Znaczenie podstawowych zasad prawa wyborczego w Polskiej Rzeczpospolitej Ludowej a III Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej

The paper offers an analysis of differences in the principles of electoral law in PRL (the Polish People’s Republic) and III RP (the Third Polish Republic). It starts with a brief historical outline of the way these principles came into being throughout the world and then discusses theoretical principles pertaining to elections effective in postwar Poland. The author points to certain institutions functioning in the Polish People’s Republic that are worthy of being introduced into the current law and points to several areas of the then legislation period he deems useful. It is nevertheless frequently emphasized in the paper that the theory of law in the Polish People’s Republic stood in sharp contrast to the actual electoral practice.