PREPARATIONS

On 7th September 1789, on the 25th anniversary of the election of King Stanisław August, the Sejm established a special delegation to prepare a draft of the future political system of the Polish Commonwealth. The Lithuanian Court Marshal, Ignacy Potocki, one of the main opposition leaders in the Sejm, led the delegation. In contrast to Stanisław August, who was a supporter of a strong monarchy, Ignacy Potocki held republican views. Therefore, his draft “Principles for improving the government” outlining a future political system for the Commonwealth, reflected his views. These “Principles”, passed by the Sejm in December 1789 and also drawn up mainly by Potocki, became the basis for the “Project for Government” which began to be discussed in the Sejm from August 1790.

The long discussions over each article of the project, which often resulted in decisions not to the author’s liking, as well as the growing popularity of Stanisław August, convinced Ignacy Potocki that he needed to cooperate with the monarch. On 4th December 1790, at Potocki’s request, a meeting with the King took place. During the conversation it was agreed that, in order to finalise work on the future political system of the country quickly, the draft constitution act should be prepared by a narrow group of people and then presented, as a whole, to the Sejm for approval. Between January and April 1791, multiple versions of drafts were circulating between Stanisław August, Ignacy Potocki and the rest of the inner circle, with mutual corrections, supplements and improvements, as the view of the republicans battled with the views of the monarchists.

The “Constitution Act”, as an agreed, compromise draft of a constitution, was read publicly for the first time on 2nd May 1791 in the Radziwiłł Palace (today the Presidential Palace on Krakowskie Przedmieście Street). Later on, in Stanisław Małachowski’s Marshal’s Palace (today the Academy of Fine Arts), they began to collect signatures to the “Assurance Act” a declaration by senators and deputies confirming that they would support the draft “Constitution Act” to be submitted for deliberation at the Sejm.

Draft of the form of government

AGAD, ASCzt, t. XVI

Draft of the form of government

AGAD, ASCzt, t. XVI

Draft of the form of government

AGAD, ASCzt, t. XVI

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