authority – władza
- political system – ustrój
- democracy – demokracja
- dictatorship – dyktatura
- monarchy – monarchia
- oligarchy – oligarchia
- republic – republika
- socialistic – socjalistyczny
- communistic – komunistyczny
- communism – komunizm
- capitalistic – kapitalistyczny
- totalitarian – totalitarny
- totalitarianism – totalitaryzm
- anarchy – anarchia
- empire – cesarstwo
- national authority – władze państwowe
- Head of State – głowa państwa
- president – prezydent
- government – rząd
- to rule – rządzić
- legislative authority – władza ustawodawcza
- executive authority – władza wykonawcza
- prime minister – premier
- cabinet – rada ministrów (gabinet)
- Parliament – parlament
- Member of Parliament / M.P. – poseł, posłanka
- constituency – okręg wyborczy
- general election – powszechne wybory
- secret election – tajne wybory
- direct election – bezpośrednie wybory
- presidential election – wybory prezydenckie
- free election – wolne wybory
- by-election – wybory uzupełniające
- low/high election turnout – niska w ysoka frekwencja wyborcza
- polling station – lokal wyborczy
- ballot box – urna
- voting paper – karta głosowania
- to stand for Parliament – kandydować do parlamentu
- to be elected to Parliament – być wybranym do parlamentu
- to form a government – tworzyć rząd
- to nominate ministers – mianować ministrów
- to dissolve Parliament – rozwiązać parlament
- constitution – konstytucja
- ministries – ministerstwa
- Ministry of: – Ministerstwo:
- Agriculture – Rolnictwa
- Culture – Kultury
- Defence – Obrony
- Education – Edukacji
- Finance – Finansów
- the Economy – Gospodarki
- Health – Zdrowia
- Industry – Przemysłu
- Justice – Sprawiedliwości
- Labour – Pracy
- Social Security – Opieki Społecznej
- Transport – Transportu
- Treasury – Skarbu
- Internal Affairs (the Home office) – Spraw Wewnętrznych
- Foreign Affairs (the Foreign Office) – Spraw Zagranicznych
- The Council of Ministers – Rada Ministrów
- Parliament – parlament
- act – ustawa
- bill – projekt ustawy
- motion – wniosek
- amendment – poprawka do ustawy, nowelizacja
- to come into force – wchodzić w życie
- legislation – ustawodawstwo
- to pass acts – uchwalać ustawy
- to reject bills – odrzucać projekty ustaw
- to discuss – dyskutować
- to critisise – krytykować
- debate – debata
- the first reading of a bill – pierwsze czytanie projektu ustawy
- to vote – głosować
- to abstain – wstrzymać się od głosu
- coalition – koalicja
- opposition – opozycja
- majoraty – większość
- minority – mniejszość
- House of Lords – wyższa izba parlamentu w Wielkiej Brytanii
- House of Commons – izba gmin, niższa izba parlamenu
- local government – władze samorządowe
- mayor – burmistrz
- town council – rada miejska
- councillors – radni
- elected representatives – wybrani przedstawiciele
- council meeting – posiedzenie rady miejskiej
- town hall – ratusz
- to debate – dyskutować
- to vote – głosować
- to be against – sprzeciwiać się
- to make a speech – wygłosić mowę
- citizen – obywatel
- citizenship – obywatelstwo
- nationality – narodowość
- fatherland, homeland – ojczyzna
Political system
After the Second World War Poland become a socialistic country where political and cultural life complied with communistic ideology. In 1998 Poland threw off Russian dictatorship in favour of democracy. The transition from the totalitarian system was not easy but it took place without anarchy and chaos.
National authority
The United States of America is a federal republic consisting of the states which have their own governments. President who is the head of state represents the executive branch. He is elected in general elections every four years and he appoints the members of the Cabinet. The main legislative authority is Congress which consists of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
I am 19 years old so I was entitled to take part in the last parliamentary elections. The number of politicians who stood for Parliament in my constituency was very high but I had no doubts who I should vote on. I went to the polling station in the morning. The voting lasted 2 minutes: I filled in the voting paper and put it into a ballot box.
Ministries
The Council of Ministers (cabinet), or Polish government, consists of ministers, heads of departments of ministerial rank, and heads of central institutions. The Council of Ministers is the body which exercises executive power. The composition of the Council of Ministers is proposed by the Prime Minister, who lodges an application to the President of the Republic for the appointment of cabinet members. The most important ones are ministries of Internal Affairs, Treasury, National Defence and Finance.
Parliament
The Polish Parliament performs a predominantly legislative function, creating laws that bind all Polish citizens. The Sejm creates legislation by passing bills, supreme legal acts which are inferior only to the Constitution of the Republic of Poland.
Members of Parliament have the constitutional obligation to be guided by the well-being of the entire Republic. Firstly, drafts for new legislation are discussed within the committees. However, the true legislative process begins when a bill is presented to the Speaker of Sejm. After the first reading in Sejm, the bill is voted on, and rejected or forwarded to a committee. After amendment in committee it returns to the Sejm floor for the second reading. Following a debate and subsequent amendments, members take a final vote on the bill. New acts come into force after they have been accepted by the Senate and the President.
Local government
One of the guiding principles of the Polish Constitution is the principle of elected local government. The decision-making and supervisory bodies are the councils. Elected representatives called councillors make basic decisions on matters affecting their respective jurisdictions during council meetings. They appoint and dismiss local administrative officials e.g. the mayor. Council members are elected in general, direct elections on the secret ballot and „one person-one-vote” principle.
