Sejm

The Sejm combines lawmaking with scrutiny of Poland's Council of Ministers. Its 460 deputies are chosen in Universal, equal, direct and proportional elections by secret ballot. An ordinary parliamentary term lasts four years. These arrangements come from the [Constitution of the Republic of Poland](https://trybunal.gov.pl/o-trybunale/akty-normatywne/konstytucja-rzeczypospolitej-polskiej), which assigns legislative authority to the Sejm and Senate as separate chambers.

The Sejm's legislative decisions sit within that wider constitutional process. Its speaker sends approved bills to the Senate for consideration. Senators may propose amendments or rejection, which the Sejm can override by the required majority. After the parliamentary stages, the text goes to the president. A successful vote in the Sejm therefore does not, by itself, make a bill's provisions operative.