Oversight
Data on parliament’s oversight role and activities
Oversight tools
Parliament has the power to summon members of the government
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Standing Orders of the Sejm, Articles 153, 194-196
Parliament has the power to summon senior government officials
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Standing Orders of the Sejm, Article 153
Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments
Key government appointments include, for example, ambassadors or the head of the central bank.
Approximate number of government appointments subject to parliamentary approval
0
Number of written questions asked, per year
15,226 (2021)
See historical data for this field.
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
19,520 (2021)
See historical data for this field.
Notes
Totals include both interpellations and questions.
The number of replies is larger than the total asked as there is sometimes more than one reply from different departments to a given question.
The number of replies is larger than the total asked as there is sometimes more than one reply from different departments to a given question.
Parliament has power to carry out inquiries
Yes
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
According to Constitution, art.111, the Sejm may appoint an investigative committee to examine a particular matter.
Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
0 (2020)
See historical data for this field.
Head of State and/or Government
Head of State and/or Government
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government
Some parliaments elect the Head of Government or approve the nomination for the Head of Government. Others do not play a role.
Parliament elects the Head of Government
Notes
Parliament both elects the Head of Government and approves the nomination for Head of Government.
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Constitution, art. 154 para. 3; Constitution, art. 154 para. 2 and 155 para. 1 (vote of confidence)
The Head of Government is also the Head of State
No
Parliament’s role
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State
Some parliaments designate the Head of State or approve the nomination for the Head of Government. Others do not play a role.
Parliament does not play a role
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Constitution, art. 127, para. 1
Impeachment and confidence motions
Procedure for parliament
There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution
There is a procedure to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution: Not applicable (there is no procedure); The whole Government; The Head of Government; The Head of State; Individual members of the Executive; Other (please specify)
Individual members of the Executive
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Constitution, art. 156
Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment
In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
Lower chamber
Impeachment Role
There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution
There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution: Not applicable (there is no procedure); The whole Government; The Head of Government; Individual members of the Executive; Other (please specify)
The whole Government
Individual members of the Executive
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
The whole Government – Constitution, Article 158
Individual members of the Executive – Constitution, Article 159
Individual members of the Executive – Constitution, Article 159
Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence
In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
Lower chamber
Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
In some countries, the adoption of a motion of no confidence in the Government automatically leads to the dissolution of Parliament in certain countries. In other cases, a new government can be formed.
No