Editing Bolesław Bierut (section)

===Bierut's 60th birthday, constitution of the Polish People's Republic===

[[File:Bolesław Bierut wśród dziatwy 1951.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Bierut was often photographed with children, which was meant to contribute to his cult of personality]]

The apogee of Bierut's [[Cult of personality|cult]], promoted by the authorities over a number of years, was the celebration of his sixtieth birthday on 18 April 1952. It included various industrial and other production or accomplishment commitments undertaken by institutions and individuals. The [[University of Wrocław]] and some state enterprises were named in his honor. The History Department of the party's Central Committee prepared a special book about Bierut and his life, while Polish poets, including some notable ones, generated a book of poems dedicated to the leader. Many [[postage stamp]]s dedicated to Bierut were issued.<ref name="Eisler siedmiu 82–85">Jerzy Eisler, ''Siedmiu wspaniałych. Poczet pierwszych sekretarzy KC PZPR'' [The Magnificent Seven: first secretaries of the PZPR], pp. 82–85.</ref>

As the PZPR leadership felt ready to sanction its rule in a fundamental legal document, a new constitution was being worked on. On 26 May 1951, the ''Sejm'' passed a statute concerning the preparation and passing of the constitution. The Constitutional Committee, led by Bierut, commenced its deliberations on 19 September. In the fall of 1951, a Russian translation of the draft constitution was examined by Stalin, who inserted dozens of corrections, subsequently implemented in the Polish text by Bierut. The officially proclaimed national public discussion resulted in hundreds of other proposed changes. After all the delays and the necessary extension of the term of the ''Sejm'', the [[Constitution of the Polish People's Republic]] was officially proclaimed on 22 July 1952.<ref name="Eisler siedmiu 82–85"/>

The [[Polish People's Republic]] (''Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa'') was the new name of the state. The ''Sejm'' was designated as the highest national authority; it represented "the working people of towns and villages". The office of the president was eliminated and replaced with the collegial [[Polish Council of State|Council of State]], elected by the ''Sejm'' from its members. The first chairman of the new council was [[Aleksander Zawadzki]]. Bierut replaced [[Józef Cyrankiewicz]] as prime minister in November 1952. The constitution, amended many times, remained in force until a new [[Constitution of Poland]] came into effect in October 1997, in what was then the Republic of Poland.<ref name="Eisler siedmiu 82–85"/>