[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 21, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H5321-H5323]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMEMORATING THE 205TH ANNIVERSARY OF POLAND'S FIRST CONSTITUTION
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution 165 saluting and congratulating Polish people
around the world as, on May 3, 1996, they commemorate the 205th
anniversary of the adoption of Poland's first constitution.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 165
Whereas, on May 3, 1996, Polish people around the world,
including Americans of Polish descent, will celebrate the
205th anniversary of the adoption of the first Polish
constitution;
Whereas American Revolutionary War hero Thaddeus Kosciuszko
introduced the concept of constitutional democracy to his
native country of Poland;
Whereas the Polish constitution of 1791 was the first
liberal constitution in Europe and represented Central-
Eastern Europe's first attempt to end the feudal system of
government;
Whereas this Polish constitution was designed to protect
Poland's sovereignty and national unity and to create a
progressive constitutional monarchy;
Whereas this Polish constitution was the first constitution
in Central-Eastern Europe to secure individual and religious
freedom for all persons in Poland;
Whereas this Polish constitution formed a government
composed of distinct legislative, executive, and judicial
powers;
Whereas this Polish constitution declared that ``all power
in civil society should be derived from the will of the
people'';
Whereas this Polish constitution revitalized the
parliamentary system by placing preeminent lawmaking power in
the House of Deputies, by subjecting the Sejm to majority
rule, and by granting the Sejm the power to remove ministers,
appoint commissars, and choose magistrates;
Whereas this Polish constitution provided for significant
economic, social, and political reforms by removing
inequalities between the nobility and the bourgeoisie, by
recognizing town residents as ``freemen'' who had judicial
autonomy and expanded rights, and by extending the protection
of the law to the peasantry who previously had no recourse
against the arbitrary actions of feudal lords;
Whereas, although this Polish constitution was in effect
for less than 2 years, its principles endured and it became
the symbol around which a powerful new national
consciousness was born, helping Poland to survive long
periods of misfortune over the following 2 centuries; and
Whereas, in only the last 5 years, Poland has realized the
promise held in the Polish constitution of 1791, has emerged
as an independent nation after its people led the movement
that resulted in historic changes in Central-Eastern Europe,
and is moving toward full integration with the Euro-Atlantic
community of nations: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That--
(1) the people of the United States salute and congratulate
Polish people around the world, including Americans of Polish
descent, on the adoption of the first Polish constitution;
(2) the people of the United States recognize Poland's
rebirth as a free and independent nation in the spirit of the
legacy of the Polish constitution of 1791; and
(3) the Congress authorizes and urges the President of the
United States to call upon the Governors of the States, the
leaders of local governments, and the people of the United
States to join in this recognition with appropriate
ceremonies and activities.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York [Mr. Gilman] and the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Moran] will each
be recognized for 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman].
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent
Resolution 165, a resolution noting the 205th anniversary of the
adoption of Poland's first Constitution.
Mr. Speaker, the Polish Constitution of 1791 stands as the first
liberal Constitution in Europe, creating a constitutional monarchy.
Its adoption by the Polish nation marked an important step away from
the feudal system of government that then prevailed throughout Eastern
Europe.
Unfortunately, Poland soon fell victim to the imperialism of the
Prussian, Russian, and Austrian empires, which divided the territory of
Poland and ruled the Polish people for more than a century.
The Polish Constitution of 1791 became a symbol around which the
Polish people rallied, however, and today--with the independence they
regained earlier in this century and with the end of Communist
dictatorship in Poland 7 years ago--the Polish people are now engaged
in building a new constitutional democracy.
The Polish nation has undergone times of great difficulty and great
destruction since 1791, but it has survived and, as a new democracy in
Eastern Europe, appears to be well on its way toward integration into
the trans-Atlantic community of democratic States.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, not just as a
recognition of Poland's historical striving toward democracy, but as a
statement about Poland's future as a free, independent, and democratic
State.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution and commend
the chairman of the committee for bringing it before the House, and the
strong supporter of Polish interests, the gentleman from Buffalo, NY,
Mr. Jack Quinn; and the other cosponsors, the gentleman from
Pennsylvania, Mr. Borski, the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Flanagan,
the gentleman from Wisconsin, Mr. Kleczka, and others.
It is appropriate that the House and the people of the United States
congratulate the Polish people around the world, including Americans of
Polish descent, on the 205th anniversary of the adoption of the first
Polish constitution.
The, as now, Poland has been a leader in Europe. In 1989, Poland took
the first steps toward breaking up the Warsaw Pact and held the first
free elections in Eastern Europe. That led the way on comprehensive
economic reform.
Poland is now striving to integrate itself fully into the family of
western nations. All of us can take a measure of pride in Poland's
achievements, which serve the U.S. interests in peace, security, and
prosperity in Europe.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the resolution, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from New York [Mr. Quinn], the original sponsor of this
measure.
(Mr. QUINN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the proud sponsor of House
Concurrent Resolution 165, a resolution honoring an important event in
the development of democracy in Central-Eastern Europe and the world;
the 205th anniversary of Poland's first Constitution of 1791.
On the third day of May, 1996, Polish people and Americans of Polish
descent around the world celebrated the 205th anniversary of Poland's
first Constitution.
The Polish Constitution of 1791, which became the first liberal
constitution in Europe was preceded only by our own Constitution in
1787.
The 1791 Constitution sought an end to the feudal system of
government, where a few monarchs and aristocrats governed Poland's
majority.
American Revolutionary War hero Thaddeus Kosciuszko introduced the
concept of a constitutional democracy to his native country of Poland,
which
[[Page H5322]]
like the Constitution of the United States, established three
independent branches of government.
The Polish Constitution abolished the feudal system, giving all
citizens the right to vote and guaranteed freedom of speech, right to
assemble and freedom of religion.
As a result, Poland became Europe's first true democracy.
Thomas Jefferson himself held the Polish Constitution in high regard
and was sure to include two copies of the document as part of the
original collection in establishing the Library of Congress.
Unfortunately, this first grand experiment in European democracy
survived for less than 2 years. This expression of the democratic
tradition of Polish political culture, embodying liberty to all people,
rule by the majority and religious freedom, became a moral threat to
the absolute monarchies of its neighbors Tsarist Russia, Austria and
Prussia.
Poland paid dearly for its democratic ideas, with the complete loss
of its independence and the abolition of its Constitution, when it was
partitioned by its three powerful neighbors in 1793.
Over the next two centuries, Poland and her people suffered many
injustices, but the spirit of the Constitution of 1791 continued to
live on and forge hope in the hearts of Polish people around the world.
It is only in the last 5 years that Poland again has emerged as an
independent nation after her people led the movement that resulted in
the fall of the Soviet bloc and the historical changes in Central-
Eastern Europe.
Today, Poland has experienced its first ``free'' elections in several
generations and the positive economic successes it has experienced are
unparalleled in its history.
The eventual democratic goals of Poland include its hopeful inclusion
in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] and complete inclusion
in the Western community.
I am honored to have offered this resolution to honor the Polish
Constitution of 1791, something in which all Poles rightfully take
pride.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank the gentleman from New York,
Chairman Gilman, the ranking member, the gentleman from Indiana [Mr.
Hamilton], and the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Moran], and all members
of the Committee on International Relations for their support of the
resolution.
I want to urge my colleagues to join me in saluting and
congratulating the people of Poland and Americans of Polish origin for
realizing the fulfillment of the spirit of the May 3d Constitution by
supporting House Concurrent Resolution 165.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York [Mr.
Quinn] for bringing this important resolution to the floor at this time
and for his eloquent remarks in support of this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished
gentleman from West Virginia [Mr. Wise].
{time} 1530
Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and the ranking member
for the time.
I simply rise in strong support of this resolution. It was in 1787,
of course, that our Constitution became a reality; 4 years later, the
Polish Constitution. It was a wave of constitutional freedom and
democracy sweeping the world at that time. So I think it is important
to rise to commemorate this noted event, certainly to Polish peoples
across the world, whether in Poland or to the large Polish American
population that we have in the United States. It is certainly a moment
that deserves recognition and particularly in light of what the Polish
people have been through in the last decade, as they have reasserted
their desire for constitutional democracy, moving from the heavy hand
of communism to once again a constitutional republican system.
So we should rise as we recognize the 205th anniversary. Let us also
recognize the pride and achievements that the Polish people have made
in just the past decade.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Flanagan.]
Mr. FLANAGAN. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor I rise in support
of House Concurrent Resolution 165, saluting and congratulating Polish
people around the world as they commemorate this May the 205th
anniversary of the adoption of Poland's first Constitution. As the
first modern constitution in Europe, this document led the way in the
advancement of democracy. Only our own Constitution of 1787 preceded it
and the Polish Constitution was modeled upon it.
The Polish Constitution declared that ``all power in civil society
should be derived from the will of the people.'' This is the primary
principle of our own sacred document. Like our own Constitution, the
1791 Polish Constitution created distinct legislative, executive and
judicial branches. It also secured individual and religious freedom for
all people in Poland.
Just as Poland led the way for democracy in the 18th century, so too
did it do so again in the late 20th century. Poland was the key country
in bringing about the recent demise of the totalitarian Communist
regime under which Poland had suffered for so long. It became a
shinning beacon of light of freedom for other Communist countries in
Central-Eastern Europe. Poland was the inspiration for those countries
to peacefully overthrow their own Communist dictatorships.
Today, the 205-year-old legacy of the 1791 Polish Constitution
continues in Poland's democratic rebirth. Poland is to be congratulated
for its commitment to democratic ideals and its rebirth as a free and
independent nation. This is the purpose of House Concurrent Resolution
165 and I urge my colleagues to support its passage.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to
support the passage of House Resolution 165, commemorating the 205th
anniversary of Poland's May 3 Constitution. Although only in force for
less than 2 years before falling victim to the second partition of
Poland by her neighbors, this Constitution stands as an enduring
monument to the Polish people's aspiration for democracy.
The May 3 Constitution was the first written constitution in Europe,
adopted in 1791 and coming only a few years after the American
Constitution. In fact, the American and Polish Constitutions have much
in common, both in spirit and in purpose: Each sought to create the
foundations of deomcracy and, in particular, to establish limits on the
previously unfettered powers of sovereign rule.
Mr. Speaker, the Polish Constitution of 1791 may have been short-
lived as a legislative edict, but it survived nearly two centuries of
partition, foreign occupation, Fascist domination and Communist
totalitarianism as a symbol of what Poles had once achieved--and would
again achieve.
Today, the people of Ploland continue their successful efforts to
build a free and democratic society, a free-market economy, and a
country in which human rights and fundamental freedoms will not only be
guaranteed on paper, but ensured in practice. As Chairman of the
Helsinki Commission, I have been especially heartened by the
extraordinary progress Poland has made in this regard, and Poland is
rightly lauded as a leader--perhaps the leader--of democratic reform in
central and eastern Europe. I was also espedially gratified to learn
recently from President Kwasniwski's office that an overhaul of the
Polish penal code will probably drop provisions which criminalize
defamation of state organs--one of the last remaining vestiges of the
old Communist order.
I am honored today to join my colleagues in commemorating the Polish
Constitution of 1791, which continues to inspire the people of Poland
during a period of profound and positive political transformation; I
welcome the passage of House Resolution 165.
Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the House of
Representatives is taking up this important resolution today. The
Congress, and the people of the United States, should congratulate
Poland on its many accomplishments on behalf of the development of
democracy and the furtherance of human freedom.
It is fitting today that we congratulate Polish people around the
world, including Americans of Polish descent, on the 205th anniversary
of the adoption of the first Polish Constitution. That 1791
Constitution both drew from the example of the American Constitution
and set a standard for all of Europe to match.
Not only in the 18th century but in the 20th century Poland has been
a leader in Europe. In the heady days of 1989, Poland took landmark
steps to break up the Warsaw Pact. It held the first free elections
seen in Eastern Europe since before communist rule. Poland led the way
on both economic and political reform.
For the past 7 years--indeed for the past several generations--Poland
has been working mightily to integrate itself into the family of
[[Page H5323]]
western nations. All of us can take a full measure of satisfaction in
Poland's many accomplishments. I look forward to the continuing close
work between the United States and Poland on behalf of our many shared
interests. Together we can further peace and prosperity in Europe.
I urge adoption of the resolution.
Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate with the
Polish people the 205th anniversary of the adoption of Poland's first
Constitution. As the first liberal Constitution in Europe in 1791, it
was preceded only by our own Constitution in 1787. This Polish document
established a constitutional monarch and recognized the peasants for
the first time as members of the nation. Mirroring our constitution, it
too established three independent branches of government. It also
carries the honor of being the first constitution established through a
peaceful revolution.
Unfortunately, this expression of liberty to all, by rule by
majority, and religious freedom survived for less than 2 years as it
became a moral threat to the neighboring absolute monarchies. Poland
lost its independence that year when it was partitioned by Imperial
Russia and Prussia. Only in the last 5 years has Poland again emerged
as an independent nation through the fall of communism.
Currently, free Poland enjoys open elections and economic success.
The return of democratic principles to this nation has elevated its
hopes for inclusion in the North American Treaty Organization [NATO]
and full incorporation into the European Union.
With Chicago the largest Polish city next to Warsaw, and with many of
her immigrants residing in my district, I am pleased to support this
resolution which honors the advancement of democracy in a country close
to my heart and the hearts of my constituents.
Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent
Resolution 165, which congratulates the Polish people around the world
as they commemorate the 205th anniversary of Poland's first
Constitution. I am proud to join Representatives Quinn, Kleczka,
Flanagan, and Hoke as an original cosponsor of this resolution.
Inspired by our landmark Constitution, the people of Poland in 1791
adopted a constitution with guarantees of individual and religious
freedoms, and the creation of distinct legislative, executive, and
judicial powers. The concepts of constitutional democracy that were
embodied in the Polish Constitution were introduced to Poland by
American Revolutionary War hero Thaddeus Kosciuszko. Designed to create
a progressive constitutional monarchy, the 1791 Constitution was the
first liberal constitution in Europe and represented Central Europe's
first attempt to end feudal government.
Unfortunately, this historic and ground breaking Constitution
survived for less than 2 years. In 1793, Russia and Prussia partitioned
Poland, and Poland's Constitution was abolished. This loss, however,
did not diminish the Polish people's will for achieving the freedoms
embodied in the Constitution. For two centuries, the principles of the
1791 Constitution endured and inspired a powerful new national
consciousness. Poland suffered greatly under imperial and communist
rule, but its people never lost sight of the freedoms and rights
embodied in the Constitution.
Today, Poland is enjoying its new-found freedoms, pursuing the
principles first drafted in the 1791 Constitution. Poland has emerged
from an oppressive Communist state to a vigorous, free-market
democracy. Poland is pursuing complete inclusion in the institutions of
the western community, including the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization. The United States Congress must continue to express its
support of Poland as it takes these bold steps into the 21st century.
This month marks the 205th anniversary of the historic Polish
Constitution. House Concurrent Resolution 165 demonstrates to the
people of Poland, and Polish people around the world, that the United
States recognizes Poland's rebirth as a free and independent nation,
and will continue its commitment to foster democracy throughout central
Europe. This resolution salutes Poland for its patience in realizing
the long-awaited principles of the 1791 Constitution, and expresses
support for Poland's challenges in the future.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this
important resolution. The Polish people will be grateful to know that
the United States House of Representatives stands shoulder-to-shoulder
with them as they enjoy the freedoms that were so eloquently declared
in the 1791 Polish Constitution.
Mrs. KENNELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent
Resolution 165 commemorating the 205th anniversary of the Polish
Constitution.
In the two centuries that have passed since this Constitution was
adopted. Poland and its people have endured great tragedy and turmoil.
But through these years--from the partition of Poland at the end of the
18th century, to the Napoleonic Wars, which resulted in the
disappearance of the country until the end of World War I, the
tragedies of World War II, and over 40 years of Communist rule, the
love of the Polish people for freedom and democracy has never
diminished.
It is fitting that the nation with the first liberal constitution in
Europe, and the first modern constitution established through a
peaceful revolution, was also the first nation to break free from the
Soviet empire and establish the first of the new democracies in Europe.
As Poland was a leader more than 200 years ago, so it is a leader
now. Its example of a successful transition to democracy in 1989 is a
beacon of hope not only for other nations of Eastern Europe but for
nations around the world. I congratulate the Polish people on the 205th
anniversary of their Constitution and share their confidence that its
successful democracy will continue to flourish into the 21st century.
Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Wicker). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House
Concurrent Resolution 165.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was
agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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