THE MAY 3, 1791 CONSTITUTION AS A POLITICAL TESTAMENT OF THE POLISH-LITHUANIAN COMMONWEALTH (Konstytucja 3 Maja 1791 r. Testament polityczny I Rzeczypospolitej)

The First Polish Rzeczpospolita (i.e. Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth) was established as a union of two states (Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania) ruled by a common Jagiellon dynasty. The union took place in Lublin, in 1569. In the second half of 17th century the Commonwealth entered a period of protracted political and social crisis, leading to acceptance of a Russian protectorate in 1768 and the first partition in 1772. The events of 1768-1772 greatly shocked the nation dominated by the nobility (szlachta). In the subsequent years their support for political and social reforms was growing. A key role in work on the reform was to be played by king Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski. In 1787, he obtained consent from the Russian empress Catherine II to convene a so-called 'Confederated Sejm' whose decisions had to be made by majority of votes. This assembly, also known as the Four-Year or Great Sejm, began its session on 6 October 1788 in Warsaw. It had a considerable success in the legislative area, with a 'Government Act' of May 3, 1791 (known as the May 3 Constitution) as a crowning achievement. The adoption of the May 3 Constitution was a successful attempt to regulate the system of State government in accordance with the dictates of reason, taking into account recommendations of science as well as domestic and foreign experiences. The authors of the Constitution made reference to British and American constitutional patterns, and some even considered it to be superior to them. The Constitution consisted of an introduction (preamble), a principal part divided into 11 articles, and a conclusion. It was given the status of a supreme law, designed as a frame construction, whose provisions had to be developed by way of statutes. It's adoption reflected the nation's aspiration to free itself from the sense of powerlessness, from its will to regain independence and self-governance. It had paved the way for a moderate reform of the country's political and social system. The Constitution had both a conservative and reformatory face. This fact reflects the sense of reality and responsibility on the part of its authors. Their conservatism was particularly manifested in the field of social reforms. They did not dare to radically transform the system of social relations by way of abolishing the class division of society. In the field of political system, they had adopted a system of hereditary constitutional monarchy which strengthened the status of the king, guaranteed effective government and improve the role of the sejm in representing the nation. The May 3 Constitution was overthrown in 1793, officially repealed at the assembly in Grodno, as a result of a plot by the neighbouring powers and betrayal on the part of the Constitution's opponents, including Szczesny Potocki, Seweryn Rzewuski, Ksawery Branicki, Szymon Kossakowski and other leaders of treacherous Targowica Confederation. However, the Government Act remained vivid in the memory of the Polish nation. It made it easier for them to survive the time of bondage and helped keep alive its dignity and hope for rebirth of the Polish state. For Poles nowadays, the May 3 Constitution is considered as a political testament of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It imposes on generations of Polish nation an obligation to build independent society, in harmony and sense of responsibility for the mutual good, and in the sprit of openness to those nations with whom they shared their destiny.