The Polish People's Republic follows the finest progressive traditions of the Polish Nation and gives effect to the liberation ideas of the Polish working masses.

The Polish working people under the leadership of the heroic working class, and on the basis of an alliance of workers and peasants, for many decades fought for the liberation from the enslavement imposed upon the Nation by the Prussian, Austrian and Russian oppressors and colonizers, in the same way as they fought for the elimination of their exploitation by the Polish capitalists and landlords. During the occupation, the Polish Nation fought heroically and unflinchingly against the brutal Nazi invasion. The historic victory of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics over Fascism liberated Polish soil, enabled the Polish working people to seize power, and provided conditions for the national restoration of Poland within her new and just frontiers. The Regained Territories were permanently restored to Poland. By carrying out the memorable directives of the Manifesto issued by the Polish Committee of National Liberation on July 22, 1944, and by developing its programme, the People's Authorities have accomplished great social changes due to the selfless and creative efforts of the Polish working people in the fight against the bitter resistance put up by the remnants of the former capitalist-landlords system. As a result of revolutionary struggles and transformations, the rule of the capitalists and landlords has been overthrown, the State of People's Democracy has been firmly established, and a new social system has been evolving and growing in power, according to the interests and aspirations of the broadest masses.

The legal principles of this system are laid down in the Constitution of the Polish People's Republic.

The present Government of the people in Poland rests on the alliance of workers and working peasants. In this alliance the leading role belongs to the workers, who are the leading class of society, rooted in the revolutionary achievements of the Polish and international working class movement, and profiting by the historic experience of the victorious building of socialism in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the first State of workers and peasants.

Implementing the will of the Polish Nation, the Legislative Diet of the Polish Republic, in accordance with its purposes, solemnly adopts the present Constitution as the fundamental law by which the Polish Nation and all organs of authority of the Polish working people shall be guided in order

- to consolidate the People's State as the fundamental force which ensures the fullest development of the Polish Nation, its independence and sovereignty,

- to accelerate the political, economic and cultural development of the Country and the growth of its potential,

- to strengthen the patriotic feelings, the unity and solidarity of the Polish Nation in the struggle to further improve social conditions, to completely eliminate the exploitation of man by man, and to put into effect the great ideas of socialism,

- to consolidate friendship and co-operation between Nations, based on the alliance and brotherhood which today link the Polish Nation with the peace-loving Nations of the world, for the attainment of their common objective: to prevent aggression and to strengthen world peace.