Marshal of the Sejm

Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland
Marszałek Sejmu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
Pommel of the Marshal's staff
Incumbent Szymon Hołownia since 13 November 2023
Presidum of the Sejm
Style	His/Her Excellency/Mr./Ms Marshal
Appointer	The Sejm
Inaugural holder	Jan Sierakowski
Formation	31 October 1548
Succession	First
Deputy	Vice-Marshals
Website	Marshal of the Sejm

The Marshal of the Sejm (Polish: Marszałek Sejmu, pronounced [marˈʂawɛk ˈsɛjmu]) is the speaker (chair) of the Sejm, the lower house of the Polish Parliament. The office traces its origins to the 15th century. In modern Poland, the full title is Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland (Marszałek Sejmu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej).^[1]

Related historical offices

The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth also had an office of Sejmik Marshal.

In the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, from 1861, the chairman of the Provincial Sejm of Galicia with its seat at Lwów bore the title Marszałek krajowy (Province Marshal). The Kingdom of Poland, from 1916 to 1918, used the title Marszałek Rady Stanu (Marshal of the State Council).

In the Second Polish Republic (1918–1939), the deputies elected one of their number as Marshal of the Sejm for the duration of the Sejm's term. Until 1935 (when superseded by the Senate Marshal), the Marshal or Chairman of the Sejm substituted for the President of Poland in the latter's absence or disability (Acting President of the Republic of Poland). Nowadays, it is again the Marshal of the Sejm who becomes the Acting President.

Modern Marshals of the Sejm

Today the Marshal of the Sejm is the chairman of the Presidium of the Sejm (Prezydium Sejmu) and the Convention of Seniors (Konwent Seniorów). The Marshal oversees the work of the Sejm, supervises procedural sessions of the Sejm, and convenes and chairs the proceedings of the Convention of Seniors and the Presidium of the Sejm. He (or she) appoints the Chief of the Chambers (of the Sejm, and of the Senat), and since 1989 substitutes for the President of Poland in the event of that office's vacancy.^[2]

Their deputy is the Deputy Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland. This would be an elected representative rather than a fixed individual.

Marshal of the Sejm vote

Election of the Marshal of the Sejm
Vote →		13 November 2023
Required majority →		231 out of 460
	Szymon Hołownia (PL2050)	265 / 460	Y
	Elżbieta Witek (PiS)	193 / 460	N
	Against all	1 / 460
	Absentees	1 / 460

List

Main article: List of Sejm Marshals

See also

• Senior Marshal
• Offices in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

References

1. "Marszałek Sejmu. Jakie ma zadania, obowiązki i przywileje". tvn24.pl (in Polish). 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
2. Bogna Przybyszewska-Szter. "Pozycja ustrojowa marszałka sejmu w świetle Konstytucji Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej z 1997 roku" (PDF). uwm.edu.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 13 November 2023.