=2021 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |isbn=978-0-472-12879-2 |location=Michigan |page=148 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180459/https://books.google.com/books?id=B6QQEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA148&dq=%22decades+closest+allies+us+poland%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> Historically, Poland maintained strong [[Hungary–Poland relations|cultural and political]] ties to Hungary; this special relationship was recognised by the parliaments of both countries in 2007 with the joint declaration of 23 March as "The Day of Polish-Hungarian Friendship".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Suszycki |first=Andrzej Marcin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DDQxEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22poland%2Bhungary%2Bfriendship%2Bmarch%2B23%22&pg=PA193 |title=Nationalism in Contemporary Europe: Concept, Boundaries and Forms |date=2021 |publisher=LIT |isbn=978-3-643-91102-5 |location=Zürich |page=193 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180455/https://books.google.com/books?id=DDQxEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA193&dq=%22poland+hungary+friendship+march+23%22 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Military ===
{{Main|Polish Armed Forces}}
[[File:F-16 Jastrząb (48).jpg|thumb|[[Polish Air Force]] [[F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16s]], a single-engine [[Multirole combat aircraft|multirole]] [[fighter aircraft]]]]

The Polish Armed Forces are composed of five branches – the [[Polish Land Forces|Land Forces]], the [[Polish Navy|Navy]], the [[Polish Air Force|Air Force]], the [[Special forces of Poland|Special Forces]] and the [[Territorial Defence Force (Poland)|Territorial Defence Force]].<ref name="Mihalcova 2019">{{Cite book |last1=Mihalčová |first1=Bohuslava |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=goqADwAAQBAJ&dq=%22poland%2Barmed%2Bforces%2Bterritorial%2Bdefense%2Bnavy%2Bland%2Bforces%252C%2Bair%2Bforce%22&pg=PA174 |title=Production Management and Business Development: Proceedings of the 6th Annual International Scientific Conference on Marketing Management, Trade, Financial and Social Aspects of Business. |last2=Szaryszová |first2=Petra |last3=Štofová |first3=Lenka |last4=Pružinský |first4=Michal |last5=Gontkovičová |first5=Barbora |date=2019 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-0-429-46866-7 |location=Boca Raton |pages=174–175 |orig-date=2018 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180448/https://books.google.com/books?id=goqADwAAQBAJ&pg=PA174&dq=%22poland+armed+forces+territorial+defense+navy+land+forces%2C+air+force%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> The military is subordinate to the [[Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Poland]].<ref name="Mihalcova 2019" /> However, its commander-in-chief in peacetime is the president, who nominates officers, the Minister for National Defence and the chief of staff.<ref name="Mihalcova 2019" /> Polish military tradition is generally commemorated by the [[Armed Forces Day (Poland)|Armed Forces Day]], celebrated annually on 15 August.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zalewski |first=Jerzy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ML4hAQAAIAAJ&q=%25C5%259Bwi%25C4%2599to%2520wojska%2520polskiego%252015%2520sierpnia%2520sejm |title=Wojsko Polskie w przemianach ustrojowych 1989–2001 |date=2002 |publisher=Elipsa |isbn=978-83-7151-494-4 |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |page=131 |language=pl |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724235927/https://books.google.com/books?id=ML4hAQAAIAAJ&q=%25C5%259Bwi%25C4%2599to%2520wojska%2520polskiego%252015%2520sierpnia%2520sejm |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2024, the Polish Armed Forces had a combined strength of 216,100 active soldiers, making it the largest standing army in the European Union and the third largest in [[NATO]].<ref name="Celej">{{cite web |last=Celej |first=Piotr |date=2024 |title=Raport: Polska armia trzecia w NATO i największa w Unii Europejskiej |url=https://www.gazetaprawna.pl/wiadomosci/kraj/artykuly/9547402,raport-polska-armia-trzecia-w-nato-i-najwieksza-w-unii-europejskiej.html#:~:text=Wed%C5%82ug%20najnowszych%20danych%20z%20raportu,przez%20Turcj%C4%99%20i%20Stany%20Zjednoczone. |website=gazetaprawna.pl |publisher=Gazeta Prawna, INFOR PL S.A. |access-date=22 February 2025}}</ref>

Poland ranks [[List of countries with highest military expenditures|14th in the world]] in terms of military expenditures; the country allocated 4.12% of its total GDP on military spending, equivalent to approximately US$35 billion in 2024.<ref name="ENR">{{cite web |author=Polska Agencja Prasowa (PAP) |date=2024 |title=Poland is already spending the most on defense in terms of GDP among NATO countries |url=https://europeannewsroom.com/poland-is-already-spending-the-most-on-defense-in-terms-of-gdp-among-nato-countries/ |website=europeannewsroom.com |publisher=European Newsroom (ENR) |access-date=22 February 2025}}</ref> From 2022, Poland initiated a programme of mass modernisation of its armed forces, in close cooperation with American, South Korean and local Polish [[Arms industry|defence manufacturers]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lepiarz |first=Jacek |date=27 August 2022 |title=Europa Środkowa i Wschodnia nie kupuje niemieckiej broni |url=https://www.msn.com/pl-pl/wiadomosci/other/europa-%C5%9Brodkowa-i-wschodnia-nie-kupuje-niemieckiej-broni/ar-AA11azUo |access-date=28 August 2022 |website=MSN |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828153341/https://www.msn.com/pl-pl/wiadomosci/other/europa-%C5%9Brodkowa-i-wschodnia-nie-kupuje-niemieckiej-broni/ar-AA11azUo |url-status=live }}</ref> Also, the Polish military is set to increase its size to 250,000 enlisted and officers, and 50,000 defence force personnel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=L. |first=Wojciech |date=29 March 2022 |title=Quick and Bold: Poland's Plan To Modernize its Army |url=https://www.overtdefense.com/2022/03/29/quick-and-bold-polands-plan-to-modernize-its-army/ |access-date=28 August 2022 |website=Overt Defense |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828190826/https://www.overtdefense.com/2022/03/29/quick-and-bold-polands-plan-to-modernize-its-army/ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to [[SIPRI]], the country exported €487 million worth of arms and armaments to foreign countries in 2020.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/poland_2018.pdf |title=Eksport uzbrojenia i sprzętu wojskowego Polski |last=Government of Poland |date=2019 |publisher=Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych MSZ (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |page=4 |access-date=24 March 2022 |archive-date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328012842/https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/poland_2018.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Compulsory [[Conscription|military service]] for men, who previously had to serve for nine months, was discontinued in 2008.<ref name="Day 2008" /> Polish military doctrine reflects the same defensive nature as that of its NATO partners and the country actively hosts NATO's [[military exercises]].<ref name="IISS 2022">{{Cite book |last=International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ENljEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22The%2BMilitary%2BBalance%2B2021%2Bpoland%22&pg=PA134 |title=The Military Balance 2022 |publisher=Routledge |year=2022 |isbn=978-1-000-61972-0 |location=Milton |pages=134–137 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180458/https://books.google.com/books?id=ENljEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA134&dq=%22The+Military+Balance+2021+poland%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 1953, the country has been a large contributor to various United Nations peacekeeping missions,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zięba |first=Ryszard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mc-8DwAAQBAJ&dq=%22poland%2Bcontributor%2Bpeacekeeping%2Bmissions%2Bmiddle%2Beast%22&pg=PA226 |title=Poland's Foreign and Security Policy: Problems of Compatibility with the Changing International Order |date=2020 |publisher=Springer International Publishing |isbn=978-3-030-30697-7 |location=Cham |pages=226–229 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002180449/https://books.google.com/books?id=Mc-8DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA226&dq=%22poland+contributor+peacekeeping+missions+middle+east%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> and currently maintains military presence in the Middle East, Africa, the [[Baltic states]] and southeastern Europe.<ref name="IISS 2022" /> Moreover, there are approximately 10,000 troops from the [[United States Armed Forces]] stationed across Poland.<ref name="DepartmentofState">{{cite web |author=Bureau of Political-Military Affairs |date=2025 |title=U.S. Security Cooperation With Poland |url=https://www.state.gov/u-s-security-cooperation-with-poland/ |website= |publisher=U.S. Department of State |access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref> From 2024, Poland also provides mandatory [[firearms training]] for pupils in primary and secondary schools.<ref name="PAPpl">{{cite web |author=Danuta Starzyńska-Rosiecka |date=2024 |title=Zmiany w nowym roku szkolnym |url=https://www.pap.pl/aktualnosci/zmiany-w-nowym-roku-szkolnym-odchudzona-podstawa-programowa-i-obowiazek-edukacji-dla-0 |website=pap.pl |location=Warszawa (Warsaw) |publisher=Polish Press Agency PAP |access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref>

=== Security, law enforcement and emergency services ===
[[File:Policja - Police in Warsaw, Toyota Auris (2019).jpg|thumb|A [[Toyota Auris]] patrol car belonging to the Polish [[Policja|State Police Service]] (''Policja'')]]
{{Main|Law enforcement in Poland|Emergency medical services in Poland|State Fire Service}}

Law enforcement in Poland is performed by several agencies which are subordinate to the [[Ministry of Interior and Administration (Poland)|Ministry of Interior and Administration]] – the [[Policja|State Police]] (''Policja''), assigned to investigate crimes or transgression; the [[City Guard (Poland)|Municipal City Guard]], which maintains public order; and several specialised agencies, such as the [[Polish Border Guard]].<ref name="Narodowego 2013">{{Cite web |last=Narodowego |first=Biuro Bezpieczeństwa |title=Potencjał ochronny |url=https://www.bbn.gov.pl/pl/bezpieczenstwo-narodowe/system-bezpieczenstwa-n/bezpieczenstwo-publiczn/5977,Potencjal-ochronny.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124011153/https://www.bbn.gov.pl/pl/bezpieczenstwo-narodowe/system-bezpieczenstwa-n/bezpieczenstwo-publiczn/5977,Potencjal-ochronny.html |archive-date=24 January 2022 |access-date=2 December 2020 |website=Biuro Bezpieczeństwa Narodowego |url-status=dead }}</ref> Private security firms are also common, although they possess no legal authority to arrest or detain a suspect.<ref name="Narodowego 2013" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rybak |first=Marcin |date=6 December 2018 |title=Klient kontra ochrona sklepu. Czy mogą nas zatrzymać, przeszukać, legitymować? |url=https://gazetawroclawska.pl/klient-kontra-ochrona-sklepu-czy-moga-nas-zatrzymac-przeszukac-legitymowac/ar/13722260 |website=Gazeta Wrocławska |access-date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531114737/https://gazetawroclawska.pl/klient-kontra-ochrona-sklepu-czy-moga-nas-zatrzymac-przeszukac-legitymowac/ar/13722260 |url-status=live }}</ref> Municipal guards are primarily headed by provincial, regional or city councils; individual guards are not permitted to carry [[firearms]] unless instructed by the superior commanding officer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rozdział 3 – Uprawnienia i obowiązki strażników – Straże gminne. – Dz.U.2019.1795 t.j. |url=https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/straze-gminne-16798909/roz-3#:~:text=30%20ustawy%20z%20dnia%2021,r.%20o%20broni%20i%20amunicji.&text=Stra%C5%BCnik%2C%20o%20kt%C3%B3rym%20mowa%20w,11%20pkt%205%20i%209. |access-date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512144010/https://sip.lex.pl/akty-prawne/dzu-dziennik-ustaw/straze-gminne-16798909/roz-3#:~:text=30%20ustawy%20z%20dnia%2021,r.%20o%20broni%20i%20amunicji.&text=Stra%C5%BCnik%2C%20o%20kt%C3%B3rym%20mowa%20w,11%20pkt%205%20i%209. |url-status=live }}</ref> Security service personnel conduct regular patrols in both large urban areas or smaller suburban localities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Policja o zwierzchnictwie nad Strażą Miejską w powiecie dzierżoniowskim |url=https://doba.pl/ddz/artykul/policja-o-zwierzchnictwie-nad-straza-miejska-w-powiecie-dzierzoniowskim-/44242/15/noa123 |access-date=2 December 2020 |website=doba.pl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512144011/https://doba.pl/ddz/artykul/policja-o-zwierzchnictwie-nad-straza-miejska-w-powiecie-dzierzoniowskim-/44242/15/noa123 |archive-date=12 May 2022 }}</ref>

The [[Internal Security Agency]] (ABW, or ISA in English) is the chief [[Intelligence agency|counterintelligence instrument]] safeguarding Poland's internal security, along with [[Agencja Wywiadu]] (AW) which identifies threats and collects secret information abroad.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agencja Wywiadu |url=https://aw.gov.pl/rekrutacja/ |website=aw.gov.pl |access-date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512144013/https://aw.gov.pl/rekrutacja/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Centralne Biuro Śledcze Policji|Central Investigation Bureau of Police]] (CBŚP) and the [[Central Anticorruption Bureau]] (CBA) are responsible for countering organised crime and corruption in state and private institutions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Antykorupcyjne |first=Centralne Biuro |title=Aktualności |url=https://cba.gov.pl/pl/aktualnosci |website=Centralne Biuro Antykorupcyjne |access-date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=21 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621111256/https://www.cba.gov.pl/pl/aktualnosci/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Internet |first=J. S. K. |title=Status prawny |url=http://bip.cbsp.policja.gov.pl/CBS/status-prawny-1/8969,Status-prawny.html |website=Centralne Biuro Śledcze Policji |access-date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=14 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614084606/http://bip.cbsp.policja.gov.pl/CBS/status-prawny-1/8969,Status-prawny.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Emergency services in Poland consist of the [[Emergency medical services in Poland|emergency medical services]], [[Search and rescue#Poland|search and rescue]] units of the [[Polish Armed Forces]] and [[State Fire Service]]. Emergency medical services in Poland are operated by local and regional governments,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Projekt ustawy o krajowym systemie ratowniczym |url=http://orka.sejm.gov.pl/proc4.nsf/projekty/2947_p.htm |website=orka.sejm.gov.pl |access-date=2 December 2020 |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512144014/http://orka.sejm.gov.pl/proc4.nsf/projekty/2947_p.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> but are a part of the centralised national agency – the [[Emergency medical services in Poland|National Medical Emergency Service]] (''Państwowe Ratownictwo Medyczne'').<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ustawa z dnia 25 lipca 2001 r. o Państwowym Ratownictwie Medycznym. |url=http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20011131207 |access-date=10 August 2021 |website=isap.sejm.gov.pl |archive-date=17 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617204857/https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20011131207 |url-status=live }}</ref> Thanks to its location, Poland is a country essentially free from the threat of natural disasters such as [[earthquakes]], [[volcanic eruptions]], [[tornadoes]] and [[tropical cyclones]]. However, [[flood]]s have occurred in low-lying areas from time to time during periods of extreme rainfall, for example during the [[2010 Central European floods]].