Legal Opinion on the Draft Resolution Tabled by the Presidium of the Sejm Amending the Standing Orders of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland (Sejm Paper No. 389)

The legal opinion deals with the draft resolution, tabled by the Presidium of the Sejm, amending the Standing Orders of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland (Sejm Paper No. 389). The aim of the proposed amendments is to increase the transparency of the legislative procedure and to establish procedural conditions that are conducive to improving the quality of bills that are passed into law. One of the key amendments is the broadening of the scope of social participation in the law-making process through using opinions, public consultations and public hearings more broadly. The legal opinion is focused on the strengthening of social participation thanks to broadening the scope of consultations, making the legislative procedure more precise and limiting the use of the fast-track procedures. The author assesses the majority of the amendments positively, but he also expresses doubts about the discretionary power of the Marshal of the Sejm as to the deadlines for consultations.