Draft:Municipal assembly (Duchy of Warsaw)
The municipal assemblies (Polish: zgromadzenia gminne) were local assemblie in the Duchy of Warsaw at which some members of the Chamber of Deputies were elected. They were introduced on the basis of the Constitution of the Duchy of Warsaw issued in 1807 by Napoleon Bonaparte.
Proceedings
[edit]The municipal assembly was convened by the king, who set the time, place and topic to be discussed at the meeting. It was required that municipal assemblies were not held simultaneously in one county (this rule did not apply only to the assembly of the city of Warsaw). The assemblies were open to landowners who were not nobles, merchants, craftsmen, peasants, vicars, artists and distinguished military servicemen. They were required to have political rights. Each voter had to be at least 21 years of age. The lists of participants were ultimately determined by the senate. A minimum of 600 citizens with the right to vote was required for each assembly. Candidates had to be at least 24 years old and literate.
Responsibilities
[edit]The municipal assemblies dealt with no other issues than the election of deputies (besides the deputies of the nobility they were part of the Chamber of Deputies), 40 in number (after the annexation of Western Galicia their number increased to 66). Initially, deputies had to be elected from among the members of the assembly, but after a decree was issued in 1809, a nobleman could also become a deputy. Each assembly was responsible for electing one deputy.
Proceedings of the assembly
[edit]The king not only convened the municipal assemblies, but also appointed the presiding citizens, who were the chairmen of the said meetings. In the event of disagreements, they had the option of adjourning the meetings for several days or even dissolving them after prior consultation. Votes were taken by acclamation, but in the event of opposition from even one of the assembled, by secret ballot with the knobs. The candidate who gained a relative majority was elected. Elections were repeated every nine years, but every three years a third of the Chamber of Deputies ceased to hold office.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- Kutrzeba Stanisław Historya ustroju Polski w zarysie. Tom 3 (po rozbiorach część 1), Wyd. 2, Lwów, Warszawa, 1920
- Ustawa konstytucyjna Księstwa Warszawskiego z 22 lipca 1807 r., Dziennik Praw Księstwa Warszawskiego, t. 1